The heart of Athens – along with the traditional Greek taverna experience – beats in Exarchia.
What could be better than an afternoon or even a midday outing in a tavern, where you can eat, drink and of course have fun with your friends? And what better place than maybe the coolest neighborhood of Athens, Exarchia?
There are four taverns that stand out for the atmosphere, the menu and the unique experience they offer.
Metaxa 2Some call it Metaxa 2, others Utopian Garden or M2 cooperative café. But we call it a vegan temple. And this name is not an exaggeration at all, as if you are a vegan/vegetarian and the lack of shops where you can eat delicious vegetarian food has tired you out, then this little tavern will make up for it.
It’s the pretty fishy vegan takeaway you’ve been looking for and will make you look at lentil soup cakes in a different light, even if until yesterday you thought you couldn’t live without meat. On the menu you will also find beetroot meatballs or straws without a trace of meat and they may seem strange at first, but at the same time they will prove that the vegan diet is much more delicious than we expected.
Now, if these vegetarian options are combined with the quality raki of the place, or its live music sessions, then M2 will probably become your new hangout, whether you’re vegan or not.
Metaxa 2 and Zoodochou Pigis corner, Exarchia.
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Many may wonder how a Cretan shop married with Exarchia and created one of the most famous tavernas in Athens. The answer is easy, of course, if we think that a beautiful shop with quality food, good raki and smiling customers is always the secret of success and this is what Rakumel faithfully follows.
But even more impressive is that Rakumel has managed to combine in a single space, which reminds something of a tavern in the village square, the Cretan, vegan and comfort cuisine.
Traditional pumpkin, eggs with staka and potatoes, trahanokefetedes, myzithropitaki and of course the favourite of all, the honey pie, are just a few of the dishes on the menu that promise a delicious journey. All these are made with raw materials from small producers of Crete, as well as raki and rakomelo, which should flow abundantly on your table.
Its tables await their guests on the most central street of Exarchia and if you are lucky, you will eat in the company of the music of the live meetings at Rakumel’s, which many have come to love.
71 Benaki Street, Exarchia
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Tzeremes means lazy. This name is not viewed negatively by the students who flock to the Benaki hangout every day, but on the contrary, they are happy to find there their space for… laziness.
And when we say lazy we mean fun, good food and nice conversations. Because if you don’t spend your free time like that, then you haven’t lived your student years. Of course, lest those who have gotten their degrees be disappointed, Jereme’s entrance is open to everyone and no… student pass is requested.
They don’t love pans in Jeremé, but they love the oven. That’s why if you want your menu to be healthier, you’ve found the right place. Snacks of all kinds, and raki or plenty of wine will accompany your outing and leave you completely satisfied, combined with the relaxed and extremely friendly atmosphere of the place.
Benaki 67, Exarchia
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No, you haven’t suddenly found yourself in a traditional village tavern. You are still in the heart of Athens, and specifically in Avli, the Flavour…shop of Exarchia. On the pedestrian street of Methoni, which itself evokes a peaceful village, the Avli dominates and awaits its visitors every day to offer them particularly traditional flavours.
Listen carefully to the dishes of the day, because you will always discover something strange and special. Of the menu’s regular dishes again, the eggplant tzatziki with pomegranate syrup and their bureki stand out. The main courses on the other hand, cover all the requirements and combined with the surrounding setting of the restaurant, evoke memories we didn’t remember having.
To the somewhat familiar, as if we’ve lived this atmosphere before, comes the endless music. Live may not always be live, but it can be heard non-stop through the speakers, as food without music doesn’t… say much. And this is something that Avli is well aware of and they do everything to make your stay at the restaurant a complete positive experience.
43 Methoni Street, Exarchia
