Yes, we’re back from our summer holiday breaks, but this does mean we should put a lid on our activities and start feeling gloomy. The charismatic coastline of the wider Athens area always offers precious nearby escape from the city pressure, almost instantly offering a faraway feel. We recommend five spots, from Varkiza to Sounion, that will add scrumptious taste to your swimming excursions.

13

Varkiza Resort

The renowned seaside complex offers many activities on Varkiza beach as well as a wide range of dining options catering to different tastes. The particularly stylish Coyoacan Playa, which begins the day serving at the beach daybeds and continues service at its spacious restaurant space, offers exotic food, cocktails and atmosphere that transports to faraway Mexico.

Varkiza Beach, tel. +30 2104511888, https://www.varkizaresort.gr

Kyra Popi

This charming taverna is constantly full, so making a table reservation is recommended. Seafood dishes, including crayfish recipes and seabass (lavraki) ceviche with citrus juice, as well as grilled octopus, calamari and fresh fish, are menu features. The knowledgeable wine list offers selections from Greek and foreign wineries, while, for dessert, homemade ravani (syrupy cake) with vanilla ice cream is served.

Lagonisi, +30 22910 26388, Facebook kyrapopiseafood

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Kira Popi
Lavraki

Lavraki

As suggested by its name, meaning seabass, this relaxed and friendly spot, offering a comfortable outdoor space with a sea view, focuses on fish and seafood. Start off with the smoked mussels, scomber and other meze selections that can be picked from a smorgasbord tray brought to you and continue with fresh seabass or gilt-head on the grill, fried cod with garlic dip, giouvetsi (orzo stew) with prawns, or other terrific seafood dishes.

Anavyssos, +30 22910 55171, Facebook Lavraki

EverEden Beach Resort Hotel

This impressively refurbished hotel offers a variety of food choices. It offers a snack menu at the resort’s beach bar, Mexican flavours at the Cacti restaurant, Japanese proposals at the Hokyo sushi bar, as well as, at an all-day beach restaurant, Edenaki, food of Greek and Mediterranean principles, plus cocktails, ideal for the sunset hours colouring the spot’s veranda.

Anavyssos, +30 22910 60031, https://www.evereden.gr

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Marida

Marida

Its rich history, alone, dating back to 1930, says plenty about this fish taverna with a loyal customer base at the end of the Legrena seaside road. The variety of fried fish, cured fish, sun-dried octopus on the grill, prawn saganaki (prawns cooked in spicy tomato-based sauce, topped with creamy feta, and baked in the oven) as well as fresh fish, depending on the supply of the day, are all worth considering when you order.

Legrena +30 22920 51221, Facebook Marida Sounio