Kolonaki: An Aristocratic Neighborhood

Kolonaki is an aristocratic neighborhood in central Athens situated at an exclusive location, encompassed by Syntagma Square, Vasilissis Sofias Avenue and the southwestern slopes of Lycabettus Hill. It was named after the ancient old column (the Greek for small column is kolonaki), found in the center of Kolonaki Square.

​Kolonaki is a wealthy, chic and upmarket district, and a fashionable meeting area. Here, one may encounter green spots and attractive buildings, predominantly neoclassical and modernist, lending the area a distinguished character. As one of the capital’s leading shopping areas, it includes a number of high-end boutiques from young adult to casual fashion to prestigious haute-couture from Greek and international designers. Here one will find some of the most expensive commercial shops, popular cafes and modern bars, as well as some luxury restaurants.

From the National Gardens  if you cross Vassilias Sophias street and continue up the hill from Irodou Atikou past the beautiful mansion that houses the Benaki Museum , you will be in Kolonaki Square, one of the most famous and enjoyable places to sip coffee, watch people and eat in the cafes that line the street and remind many people of Paris. The neighborhood is full of cafes and expensive shops, fancy restaurants and fancy people and shopping in this area is like shopping in the finest areas of New York or Paris. In the winter giant heaters are placed outside and during the summer they have some kind of hook-up that blows cold air through some tubes into the covered area on the street. During the Greek Civil War Kolonaki and Syntagma were the only parts of Athens not under the control of the communists.

Walk past the cafes and turn left up Anagnastopoulou Street at the top of the square and go right on Iraklitou, then up the steps and through the small park. If you have kids you can leave them in the playground while you take a seat at the Ouzerie in Platia Dexameni. This is one of the best spots in Athens, high enough to be breezy and cool, with excellent food. Very nice place to go for lunch, dinner or coffee.

Dexameni means cistern which is what the square sits upon. It used to be the water supply for all of Athens and was actually built by the Emperor Hadrian and the ancient walls are still there. On Friday there is an organic market here from 9am to 1pm. There is also an outdoor movie theater that shows mostly English language films.

Kolonaki is named for the small column which sits in a corner of Kolonaki Square, which is actually called Platia Filikis Eterias, though few people call it that. It is one of the most under utilized squares in Athens since most people prefer to hang out in the cafes, which have so much sidewalk space that they don’t need to expand across the street and into the square. But they spent a lot of money to remodel it and make it more people friendly. It is also one of the few places in Athens where you will find Astroturf. The Zoumboulakis Gallery at Alopekis 20 at the bottom of the square is a contemporary art gallery which features works by Greek and foreign artists and exhibits which change once a month or so. It is one of the oldest galleries in Athens, originating as an antique shop in 1912.

The Benaki Museum and the Goulandris Museum of Cycladic Art are two of the best private collections in Greece and both are located in Kolonaki. The Museum of the History of Greek Costume and the Theater Museum are also in the neighborhood and all you have to do is cross Vasilissis Sofias Avenue to visit the Byzantine Museum, and the War Museum of Athens. The National Gallery is just a few blocks further though it is pretty much a construction site. Also while in the area have a look at the newly discovered Lyceum of Aristotle.