A Fashion Designer's Athens Guide
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Up-and-coming Greek fashion designer Christoforos Kotentos (fans of his sexy-feminine fashion include Rihanna) has his atelier in buzzing Psiri, in Athens the city’s famous nightlife district that’s full of trendy restaurants and bars. “I like to compare Psiri to New York’s Meatpacking District,” he says. “It’s close to the Acropolis and is a place that never sleeps, with many bars and small clubs, as well as interesting shops.” The thirty-three-year-old Kotentos, who hails from a fashion-passionate family (his mother is a designer as well, his father a photographer) launched his own label in 1996 after studying at the London College of Fashion and a stint as a model (he was under exclusive contract with designer Vivienne Westwood). He shares his favorite spots in his hometown.

Kotentos atelier and showroom is open by appointment (3 Sachtouri Street, 4th floor). Email Indagare for an introduction.

FAVORITE HOTELS

I like the Semiramis (48 Charilaou Trikoupi Str.; www.semiramisathens.com), in the Kifissia area, because it has a modern design scheme, with lots of color, and a very nice ambience. The Grande Bretagne (Syntagma Sq; Syntagma; 310-210-333-0000), another favorite, is more of a classic, wit an amazing rooftop that has views of the Acropolis and the whole city. Grand Resort Lagonissi (_30-229-107-6000; _ www.lagonissiresort.gr), meanwhile, is the best choice by the sea. [Editor’s Note: Lagonissi is located on a peninsula 30 miles south of Athens.]

FAVORITE RESTAURANTS

Ithaki (28 Apollonos; 30-210-896-3747), in Vouliagmeni, for seafood; Kohylia, in the Grand Resort Lagonissi, is a good gourmet option and they also have a sushi bar; Tony Bonanno (63 Papanastasiou Avenue, Piraeus; 30-210-411-1901), in Piraeus, serves amazing Italian cuisine and has a perfect sea view; for something more traditional, there’s Manolis (Ag. Kyriakis 12, Amfitheas, 30-210-942-1769), a taverna in the center of Athens-Psiri where you can taste original Greek cuisine.

FAVORITE CAFE

Style & Café (12 Ag Anargiron Street, Psirri; 30-210-325-0373) in Psiri.

FAVORITE BAR

The Balux Café House Project (58 Posidonos Av., Asteras Glyfadas; 30-210 8941620), a cool beach house with different rooms and a bar area in the Glyfada neighborhood. Grande Dame (23 Persefonis Str.; 30-210-341-6412), a fashionable, newish bar in Gazi.

FAVORITE SIGHTS

Don’t miss the Acropolis and the New Acropolis Museum; explore the old-world narrow streets of Plaka; and take a romantic stroll around Filopappou Hill.

BEST SPA

The amazing spa at the Grande Bretagne (Syntagma Sq; Syntagma; 310-210-333-0000) is worth a visit.

FAVORITE GALLERIES

Don’t miss the Deste Foundation, Rebecca Camchi Gallery and in Psiri, near my showroom, there’s the A. Antonopoulou Gallery and the Downtown Gallery run by Nikos Stathoulis.

BEST SHOPPING NEIGHBORHOOD/SHOPS

Kolonaki is the best location for shopping all the known brands are having their shops there and there are many multi-brand boutiques as well. Don’t miss Sotris (41 Voukourestiou Street & Tsakalof Street; 30-210-361-0662) and Bettina (29 Anagnostopoulou St. and 40 Pindarou; 30-210-339-2094).

BEST DAY TRIP

A visit to Sounio is a must, as well as a day trip to one of the islands that’s close to Athens, like Hydra. Aegina, Poros and Agistri can also be reached via high-speed boat; it takes between 30 minutes to an hour to reach these islands.

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