Must-see shopping in Athens

  • Pantopoleion

    Syntagma & Plaka

    There are plenty of shops in Athens selling traditional Greek foods, but this one is notable for its scale and scope. 'Everything for the Mediterranean…

  • Exarhia Weekly Market

    Athens

    With rowdy traders working against lovely neoclassical buildings, this is one of Athens' most atmospheric renditions of the laïki agora, the market that…

  • Apivita

    Athens

    Honey, propolis and other bee-made stuff are the wonder ingredients in many of Apivita's natural beauty products. You can also try Greek herbal teas or…

  • Elena Votsi

    Athens

    Votsi is renowned for her big and bold designs using exquisite semiprecious stones. So sculptural is her work that she was selected to design the 2004…

  • Fruit & Vegetable Market

    Athens

    Athens' fruit and vegetable market is part of the bustling complex of the Varvakios Agora. Stalls full of fresh produce set up every day except Sunday –…

  • Chalk of the Town

    Athens

    Back in antiquity all the monuments were brightly daubed in chalk paints such as those sold at this jolly little store. They also sell brushes, stencils…

  • Plastikourgeio

    Athens

    In a time when the world is worried about single-use plastics and waste, this store is there to help; it stocks products made from recycled plastic or…

  • Mon Coin

    Athens

    Contemporary ceramics and a few other modern Greek craft products are stocked in this sister shop to the Koukaki branch. There were plans in the works to…

  • Aristokratikon

    Syntagma & Plaka

    This shop has been making fine chocolates since 1928. One of its specialities is dried fruits and candied citrus peel dipped in dark chocolate.

  • Redo

    Athens

    Cork fabric from Portugal and Italian leather are used for the striking range of handbags and backpacks made at this atelier by designer Maria Mavroudi…

  • Kasseta

    Syntagma & Plaka

    There's barely room in this snug shop for the owner and his stock, but it's the place to come for electronic dance music, and to find out where the good…

  • Monastic Art

    Athens

    All of the products in this store are made by monks on Mt Athos: olives, wine, beauty products from wild and cultivated herbs, and beautiful gold and…

  • Politeia

    Athens

    Large bookstore that occupies four storefronts. It stocks plenty of English-language books, filed in the relevant sections. And because it's on the edge…

  • Hrisanthos

    Athens

    This shoebox shop is crammed with beads and baubles and trinkets, primarily for decorating your donkey. Don't have one? You can also pick up a set of…

  • Vassilis Zoulias

    Athens

    An old-school designer, Zoulias specialises in elegant, feminine shoes that are timeless in their style. His couture line continues this theme, with…

  • Plan 59

    Athens

    Between this and Old School Records next door, your vintage vinyl needs are covered. Both stock a lot of jazz and psychedelia, while Plan 59 has more…

  • Thalassa Collection

    Athens

    Chic silk ties, scarves and a few other accessories all with patterns and colours inspired by Greece – which translates into myriad shades of blue and…

  • Gusto di Grecia

    Athens

    Shop for the best treats from all over Greece, from cheeses to local honeys, cold cuts, olive oil and wine, available in bulk and straight from the barrel.

  • Color Skates

    Athens

    Whether you're a skater or just want a fresh pair of Vans, head to this long-established dealer of gear and streetwear, from boards to shoes and beyond.

  • Actipis

    Syntagma & Plaka

    Spiros Actipis designs elegant jewellery using smooth pebbles, gleaming silver and raw leather. The shop closes in summer, as Spiros decamps to Mykonos.

  • Syd

    Athens

    Not just vinyl records, but the whole 'vinyl culture' – whatever that entails. Lots of new and interesting stuff, plus tickets to local shows.

  • Parthenis

    Athens

    A father-daughter team designs these high-quality, supersleek clothes in natural fibres. No frills, just sharp lines. For both men and women.

  • Kartousa

    Athens

    Eclectic, folky handmade jewellery and homewares brighten this tiny storefront.

  • Attica

    Syntagma & Plaka

    This upmarket department store stocks the best local designers (crafted-in-Greece Zeus + Dione, for instance), and its sale racks are good for restocking…

  • Public

    Syntagma & Plaka

    This multimedia behemoth includes phones, computers, stationery and English-language books. It's the easiest place to get a replacement plug or travel…

  • Ioanna Kourbela

    Syntagma & Plaka

    Classic, cool fashion by a Greek designer with a preference for natural fibres. Think elegantly draped cottons and silks in natural, warm tones, and…

  • Cellier

    Athens

    A delectable collection of some of Greece’s best wines and liqueurs, with knowledgeable staff to explain Greek varieties and winemakers; they also sell…

  • Kalogirou

    Athens

    Flashy shoes and accessories for a flashy neighbourhood: top international designers and Kalogirou’s own creations.

  • Wine Story

    Syntagma & Plaka

    Just a wee slip of a place, it's packed with local and international wines and a range of accompanying treats.

  • Art Appel Gallery

    Athens

    This below-street-level space has hosted shows of works by the likes of Vangelis Tzermias – known for his gestural seascapes – plus Opi Zouni, who…

  • Big Bazaar

    Athens

    The name of this junk shop is…an understatement. Covering two floors, there's room upon room crammed with precariously balanced treasures, so many that it…

  • Loumidi

    Athens

    From 1920, the Loumidis family built Greece's famous Papagalo coffee brand, now owned by an international conglomerate. The original shop lives on; a…

  • Bakaliko

    Athens

    A one-stop shop for fine Greek food products, this traditional grocery store is decked with awards for its dedication and stock of olive oil, wine, cheese…

  • Apriati

    Syntagma & Plaka

    This tiny, delightful store has a tempting selection of fun and original contemporary designs from Athena Axioti, Themis Bobolas and other local designers.

  • Skoufa Gallery

    Athens

    A long-standing anchor of contemporary Greek artists, just off Plateia Kolonakiou. Exhibitions change every three weeks.

  • Mompso

    Athens

    The horsey set buys their bridles and breeches at this posh shop. It also stocks a few handsome rural crafts, such as traditional accessories for donkeys…

  • Pangrati Weekly Market

    Athens

    Go deep into Pangrati to check out its Friday laïki agora (weekly street market). It runs along Pirrou, starting at Ymittou and heading southeast.

  • Bettina

    Athens

    This chic boutique carries a wide range of clothes and accessories by Greek fashion brands such as Zeus + Dione, as well as international designers.

  • Tsigaridas

    Athens

    One of the best selection of English books – in fact, books in all foreign languages – in central Athens.

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