Coffee News

Tour Four of the Best Cafés in Athens, Greece

2
A view of a cafe in Athens, Greece. Large windows let sunlight in, and the cafe tables are filled with people working, socializing, and sipping coffee.

We explore four noteworthy coffee shops in the ancient city.

BY MICHAELA TOMCHEK
BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE

Photos by Michaela Tomchek

Athens, Greece, is one of the oldest cities in the world, known around the globe for its rich history, awe-inspiring mythology, and beautiful weather. The city, which is Greece’s capital, hugs the Aegean Sea, and along its streets you’ll find an abundance of food spots, markets, and hidden coffee shops. The popular freddo cappuccino (an iced coffee drink made with espresso and cold, frothy milk) is served all over, with each shop equipped with drink mixers to make the perfect foam for this classic Greek beverage.

Today, the specialty-coffee scene in Athens is rapidly growing, with some real innovation being seen from one café to the next. Young Athenians are rising up to take over the coffee sector and have opened up some awesome shops, serving delicious coffee and snacks with style. These are four of our favorite coffee spots within Athens—should you ever find yourself in the ancient city, be sure to check them out.

Third Place

A cafe in Athens, Greece, is decorated with a neon sign that says “THIRD PLACE” in light blue letters. The coffee bar is topped with an espresso machine and other coffee-brewing devices.A cafe in Athens, Greece, is decorated with a neon sign that says “THIRD PLACE” in light blue letters. The coffee bar is topped with an espresso machine and other coffee-brewing devices.
Third Place, a coffee shop opened by Michail Tsoumanis and Katerina Papapostolou.

On a climb down from the Acropolis, you’ll surely be craving some coffee and a treat. Look no further than Third Place, situated right at the heart of Athens’ ancient ruins. Coffee from the Athenian roaster Ofellia is served here, and there’s a must-try canned cold brew available, too.

When Michail Tsoumanis and Katerina Papapostolou first opened Third Place, they sought to offer visitors a truly unique coffee experience: Not only is the coffee exquisite, but the owners also sell an incredible assortment of curated sculptures and ceramics. Being inside of the space feels like being at an art museum—a perfect reflection of the spirit of Athens.

A curated assortment of sculptures and ceramics are available at Third Place.

Motiv

A cafe in Athens, Greece. The white wall is decorated with a circular neon sign that reads “MOTIV.” Outside is a sunlit street, with cars and plants in view.A cafe in Athens, Greece. The white wall is decorated with a circular neon sign that reads “MOTIV.” Outside is a sunlit street, with cars and plants in view.A cafe in Athens, Greece. The white wall is decorated with a circular neon sign that reads “MOTIV.” Outside is a sunlit street, with cars and plants in view.
Our second stop in Athens: Motiv.

Inspired by the Latin word motivus meaning “moving forward,” Motiv is nestled near Omonia Square, also close to the Exarcheia area: one of Athens’ hippest neighborhoods. As you wander down Emmanouil Benaki Street, you’ll see plenty of other cool coffee spots—in fact, locals have dubbed this road the “Coffee Street.”

A yellow, warmly lit wall is decorated with a glass menu at Motiv, a cafe in Athens, Greece.A yellow, warmly lit wall is decorated with a glass menu at Motiv, a cafe in Athens, Greece.A yellow, warmly lit wall is decorated with a glass menu at Motiv, a cafe in Athens, Greece.
Motiv’s menu of coffee drinks, including espresso-based beverages and the popular Freddo cappuccino.

Motiv’s cozy coffee bar offers an array of coffee drinks, including, of course, freddo cappuccinos. They roast all of their own coffee and have bags of coffee for sale from a wide variety of regions. And apart from the great drinks, there are also tasty local pastries to snack on (try the cookies and vegan cinnamon rolls!).

This is the perfect place to sit outside and people watch, or climb up the steep steps inside of the shop to relax on the second level: a hidden retreat that feels like it’s at the top of the world.

Kick

Visit Kick for a taste of Greek coffee and locally made art and clothing.

Venture away from the touristy areas of Athens towards the Kypseli Alley, and you’ll not only run into a bustling local municipal market (with the best tomatoes, I might add)—you’ll also find Kick. This spot isn’t just great for grabbing a cup of coffee, but it’s also the perfect place to check out some local art and clothing. 

A view of the inside of Kick, a cafe in Athens, Greece. The cafe is brightly lit, and colorful artwork hangs from the walls. Patrons sit at large, wooden tables, and tall shelves are topped with coffee bags, wine bottles, and green plants.A view of the inside of Kick, a cafe in Athens, Greece. The cafe is brightly lit, and colorful artwork hangs from the walls. Patrons sit at large, wooden tables, and tall shelves are topped with coffee bags, wine bottles, and green plants.A view of the inside of Kick, a cafe in Athens, Greece. The cafe is brightly lit, and colorful artwork hangs from the walls. Patrons sit at large, wooden tables, and tall shelves are topped with coffee bags, wine bottles, and green plants.
Kick offers a bright, artful space to relax in.

Kick’s sister company, Flake, a bakery just across the street, supplies the tasty pastries that pair beautifully with their coffee. Try the chocolate babka with hazelnut praline—and they also serve some seriously divine cookies from The Cookie Dude.

With rotating roasters such as Berlin, Germany’s Bonanza and fellow Athens-based HandPickers, Kick offers different coffee options from espresso and filter coffee to the much-adored freddo cappuccino. It’s a really fun and welcoming place to sit, sip, and indulge in some of Athens’ best flavors.

Anäna Coffee

The outside of Anäna Coffee, a cafe in Athens, Greece. Tall windows look into a brightly lit cafe. On the outside are bright yellow benches with small tables for customers.The outside of Anäna Coffee, a cafe in Athens, Greece. Tall windows look into a brightly lit cafe. On the outside are bright yellow benches with small tables for customers.The outside of Anäna Coffee, a cafe in Athens, Greece. Tall windows look into a brightly lit cafe. On the outside are bright yellow benches with small tables for customers.
We end our tour of Athens at Anäna Coffee.

Last but not least on our tour of Athens’ specialty-coffee scene is Anäna Coffee, founded by Panos Xilas back in 2019. Here, coffee is roasted in-house and rotated quarterly, and the entire food menu is vegan/vegetarian, offering raw cakes, pastries, and some lovely bowls and toasts. The cold brew is particularly good: Be sure to buy a bottle to take home (or on a boat to the Greek islands!)

Founder Panos confirms the popularity of the freddo cappuccino throughout the city, explaining that his shop is surrounded by somewhat of a “freddo buzz.”

“I think that our signature drink is the freddo (cappuccino), regardless of its Italian name! And yes, (the Greeks) invented it because we had to stop drinking frappe at some point of our coffee evolution,” he says.

A view of Anäna Coffee, a cafe in Athens, Greece. The wooden coffee bar displays an assortment of pastries, colorful ages of coffee, and a red espresso machine. A view of Anäna Coffee, a cafe in Athens, Greece. The wooden coffee bar displays an assortment of pastries, colorful ages of coffee, and a red espresso machine. A view of Anäna Coffee, a cafe in Athens, Greece. The wooden coffee bar displays an assortment of pastries, colorful ages of coffee, and a red espresso machine.
Anäna Coffee, operating in Athens, Greece, since 2019.

When discussing the coffee scene in Athens, Panos shares that there’s still ample room for it to grow. “The coffee scene in Athens has come a long way over the last decade but still feels a bit ‘left behind’ compared to other known European cities,” he says. “There are some specialty roasters in Athens but still few compared to the city’s size.”

And though there’s always room for the city’s coffee scene to expand, there’s already an incredible number of cafés worth visiting—yet another reason why Athens is a must-see destination.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michaela Tomchek finds coffee an important part of life and the world. She is an appreciator of the crop, the producer, and the many cafés throughout the world serving beautiful beverages. Currently, she writes about coffee, hoping to spread her joy across the globe. 

Subscribe and More!

As always, you can read Barista Magazine in paper or digital format. Subscribe here to get your own hardcopy of each issue delivered. Read the April + May 2025 issue for free with our digital edition. 

And for more than three years’ worth of issues, visit our digital edition archives here.



Source: Barista Magazine

You might also like More from author

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Accept Read More

Privacy & Cookies Policy