As the temperatures rise, Athenians head outside on starry summer nights for drinks and bites to eat on sun-bleached squares shaded by trees. The flagstones and tarmac leach the day’s heat into the night and moths dance in the light of street lamps, while waiters waltz around tables with drinks held shoulder-high on trays and children race around untroubled by school bedtimes. The focal point of neighbourhood social scenes and the heart of local nightlife, Athens’ squares or ‘platies’ are the best place to experience the city as locals do.

Plateia (Square) Mavili
Next to the American Embassy, Mavili is actually a triangle, but who is counting sides when there is so much fun to be had? Gorgeous gelato is found at Epik, one of the best ice cream parlours in the whole of Athens, where the bright and funky flavours are made by hand every day. Squeezed in between a pizzeria and a bar, the look is retro but the tastes are bang up to date and feature the finest Greek ingredients.

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