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Our favourites
The Tzistarakis Mosque on Monastiraki Square, with the Acropolis behind

Neighbourhood guide · Markets, ruins and rooftops

Monastiraki & Psyrri: Our Favourites

The liveliest corner of central Athens: the flea market, the Ancient Agora and Hadrian’s Library, and our favourite hotels, restaurants, cafés, rooftop bars and shops in Monastiraki and Psyrri.

Neighbourhood feature

Monastiraki: markets, ruins and rooftops

By the ULTIMATE Athens Editorial Team

Flea market stalls, an Ottoman mosque, the marketplace of ancient Athens and rooftop bars facing the Parthenon: Monastiraki is the busiest, most colourful square in the city, and Athens has come here to trade for thousands of years.

The Tzistarakis Mosque on Monastiraki Square, with the Acropolis behind
The Tzistarakis Mosque on Monastiraki Square, with the Acropolis behind
Antiques for sale at the Monastiraki flea market
Antiques for sale at the Monastiraki flea market
A path through the Ancient Agora of Athens
A path through the Ancient Agora of Athens
Read the full storyClose the story

Around the square lie the Ancient Agora, Hadrian’s Library and the flea market streets of Ifestou, and just to the north, Psyrri has grown from a quarter of workshops into one of the liveliest places in Athens to eat and drink.

Read the full back story below, then explore our favourite places to stay, eat, drink and shop.

Area

The back story

  1. The back story

    Monastiraki: the back story

    Monastiraki·In depth: history

    Where ancient Athens did its business, Ottoman Athens kept its bazaar and modern Athens comes to shop, eat and watch the sunset: the story of the liveliest square in the city and the streets around it.

    Explore View on map

Sights & museums

Ancient monuments, churches and small museums.

  1. Shopping

    Monastiraki Flea Market

    Monastiraki·Market

    A maze of stalls and shops selling antiques, vintage finds, souvenirs and leather sandals, liveliest on Sunday mornings around Avissinias Square.

    Ifestou Street & Avissinias SquareExplore View on map

  2. Ancient site

    Ancient Agora & Temple of Hephaestus

    Thiseio·Ancient site·€€€

    The heart of ancient Athenian life, where Socrates walked and democracy took shape. Its Temple of Hephaestus is one of the best-preserved Greek temples anywhere.

    24 AdrianouExplore View on map

Where to stay

  1. Iconic rooftop

    A for Athens

    Monastiraki·Boutique hotel·€€

    Boutique rooms right on Monastiraki Square, topped by one of the city's most famous rooftop bars. Perfect for being in the thick of it.

    2-4 MiaouliExplore View on map

  2. On the square

    360 Degrees Hotel

    Monastiraki·Boutique hotel·€€€

    A design hotel right on Monastiraki Square, steps from the flea market and the metro, with a rooftop bar-restaurant looking straight at the Acropolis.

    Monastiraki SquareExplore View on map

  3. Acropolis rooms

    The Zillers Boutique Hotel

    Monastiraki·Boutique hotel·€€€

    A small boutique hotel between Monastiraki and the cathedral, whose front rooms and rooftop restaurant have incredible views of the Acropolis.

    54 Mitropoleos StreetExplore View on map

  4. Industrial chic

    Mona Athens

    Psyrri·Boutique hotel·€€€

    An industrial-chic boutique hotel of around 20 rooms on a quiet square in Psyrri, in the middle of the neighbourhood's tavernas and bars.

    Kakourgiodikeiou SquareExplore View on map

  5. Good value

    Cecil Hotel

    Psyrri·Budget hotel·€

    A simple, good-value hotel on Athinas Street, five minutes' walk from both Monastiraki and Omonia metro stations.

    39 Athinas StreetExplore View on map

Where to eat

  1. Local favourite

    Ta Karamanlidika tou Fani

    Psyrri·Deli & meze·€€

    Part deli, part restaurant, where you eat among hanging cured meats and cheeses. Anatolian-Greek charcuterie, pastourma and meze with a glass of tsipouro.

    52 SokratousExplore View on map

  2. No-frills classic

    Taverna Nikitas

    Psyrri·Taverna·€

    An old-fashioned, no-frills taverna on Psyrri's main square, loved for homemade dishes such as dakos, pork souvlaki, aubergine and meatballs in tomato sauce. Busy at weekends, but worth the wait.

    19 Agion Anargyron StreetExplore View on map

  3. Hidden courtyard

    Avli

    Psyrri·Taverna·€

    A humble taverna in a hidden courtyard, with a short menu of traditional dishes cooked over a gas stove and a lovely, old-Athens atmosphere.

    12 Plateia Agiou DimitriouExplore View on map

  4. Since 1964

    Thanasis

    Monastiraki·Kebab & souvlaki·€

    A family-run souvlaki institution just off Monastiraki Square since 1964, famous for its kebab in warm pitta.

    69 Mitropoleos StreetExplore View on map

Cafés

  1. Famous seasonal displays

    Little Kook

    Psyrri·Themed café·€€

    A fairytale dessert café on the corner of Karaiskaki and Pittaki streets in Psyrri, famous for its over-the-top themed decor that spills out onto the street. Its huge Halloween and Christmas displays draw crowds of visitors every year, and the theme changes with the seasons, inspired by stories such as Alice in Wonderland and Mary Poppins. Open daily from 10am to midnight.

    17 Karaiskaki Street & Pittaki StreetExplore View on map

  2. Loukoumades

    Lukumades

    Monastiraki·Dessert café·€

    A small café on the corner of Aiolou and Agias Irinis, famous for loukoumades (Greek honey doughnuts) with modern toppings, plus coffee, organic teas and homemade lemonade.

    21 Aiolou Street & Agias Irinis SquareExplore View on map

  3. Ancient Agora views

    Dioskouri

    Monastiraki·Café & meze·€

    Shaded tables in the middle of the flea market overlooking the Temple of Hephaestus and the Ancient Agora: excellent coffee, ouzo and meze, and great people-watching.

    37 Adrianou StreetExplore View on map

  4. Starbucks near Plaka

    Starbucks Mitropoleos

    Monastiraki·Coffee chain·€€

    Starbucks on Mitropoleos Street, on the edge of Plaka between the cathedral and Monastiraki Square: the familiar lattes, Frappuccinos and pastries, and a handy stop when exploring the old town.

    Mitropoleos StreetExplore View on map

  5. Greek favourite

    Gregory's Monastiraki

    Monastiraki·Coffee and snack chain·€

    Gregory's (Grigoris), Greece's own coffee and snack chain, right by Monastiraki Square: cheap and cheerful freddo espresso, cappuccino, fresh sandwiches, koulouri and pies, perfect for breakfast on the go. Branches all over Athens.

    2 Athinas StreetExplore View on map

Bars & nights out

  1. Acropolis views

    360 Cocktail Bar

    Monastiraki·Rooftop bar·€€

    A wide rooftop terrace above the flea market with panoramic views of the Acropolis and the old town. Relaxed by day, lively by night.

    2 IfestouExplore View on map

  2. Hidden rooftop

    Couleur Locale

    Monastiraki·Rooftop bar·€€

    A hidden-away rooftop reached through a small arcade, with a laid-back crowd and a postcard view of the Parthenon.

    3 NormanouExplore View on map

  3. World's 50 Best Bars 2026 – No. 19

    The Bar in Front of the Bar

    Monastiraki·Cocktail bar·€€

    A relaxed, zero-waste bar with a daily-changing menu that has climbed fast up the world rankings. Creative drinks without any pretension.

    1 PetrakiExplore View on map

  4. Bar-theatre

    Faust

    Monastiraki·Bar & stage·€€

    A bar-theatre in the historic centre with live music, stand-up comedy and cabaret shows on its stage, and a lively bar in front.

    12 Athinaidos (also 11 Kalamiotou)Explore View on map

  5. Live music & DJs

    Six d.o.g.s

    Psyrri·Arts venue & garden bar·€€

    The most respected music venue in central Athens: a multi-level arts space with a magical garden bar, gigs and DJ sets almost every night.

    6-8 AvramiotouExplore View on map

  6. Soul & R&B

    Soul

    Psyrri·Bar-club·€€

    A Psyrri favourite with a garden and dance floor, playing soul, R&B, hip-hop and Latin to a friendly late-night crowd.

    65 EvripidouExplore View on map

  7. Underground

    Tranzistor

    Psyrri·DJ bar·€

    A compact DJ bar in Psyrri playing underground techno and house, with a friendly crowd that spills onto the street.

    13 KaraiskakiExplore View on map

Shopping

  1. The poet sandal makers

    Melissinos Sandals

    Psyrri·Handmade sandals·€€

    The Melissinos family has made handmade leather sandals near Monastiraki since the 1920s, famously for celebrities. The historic Stavros Melissinos workshop has closed, but the family tradition continues at Pantelis Melissinos's workshop nearby: check the current address before you go.

    Agias Theklas Street area, PsyrriExplore View on map

  2. Sandals and souvenirs

    Mitropoleos & Pandrosou Streets

    Monastiraki·Shopping streets·€

    Running from Syntagma past the cathedral to Monastiraki Square, Mitropoleos and narrow, pedestrian Pandrosou are packed with handmade leather sandals, jewellery, icons, olive-wood and souvenir shops, leading on to the flea market streets around Ifestou.

    Mitropoleos Street & Pandrosou StreetExplore View on map

  3. Nike SB skate shop since 2008

    Color Skates

    Psyrri·Skate shop·€€

    The heart of the Athens skate scene since 2008: an independent skate shop in Psirri for decks, wheels, skate shoes and streetwear, and one of the official Nike SB skate shops, which also runs skate events and contests.

    5 Protogenous StreetExplore View on map

  4. Since the 1880s

    Martinos

    Monastiraki·Antiques & fine art·Luxury

    Athens' most famous antique dealer, on Pandrossou Street since 1926: four floors of Greek and European furniture, icons, Venetian glass, kilims, swords and fine art.

    50 Pandrossou StreetExplore View on map

  5. Best on Sundays

    Avissinias Square Flea Market

    Monastiraki·Antiques & flea market·All budgets

    The heart of the Monastiraki flea market, lined with antique dealers and bric-a-brac shops selling furniture, silver, books and records. Busiest and best on Sunday mornings.

    Avissinias SquareExplore View on map

  6. Local life

    Central Market (Varvakios Agora)

    Central Market·Market

    The bustling meat and fish halls of the city's central market, with spice shops, delis and old tavernas all around. Athens at its most authentic.

    Athinas StreetExplore View on map

Fitness + spa

  1. Free for hotel guests

    The Zen Centre Athens

    Monastiraki·Yoga & meditation studio·€€

    Yoga, Zen meditation and Pilates taught in English on the first floor of The Perianth hotel on lively Agia Irini Square. Free for hotel guests and open to everyone.

    The Perianth Hotel, Agia Irini SquareExplore View on map

Share your Monastiraki experience

Been to Monastiraki or Psyrri? Share your favourite rooftop bars, tavernas, flea market finds and tips with other visitors.

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