As dusk falls in the gardens of the Zappeion, the subtle white Christmas lights begin to glow softly, outlining the architecture of the historic building. Aegli Zappeion, just a few days after its reopening, seems to have already found its new rhythm. The festive decoration, simple and elegant, without the usual excesses, subtly underlines the nobility of the space – a choice that reflects the new philosophy of the Athens landmark.

Since 1904, when it first opened its doors as “the most enjoyable centre of Athens”, it has been an integral part of the capital’s social and cultural fabric.

For more than a century, it stood proudly next to the iconic Zappeion Hall, one of the most historic sites in Athens. Its halls have hosted some of the most important moments of Athenian social life. Politicians who shaped the course of the country, intellectuals who shaped the intellectual life, artists who left their mark on culture, and personalities who wrote the history of the city, all passed through its rooms, discussed at its tables, had fun at its events.