The Sunday Getaway - 15 12 2024 - Vibing places

There's something to be said about the vibe of a place - that invisible veil that sets the mood at a place and that everyone can feel.? Sometimes it's easy to pin it down to the soft and warm lighting of dimmers, the fuzzy scent burning in the background or the way a room is laid out. Ever wondered why supermarkets bake bread and make sure it's one of the first smells that hit you as you venture in? As go round each aisle, you think you're making deliberate decisions of which shelf to reach, but you' re beautifully orchestrated by those who have designed this experience. Getting the vibe right is that important to a place. And sometimes it doesn't take science to get that.

With Christmas right around the corner, here are some places in Athens that get it right:

• To Afthereto - a no-frills yet delicious taverna, tucked away in a hidden, dead-end street in Marousi. Grab a seat by the fireplace, next to the old wine barrels and order up grilled cheese saganaki and some puffy beef patties.
• Aswtos - remember that burning inscence? Have a seat by the bar to enjoy some nice tunes, a delicious Florina peppers?labneh and some people watching.
• Manari - talk of the town for sure (which always makes us skeptical) but for all the right reasons. Dimmed lights, soft Greek music and a killer menu.?
• Adad - cosy vibes amidst books in this tiny?bookshop-cum-café in Petralona.
• Kennedy - so simple yet so elegant. A handcrafted music system will accompany those intimate chats in this dimly lit corridor-cum-bar. Make sure you order some Agonari cheese from Naxos with that Alsace?wine.
• Au Revoir - classic, high ceiling?drink room in what feels like a paintings gallery from the past. The dimmed lighting and the high chairs also add to what calls for a cosy night out.

Happy Sunday!

Travel On.?