Facing hoary and merchant-packed Abyssinia Square, this timeworn but exceptional eatery is popular with locals who want home-cooked traditional food with heavy Asia Minor influences and endless servings of the excellent barrel wine and ouzo. Diners love to settle within the elegant glass-and-wood interior to sample mussels and rice pilaf, wine-marinated octopus with pasta, fresh garden salad, or any of the dips. Little wonder so many head here to relax after a day of shopping at the nearby flea market.

Located in the heart of the flea market a few minutes from Monastiraki, Café Avissinia is an antique connoisseur’s paradise – though you should know nothing is for sale here. The place is ideal for a coffee or beer, or for a proper dinner. The menu features dishes from Macedonia and Cyprus which usually leave the customers coming back for more – but it’s not just the food that lures locals.

That night, I sought out the ultimate in cross-generational entertainment at Café Avissinia. In this beloved institution, hidden down another winding back alley, Athenians of all ages were boozily singing mournful rebetika to an accordion player and occasionally standing up to dance. “Think of it as the Greek blues,” explained the Shila’s Stefanidi, who had joined me for dinner.

Embark on a food hunt in this ancient city with restaurants like Scala Vinoteca, Prosopa, Rififi, Mezedopolio Gazochori, Cafe Avissinia, Piatsa Kalamaki, Fresko Yogurt Bar and Gazi College to give you a taste of Athens that will last a lifetime.

Monastiraki is considered to be one of Europe’s oldest neighborhoods, with good reason as its history dates back almost 4,000 years. Tucked down a small pedestrianized street, in the heart of Monastiraki just behind the flea market, you’ll find Cafe Avissinia.Initially opened as a small tea house nearly 40 years ago, over the years it has developed into an authentic Athenian bistro with family recipes passed down through the generations, using locally sourced ingredients.The first floor offers the best views as it overlooks the Acropolis and Temple of Hephaestus, plus every weekend — except in the months of July and August — you can enjoy live Greek music. It’s also an excellent spot to experience the fireworks over the monument on New Year’s Eve.

Are you searching for a cute rooftop restaurant in Athens to dine after visiting the historic center’s most popular attractions, including the Acropolis and the Roman Agora?. Then Cafe Avissinia in Avissinia Square might be the best option for you!. Marrying modernity with tradition and the past with the present, this restaurant serves scrumptious dishes inspired by Macedonian cuisine, which you can savor on the beautiful terrace, weather permitting.

Cafe Avissinia is an authentic traditional bistrot with a history that goes back to the 80s. Seamlessly blending Eastern with Western gastronomy, this gastro-tavern serves traditional dishes with a modern twist, from ham and smoked sardines to lamb with groats. If you are a foodie, you are bound to love Cafe Avissinia’s drool-worthy dishes!.

Café Avissinia is situated at the centre of the flea market, which is a few minutes away from Monastiraki. The stunning bar is the paradise of an old connoisseur and is a great place to get a beer or coffee or to have a nice dinner. Café Avissinia menu includes dishes from Cyprus and Macedonia that often makes customers return for more.

Café Avissinia in Monastiraki serves classic dishes such as soutzoukakia meatballs, tabbouleh and moussaka, which I only ever eat in Greece. And everyone should try Vezené for traditional cooking with a twist. The chef, Ari Vezenée, also opened Birdman, a Japanese yakitori-grill restaurant and pub, which has become a massive success.

The idea that a destination is best discovered through its food sits at the core of Cafe Avissinia. Next door to the magnificent Monastiraki flea market. and with Acropolis views, this outrageously shabby-chic former tea house makes for the perfect pit stop for family recipes and live accordion music.

Surrounded by the antiques section of the Monastiraki Flea Market, the character of this lively restaurant combines the spirit of Greece with the feel of a pretty French bistro. Mirrors and bric-a-brac line the walls, dishes run the gamut of the Greek classics, and live music features on weekends.

Cafe Avissinia is one of the authentic Athenian bistros with a unique atmosphere and views of the Acropolis. It takes pride in providing a high-quality traditional cuisine. Its menu is characterized by a mixture of eastern and western elements and everything is cooked with local ingredients.

This looks like the sort of place Lord Byron might have enjoyed: a small cafe with louche locals lounging over their coffee in a ramshackle building near the entrance to the Ancient Agora. The walls have old black and white photographs, some tobacco smoke-stained oil…

It's also the location of a great place for lunch — Café Avissinias. It's a bistro with a bohemian vibe, furnished with antiques, mismatched tiles, dark wood. The food is Greek, specializing in mezes with Asian and Balkan influences. It's tiny and popular so book ahead.

📍 Location: Monastiraki SquareNestled in the bustling Monastiraki flea market, Café Avissinia is the perfect spot for a traditional Greek coffee with a side of history. Enjoy your coffee with a view of the Acropolis and soak in the old-world charm.

Besides a magnificent view of the Stoa of Attalos and the Acropolis from this rooftop terrace, you can also enjoy Cretan wine, a wide selection of mezze (small dishes) and music by an accordionist at weekends. – TEXT BY ADRIAN MOURBY

Cafe Avissinia has a high rooftop terrace with panoramic views over the Acropolis. Aside from that, you can sample delicious local wine and mezze with live music during the weekends.

Nestled behind the Flea market and set amongst the antique stalls is a pretty but quirky French/Moulin Rouge styled café named Avissinia.

Head over to Cafe Avissinia or Ambelouzos if you want something with a view – it’s not hard to fall in love with this beautiful city!