Tasteful concept stores are popping up ever more frequently in Athens, offering special design objects, impressive plants you won’t find anywhere else, small Greek independent clothing labels and many more original products made or selected with care.

Here you can discover these items while sampling quality coffee, refreshing cocktails, and even a meal. Combine a watermelon smoothie with a new dress, brunch on a handmade furniture which you can also take home, or pair a finely balanced chili margarita with gardening advice.

Minū Athens

Indoor plants and design objects coexist in the verdant interior of Minū. Visitors can browse the succulents and discover art exhibits (July will feature a group exhibition curated by Apollon Glykas and Eva Kekkou), taste one of the Asian-inspired dishes on the menu created by Athinagoras Kostakos, or simply order a glass of homemade lemonade. Ask about tasting evenings, which are starting soon.

Wild Souls

At Wild Souls you will hear all about the “precious” nuts on which this beautiful store’s concept was built. In addition to nuts, the store sells smooth and crunchy almond butter, hazelnut butter, super-rich cashew nut butter, all free from preservatives, sugar and palm oil.

The window display is full of halva, ranging from the classic honey version to hazelnut halva. Smoothies, homemade granola served with the store’s own nut milks, salads and healthy sweets such as American Style (peanut butter and fruit on spelt bread) can all be enjoyed at one of the store’s tables.

Anamesa concept store

Full of instagrammable accessories (we love the handmade scrunchies), fresh brands, Greek and international designers, design objects and frozen watermelon smoothies, the brightly colored basement on Nikis street cools and dishes out design inspiration with a focus on sustainable and ethical fashion.

A team of fashion editors recommends clothes and guides shoppers, while music plays at a pleasing volume – all enjoyed with aperitivos, fresh juices and colorful lattes in hand.

Kinono/ I do

Anyone who has enjoyed a drink at Kinono will appreciate how much plants are loved here. After all, it’s not every day you see such well-tended swiss cheese plants. During lockdown, the small tropical forest on the bar grew into a shop in shop, named “I do.” A variety of indoor plants, cacti and orchids are available to purchase. The store also sells chic gardening tools, ceramic plant pot holders by Greek designers, galoshes, bags and “I do”-branded aprons.

The store and bar are open Wednesday-Sunday, 11:00-19:00, offering generous plant care advice, as well as a “plant ICU” for neglected potted plants.

East Coast

East Coast has the vibe of a surfer hangout. This concept store is located on the green Terpsitheas square and has an environmental conscience, which is expressed through its menu, but also through the objects on sale: reusable cups, cork coasters, soy candles.

KVD2137 is the store’s clothing brand, featuring clothes made from 100% organic cotton with water-based dyes. In addition to Area 51 coffee, the store serves handmade pizza, protein bread with fig and mushroom, carob bread with scrambled eggs, vegan cinnamon rolls and an array of fresh fruit cocktails.

Teras

A terracotta-colored 30s neoclassical townhouse with romantic plaster ornaments and a beautiful yard with giant fig tree would be most people’s ideal home. It is now lived in by the furniture designer Haris Rigalos, following the philosophy of recycling and reuse.

Teras is not just a showroom for Haris’s intriguing creations, but also the latest all day hangout in Neos Kosmos. Sitting on the custom armchairs, or the retro outdoor seating in the yard, you will feel like you are visiting a (very lucky) friend. The menu is inspired by Latin America – roasted corn on the cob with feta, chili and coriander makes an ideal bar snack – and cocktails are studied and balanced. The first floor will soon start hosting exhibitions, yoga classes, seminars and workshops.

Plegma

Plegma entwines food and coffee with interior design. Its founder’s studies in interior architecture inspired her to create her elegant store in Pangrati. Handmade ceramic mugs, pots, small furniture items, utensils, bags, accessories, stationery and more are available for sale, to decorate your home or give a beautiful gift. The store also serves selected coffees, alongside energy bowls and light lunch choices such as a soba noodle salad.

This article was previously published in Greek at gastronomos.gr.