Athens Riviera Offers City-Bound Residents an Island Escape This August

As August empties Athens of vacationers, the city's southern coastal suburbs are drawing residents and late-departing travelers seeking a taste of island life without leaving the capital, with beaches, waterfront dining and open-air cinemas lining the stretch from Faliro to Varkiza.

The Athens Riviera

Dining choices span the spectrum: fresh fish at Casa Fish, where chef Yiorgos Oikonomidis serves dishes including seared sea bream with bouillabaisse sauce; traditional Greek comfort food and roast suckling pig at Synaxis in Vouliagmeni; handmade meze from chef Christoforos Peskias at Dopios in Glyfada; and award-winning Neapolitan pizza at Napule in Varkiza, where chef Francesco's Margherita has ranked among the world's best.

Evening options include sunset cocktails with sea views at Moorings and Lasithi, high-energy parties with guest DJs at Bolivar, and handmade ice cream and waffles at Waffle House.

Open-air cinemas remain a summer fixture, with venues including Cine Akti in Vouliagmeni, Cine Argyroupoli on the rooftop of the local town hall, Cine Flisvos in Palaio Faliro, Cine Alimos — which screens free children's films every Monday — and the nostalgic Cine Marilena in Ano Glyfada. Outdoor theaters, including Ilioupoli's, host major summer productions, while the Glyfada municipality runs its own annual festival of theater and live music.

For daytime breaks, cafes such as Family and Nalu offer brunch and coffee with sea views, while the classic Aqua Marina patisserie in Vouliagmeni serves retro sweets and its signature Chicago ice cream.

Kavouri, officials note, offers one of the most striking sunset views in the greater Athens region — a reminder, organizers say, that summer escapes can lie just minutes from the city center.

By Christina Zachou

Διαβάστε περισσότερα στο iefimerida.gr

As August empties Athens of vacationers, the city's southern coastal suburbs are drawing residents and late-departing travelers seeking a taste of island life without leaving the capital, with beaches, waterfront dining and open-air cinemas lining the stretch from Faliro to Varkiza.

The Athens Riviera offers swimming options ranging from free coves like Limanakia in Vouliagmeni to organized beaches such as Akti Iliou in Alimos, which includes a children's water park, alongside hotel pools like the one at the Divani.

Dining choices span the spectrum: fresh fish at Casa Fish, where chef Yiorgos Oikonomidis serves dishes including seared sea bream with bouillabaisse sauce; traditional Greek comfort food and roast suckling pig at Synaxis in Vouliagmeni; handmade meze from chef Christoforos Peskias at Dopios in Glyfada; and award-winning Neapolitan pizza at Napule in Varkiza, where chef Francesco's Margherita has ranked among the world's best.

Evening options include sunset cocktails with sea views at Moorings and Lasithi, high-energy parties with guest DJs at Bolivar, and handmade ice cream and waffles at Waffle House.

Open-air cinemas remain a summer fixture, with venues including Cine Akti in Vouliagmeni, Cine Argyroupoli on the rooftop of the local town hall, Cine Flisvos in Palaio Faliro, Cine Alimos — which screens free children's films every Monday — and the nostalgic Cine Marilena in Ano Glyfada. Outdoor theaters, including Ilioupoli's, host major summer productions, while the Glyfada municipality runs its own annual festival of theater and live music.

For daytime breaks, cafes such as Family and Nalu offer brunch and coffee with sea views, while the classic Aqua Marina patisserie in Vouliagmeni serves retro sweets and its signature Chicago ice cream.

Kavouri, officials note, offers one of the most striking sunset views in the greater Athens region — a reminder, organizers say, that summer escapes can lie just minutes from the city center.

By Christina Zachou

Διαβάστε περισσότερα στο iefimerida.gr