Athens: Early Morning Marketplace, Acropolis and Parthenon Tour (with Pastry Shop Visit)

The best way to immerse yourself in the traditional colors and flavors of Athens is to get up early and head for Varvakeios Market. Located in a large building in the heart of Athens, the market is a mixture of traditional shops and stalls with the wonderful aromas of fresh herbs and spices. When you need to catch your breath, enjoy a cup of Greek coffee and eat something tasty, there are also several popular tavernas and ouzeries in the market, and Mokka, the coffee specialist is located by the main entrance.

Finally, head to the Hatzis pastry shop in Syntagma Square for a breakfast of traditional cheese or spinach pie and Greek coffee or espresso. Return back to your hotel with your guide or continue exploring from here.

The establishment of coffee pastry shops Chatzis is signaled back to 1908, when Suleiman Souleimanovits established in Venizelou str. his small dairy, right opposite to the position of his current business store, which has been attributed with longevity.The store sells creamery products, some inchoate sugar sweets, sweets dressed with syrup, “halva” and beverages such as milk and buttermilk which are included at the breakfast menu along with butter and honey – as well as the famous so called Boza, with its special sour-sweet taste.This is the first beverage that makes its appearance in the Balkans, which is made from millet, corn, yeast and sugar.Under these circumstances, and while the reputation of the store spreads by word of mouth, the workshop of Suleiman will remain in this position until 1917, as in August of the same year it will be destroyed along with thousands of other houses and shops due to the incident of the “big fire” in Thessaloniki.

So, before the year ends the store moves to 50 Venizelos street.