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When I was young, I remember watching the classic movie ‘Alice in Wonderland’ and craving to have tea and coffee with Mr Mad Hatter and his crazy company in his fancy backyard! As I got older, I definitely started appreciating coffee and tea more and suddenly, my dream to enjoy all of that in a place that seems to have jumped right out of a fairytale came true! This last decade, a few magical places have made their appearance in Athens and established themselves as a favourite place for everyone (regardless of age) who wishes for some magic and sweetness in their lives. In this article I will present to you my favourite and definitely best themed coffee shops in the city so you can also experience a unique trip down the well to wonderland!
Written by Savina Skourmalla on 20 – 10 – 2022
- Little Kook – Welcome to Wonderland!
Located in the heart of Athens, this coffee shop is the true jewel of Psirri area and one of the best themed coffee shops in Athens!
Psirri neighbourhood is well known for its buzzy and lively vibe and there are coffee shops, bars and restaurants in every nook and corner. However, it is just impossible to turn to Pitaki street and miss the extravagant themed decoration that is spreading throughout the street, right and left and that belongs to the unique Little Kook coffee shop!
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This is the perfect place to sit back, take a breath and escape from tough reality surrounded by Alice, Cinderella, the Cheshire Cat, the King of Hearts and even a huge dragon. Even the waitresses and waiters are all dressed accordingly so get ready to be served by little Alices or elves! The owners of the coffee shop have given great consideration to the smallest detail, creating a colourful and unique environment that will make everyone happy, regardless of age.
Aside from the regular fancy decoration, Little Kook dresses according to 3 big celebrations that make up for the perfect themed occasion: Halloween, Christmas and Valentine’s day. From spooky to jolly and to lovey-dovey, each theme engages you into a different world and mood according to occasion.
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Little Kook is definitely popular for its decorations but there is another reason it’s one of the most loved and instagrammable coffee shops in Athens: Its sweets!
The menu consists of a variety of desserts like cakes, pancakes, crepes and ice – cream all with mysterious names and beautiful decoration to match with the cafe’s theme!
Since the coffee shop is composed of different buildings there are several seats indoors and outdoors so you can enjoy your dessert and a drink regardless of your mood or the weather conditions. I’ll give you one small tip however: Little Kook is really, really popular among locals and foreigners alike so if you’re visiting during the weekend be ready to wait in line for a table. Good thing is that you can enjoy the view and take lots of pictures for your instagram feed in the meantime!
Karaiskaki 17, Athina 105 54, Athens Greece
Tel: +30 21 0321 4144
Opening Hours: 9am – 12am (Mon – Sun)
Website: https://www.instagram.com/littlekook_/?hl=en
2. Cap Cap – A Harry Potter fan’s paradise!
The first ever themed coffee shop that opened in Athens and specifically in Egaleo is the so-called house of the ‘mouse with the blue bow’. In contrast to Little Kook, Cap Cap is well hidden in the alleys of the area but it’s loved among locals and well known for its beautiful themed menu and decoration making it one of the best themed coffee shops in Athens.
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Since it first opened its doors in 2012, Cap Cap has had a variety of themed weeks from popular brands, movies and tv series like Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, Marvel and even Friends. Of course, each Halloween and Christmas there are special decorations and matching menus that are very popular among locals who even dress up and join the festivities.
The menu is always in sync with the theme with names, colours and decorations that perfectly match the surroundings and feel of each occasion. Here you will find spectacular cakes, brownies, muffins and some savoury choices like pies, burgers and salads as well as mysterious ‘potions’ as they are called with a variety of choices for all ages and preferences.
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Cap cap is the first coffee shop that brought Harry Potter’s famous ‘butterbeer’ in Greece and it became widely known and covered by the media in a short period of time. Nowadays, there are 3 more smaller Cap Cap shops in different areas in Athens that function as pastry shops and most of the time follow a different theme than the main shop. In the first establishment you will also find a designated area with lots of items and collectibles for fans and there is also an online shop that delivers to every corner of the country.
Panormou 26, Athens Greece 122 42
Tel: +30 21 0590 4116
Opening Hours: 10am – 11:30pm (Mon – Sun)
Website: https://www.capcap.gr/
3. FairyTale – Live your own tale in the heart of Athens!
The newest arrival in this list and one of the best new entries in the themed cafe world of Athens is the magical ‘Fairy Tale’. Located in the Thissio area, this beautiful coffee shop with hues of pink and glitter is the meeting point of influencers and other instagram lovers!
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Each room and floor in Fairy Tale has a different theme, from romantic pink walls and unicorns, to beautiful butterflies and flamingos.
The theme and menu of this coffee shop in contrast to the previous two doesn’t follow a specific theme, but all the dishes are pieces of art that will definitely stand out on your instagram feed! The highlight of the menu is definitely the New York cheesecake but there are plenty of savoury and sweet choices that will make you drool. What’s really fascinating about the menu is its rich brunch that can be served from early in the morning until late at night!
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The owners of Fairy Tale have given a lot of attention to the detail and as they like to say this place has a ‘feminine’ flair to it so it’s definitely loved among the female groups. So if you are a guy looking for a perfect place to take your girlfriend, look no further. She will absolutely love this!
Besides the beautiful on-the-spot decoration where you can sit and enjoy a dessert and a warm drink, there is also the choice of home-delivery for birthdays and other events as well as an e-shop with pastry goods and other items that would make perfect presents to your loved ones!
Leokoriou 16, 105 54, Athens Greece
Tel: +30 21 0258 2341
Opening Hours: 9am – 12am (Mon – Sun)
Website: https://fairytale.com.gr/
4. Alice Cakewitch – Beware of the witch!
The neighbourhood of Petralona is very close to Thissio area and unless you have a good reason to visit you can easily miss it. I will give you this really good reason which is the colourful, fun and cheeky looking Alice Cakewitch cupcake coffee shop!
As the name suggests, this coffee shop is heavily influenced by the story of Alice in Wonderland and you will find a variety of cakes, milkshakes, donuts and other tasty desserts.
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The place itself is small but what makes it unique and the talk of the town is the detail to the fine raw materials the experienced pastry chefs use to make beautiful creations, like valrhona chocolate and french butter.
This is one of the many reasons why Alice Cakewitch has established itself as one of the best themed coffee shops in Athens with hundreds of orders for birthday cakes and cupcakes for parties every month.
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The French influence is easily detected in the scrumptious brunch that is served daily with Croque Madames and Monsiuers, omelettes and quiche lorraines among the most popular items in the menu.
Ious 42, Kato Petralona 105 54, Athens Greece
Tel: +30 21 0346 4353
Opening Hours: 8am – 9pm (Mon – Sun)
Website: https://www.instagram.com/alicecakewitch/?hl=en
5. Ellyz – Inside Marie Antoinette’s head!
Now, even though Ellyz is not a themed coffee shop per se, it deserves to be in this list because it managed to make a difference among the hundreds of selective,fun and unique cafes and established itself as the most instagrammable new coffee shop in town!
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If you find yourself in Monastiraki and see a huge line of people waiting to enter a flowery entrance, then you know you are in Ellyz Athens. Its name comes from the ancient Greek word ‘Elysium’ an idyllic place in Greek mythology where spring flowers bloomed forever. This is exactly the aesthetic Ellyz Athens is trying to achieve and judging from the thousands of daily check-ins we believe they are doing a great job!
The romantic pink,purple and white palettes accompanied by velvet couches and marple tables and of course relaxing music will make you feel like you are in a French cafe of the 30ies and the viable flowers covering every wall constitute for a romantic outing in a beautiful hidden garden.
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The flowery theme does not stop in the decoration as it is also profound in the rich menu where pink hues and flowers are always present in the cakes and drinks. Of course a rich and totally instagrammable brunch couldn’t be left out of the menu with pancakes, sandwiches and healthy bowls. Our suggestion is to treat yourself with one of Ellyz Athens’ signature cocktails, sprinkled with edible flowers of course!
Agiou Filippou 11, 105 55, Athens Greece
Tel: +30 21 1418 3816
Opening Hours: 9am – 1pm (Mon – Sun)
Website: https://ellyz.gr/
Athens has rapidly become a food mecca as more and more choices are now available for the locals and travellers alike. If it’s your first time visiting Athens, looking for the best places might be a bit hectic, so the best way to explore all the local spots and some hidden places is with a unique and fun city bike tour. During the 3 hour tour you will be able to see all of Athens highlights and some secret spots and get a better overview of the city. Our tour leader will give you a lot of tips and recommendations about what to do in Athens and lots of things to check. Get a glimpse of these beautiful coffee shops along the way and let us know what you think!
