Summer is definitely the time in search of beaches and the Athenian nearby coastline. Yet, there’s something much deeper around the suburb of Kifissia that draws the fashionable crowds north.
Having served primarily as a far-out destination where the upper-class locals had their summer house, the area of Kifissia got heavily commercialised in the last 30 years or so. Withstanding the economic crisis of 2010 in a pretty feisty manner, Kifissia still holds strong as the elegant, hip and posh getaway north of Athens!
The nature
In and around Kifissia, there are probably three main green and luscious attractions for your Sunday stroll. Alsos Syggrou is the last true forest around the Attica region now home to a number of education institutions, the listed Villa Syggrou and the church of St Andreas. open from dawn to dusk, Alsos Syggrou offers a great trek around its soily hills. If you’re more into driving you can also drive up north to Ktima Tatoi, a vast area on the outskirts of Attica and close to the National Road that once also housed the royal Tatoi Palace. It’s now preserved and well maintained offering a perfect space for walking, horseback riding and mountain biking.
The food
Now that’s more like it! All sorts of cusines and ethnic delicacies are available in Kifissia with Italian dethroning any other cuisine easy. Trattoria Athens is a small, local joint in Nea Erythrea minutes away from the commercial buzz of Kifissia. Enzo has set shop in this cosy and authentic trattoria featuring amazingly tasting pizzas and pastas served at their small but cute patio-garden daily!
Delicious penne arabiatta at Trattoria
Tomato focaccia at Trattoria
Finally, if you’re up for some old-school class, chances are you need to visit Salumaio and their airy patio. You can feast your eyes over their fridge counter, sampling the best Italian meats and dairy before indulging in a heavenly made truffle pasta (slurp)!
Now, if you’re the cook-at-home type of foodie, then you’ll definitely appreciate the selection at the newly launched I Fratti Deli. Just behind its sister Italian resto Il Fratti, this deli also offers some eat-in options (see below) that will definitely catch your eye.
Gorgeous looking papardelle with wild mushrooms and black truffle at Salumaio
Top quality meat and dairy at I Fratti Delicatessen
The life
Weekends are for lazy strolls and all day coffee around the many colorful establishment of Kifissia. Menta is about the last authentic café remaining with the allure of an old house set in this neoclassical maisonette. Away from the buzz and porched inside this green backyard, Menta gets full after midday so make sure you get there early. Perfect spot for your spring and autumn weekends. Another key spot is Different Beast, a modern-meets-quaint all-day joint that looks as if it was stripped off from some Brooklyn street, serving interesting fusion nibbles and hosts the cool crowd.
When all is said and done, try venturing across the street to Da Vinci for some serious gelato and sorbet ice cream! Big long handmade waffle cones and all sorts of flavours to choose from!
Despina’s signature mille-feuille
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