An Athens travel story about food, wine, rooftops, unexpected adventures, and collecting inspiration as a traveling artist.

Every trip has a different intention and mood. Sometimes I'm looking for adventure, sometimes I have a packed itinerary with friends and family, and sometimes I just need a solo reset, to wander, eat really good food, and let my brain catch up.

This trip to Athens, I had my rose-colored glasses on, my solo curiosity turned all the way up, and a little adventure in mind.

Athens was my first stop in Greece, and I intentionally kept this part of the trip fairly open. I knew a big week of scuba diving was coming next in Alonissos, so I wanted a few days to settle in, work through the jet lag, roam around a historic city, eat, drink, collect creative inspiration, and leave room for the unexpected. I truly love being a tourist in a city, but wandering into a wine bar, meeting people, and sharing a meal with a stranger are where the magic happens for me.

As I wandered, I was doing what I always seem to do when I travel: collecting inspiration for my artwork without necessarily realizing it. I'm looking at color, texture, light, architecture, movement, food, people, and the little treats that stay with me. I don't always know what will make its way onto a canvas, but curiously exploring and finding inspiration is just as much fun as painting itself. Shocking, I know!

Arriving in Athens & Where I Stayed

I landed in Athens around 11 a.m. on Thursday and took an Uber to Athens Towner Hotel by Palladian Hotels, centrally located near Monastiraki. The location was perfect for me as a solo traveler. I could walk to restaurants, shops, Plaka, Monastiraki Square, and so many of the places I wanted to explore.

Their lobby is very no-frills. Essentially a check-in office rather than a traditional hotel lobby, but the hotel room was what mattered to me. It was very clean, nice, and spacious, and even better, it was ready early. After an 11-ish-hour flight, I wanted a shower, clean clothes, and a nap. Avoiding eye contact with the fluffy Queen size cool bed, I did a quick rinse, change, and headed out.

The hotel is rated four stars under the European hotel classification system, which generally focuses more on defined physical infrastructure, facilities, and amenities than the guest-driven systems we're more accustomed to in the U.S. For me, the central location, comfortable room, and easy home base were exactly what I wanted.

And then there was the rooftop. Hyper Bar-Restaurant had been one of the things that caught my attention when I booked the hotel, and I was already looking forward to checking it out later for the views.

But first things first: I needed to find a gyro and a beer!

My First Meal in Athens: Thanasis

I wandered around Monastiraki Square, surrounded by restaurants, cafés, shops, market stands, and plenty of people coming and going. There are so many places to eat in this part of Athens that you could spend your entire afternoon reading reviews and still not make a decision.

My jetlag brain was mush, so I decided not to overthink it.

I landed an outside table at Thanasis, and it was a perfect first tourist stop. The lamb gyro was delicious, and after an overnight flight, sitting down with Greek food and a large cold beer while watching the activity of Athens felt like the official beginning of the trip.

There’s something about the first meal in a new place. The adrenaline hits keep coming and suddenly it feels real.

I'm in Greece, and the delicious flavor of lamb colliding with fresh tomatoes and tzatziki is the jolt of reality that it’s all happening. It’s going to be a delicious and magical trip.

I also love that food becomes part of my visual memory of a trip. The way food is presented, the colors on a plate, the clinking of glasses, the tables spilling onto sidewalks…all of it becomes part of the larger collection. The food is one of the key parts of a trip - not the entire thing - but definitely sways how my day goes. Lol

Athens, the Acropolis & a Skyline I Never Get Tired Of

I didn't walk up the Acropolis to visit the Parthenon on this particular trip, but I did find myself looking for it constantly.

I explored the Acropolis on my 2024 trip to Athens, and I still remember that hot as hell climb. It was around 101 degrees, with the heat index pushing even higher, and I was armed with two bottles of water, a bucket hat, and an outfit that was basically tissue paper. The heat was radiating off my skin as I climbed toward one of the most incredible pieces of ancient history I'd ever seen.

It was stunning. Ancient. Massive.

This time, I didn't climb it but booooy did I make sure I saw it. From rooftops, streets, restaurants, and little corners of Monastiraki, I could look up and find the Parthenon sitting on the skyline.

There was something incredibly calming about that.

The city could be busy and loud, but then I'd look up and see the Acropolis and was reminded how much the area had been through and was still hanging on - still looking regal. It became a visual anchor for my time in Athens, and was kind of like a friend as I roamed around this ancient city solo. I could always count on it being there - somehow giving me pops of confidence and connection to this lovely city.

That's part of the way I travel as an artist. Sometimes I'm consciously taking a photograph because I love a composition. Other times its a series of memories of a view that merge into feeling of comfort, joy, or curiosity. I don’t know how to entirely explain it, but this is how collective moments end up inspiring me in my studio later on :)

A particular shade of blue, a corner of an old building, or the contrast light and shadows, these little moments stay with me long after I've left.

I often don't always know where those observations are going and if they will meet a canvas one day, but I do remember them. And I am always collecting.

Eating My Way Through Athens

My favorite gyro of the trip was Hoocut, a modern Greek street-food spot in Monastiraki. I had the calamari pita, and it was exactly the kind of meal I love when I'm traveling: casual, delicious, unfussy, and completely satisfying after a day of walking. I think about this gyro often. I think it took the top of my list on this summer of calamari. (close second with a dish in Marsielle - will have to share more on that later)

One of the things that makes Hoocut special is its attention to the basics. Their handmade pita is part of the experience, and the calamari version I ordered came with taramosalata, tomato, spring onion, dill, fennel, paprika, fresh coriander, and pita. It's a modern take on Greek street food without losing the casual feeling that makes a gyro so good.

Go here. Get the calamari gyro. And a beer of course.

Greek Wine at Heteroclito

One of my favorite discoveries in Athens was Heteroclito, a wine bar in the historic center focused on Greek wine and native grape varieties. The selection is incredible, with more than 200 Greek labels and an emphasis on wines made with mild cultivation and winemaking methods, including natural wines. The whole philosophy is about highlighting native varieties and the richness of Greek land.

I loved the whole experience. The selection felt like a real opportunity to explore Greece through its wine rather than simply ordering the first familiar glass on the menu. The staff was beyond friendly and genuinely happy to help guide my palate, which made me feel so welcome and right at home.

What I tasted:

Tahtas - Heraklio-Crete Island, Aegean Sea from Lyrarakis Wines Micho Batch | Amber
- In Crete, wine cultivation and winemaking have continued uninterrupted for thousands of years. For more than half a century, the Lyrarakis family has placed particular emphasis on local grape varieties and the way they express themselves across the island’s diverse terrain. The vineyard in the mountains of Heraklion, planted in 1944 with the rate Tahtas variety, undergoes five days of skin contact. Rich on the palate, dominated by stone fruit, earthy nuances, moderate acidity, and elegant tannis. A herbal finish with energy and persistence.
Peramare - Ikaria Island, Aeegean Sea from Karimalis Winery (2 glasses) | Red
- Description: Legend has it that Dionysus, the god of wine, was born in Kiaria. Wild and laid-back, famous for the longevity of it’s inhabitants, the island remains one of the few authentic places left in Aegean. As locals say, “You do not choose Ikaria; Ikaria chooses you.” The carefree, summery, light-red Peramare makes its debut at the heteroclito, standing out for its freshness and aromas of blood orange and grapefruit.

Full transparency, I knew nothing about Greek wines - still don’t know enough. The Old World wines of France, Italy, Germany are found most often in restaurants around Charleston…but Greek wine doesn’t often make it to the US, or I haven’t gotten to experience much. From the wines I tasted at Heteroclito, I hope this can begin to change. Greek wines are tasty, and I think the Charleston heat would be the perfect pairing for these varietals!

And, of course, this night was added to my inspiration catalog - lots of little treats were found. The colors, friendly atmosphere, stories of the grapes, where throughout Greece people are from, and the feeling of sitting somewhere in Athens learning about something completely new is exactly the kind of night I was hoping to find.

Rooftop Views & New Friends at 360

Athens is a city where you absolutely need to make time for rooftop drinks or dinner. Seeing the Acropolis from above the city paired with the rainbow of sunset colors and Greek blues is a show all on it’s own! For sure was on my wish list each afternoon and night.

I spent one late afternoon at 360 Cocktail Bar in Monastiraki, which has panoramic views of the Acropolis and Athens.

And this is where more “leave room for the unexpected” parts of a trip keep showing up.

I met some new friends from Los Angeles while I was there, including a private chef from California. At some point, we started talking about food—because I love food and yes please, chef —and she mentioned that she'd heard Thanasis had the best lamb gyro in Athens.

I had to laugh. Apparently my jet-lagged instincts had led me in the right direction for my first meal! (and also a little validation for my taste buds)

What started as an afternoon drink turned into a few hours of good conversation, story telling, and adventuring to the next spot for snacks!

Connecting with other travelers is such a bonus when traveling. You can research the best restaurants in Athens for months, build the perfect itinerary, and still have no way to plan for the people you're going to meet. You just have to show up!

A Little Plaka, a Little Ouzo

Another day I wandered over toward Plaka and stopped at Brettos, the historic distillery and bar known for its colorful wall of bottles.

Naturally, I had to try some ouzo - the national clear, anise-flavored alcoholic drink of Greece. It tastes like black licorice and turns milky white when mixed with water. Interesting. Distinct. 35-50% ABV.

I'm always interested in local food and drink rituals when I travel. There’s always a fun story of how it came to be and it’s always interesting to see if people are still drinking/eating these traditional things. Ouzo is alive and well. It won’t be in my regular rotation, but it was fun to try!

Letting Athens Happen

For most of my time in Athens, I walked. Staying in the historic center made it easy to move between Monastiraki, Plaka, restaurants, shops, and the neighborhoods surrounding them. It was hot. Like hot hot. Dipping in and out of restaurants, shops, and museums is my best strategy for a long day.

I didn't want to rush. That was the point of Athens for me. I wanted to reset before the scuba-heavy portion of the trip, get my bearings, and allow myself to move at my own pace while I worked through the jet lag.

I also wanted to pay attention. I think that's one of the biggest luxuries of traveling as an artist. When you aren't racing from one attraction to the next, you have more room to notice the things that aren't necessarily on the itinerary: a color combination, the cascading flowers outside a restaurant, street vendors, or a table full of people laughing over dinner.

You start seeing the city in layers, and these layers get added to this recipe of memories I pull from when I’m creating artwork inspired from my travels.

My non plan, plan approach also left room for one completely unexpected activity: Foreigner, the rock band, was playing at the Athens Olympic Sports Complex on my last night. So, obviously, I went.

I took an Uber from central Athens, which was about a 20-minute ride, but then discovered that getting from the drop-off point to the actual Tennis Center involved what felt like a mile-long walk. And then, of course, I had to walk it again afterward.

I decided to take the Athens Metro back toward Monastiraki after the concert rather than wait around for an Uber. Since I lived in New York for a while, I'm generally comfortable navigating public transportation, but would be cautious if public transit isn’t your forte. The Athens Metro worked out great for me. It took around 45 minutes and dropped me off practically a block from the Athens Tower Hotel.

I briefly considered going back to Heteroclito to continue my very important Greek wine research and see my new friends again, but I had an early flight to catch. So I called the night and had my final walk home through the Monastiraki Square.

What I Took Away From Athens

The thing I love most about traveling as an artist is that inspiration rarely arrives in the way you expect.

I think that's a general metaphor for life. We tend to think we know what we're looking for. We make the plan, pick the destination, and decide what the experience is supposed to be. Then something completely different catches our attention—a person we meet, a meal we didn't plan, a street we wandered down because we took a wrong turn, a color we can't stop thinking about, or a view we didn't expect to love.

That's what happened to me in Athens.

I wasn't walking around thinking, This will be a super memorable part of my trip and I’ll feel creatively inspired. But I forget how traveling solo allows me roam free and find new, unexpected things. I notice things: the blue sky against warm stone, the Acropolis appearing above the city, the colors of fruit stands in Monastiraki, the architecture, the rooftops, the calamari(damn I miss that calamari), the wine, the people, and the way ancient history and everyday modern life exist side by side today. It’s just wild!!

As a traveling artist, I think this is one of the most valuable parts of exploring somewhere new. I'm constantly collecting references without necessarily knowing which ones will matter later. A photograph might become a composition, a color might influence an entire palette, or a feeling might sit quietly in the back of my mind until I'm standing in my studio months later.

The travel doesn't end when the plane lands back home. It keeps unfolding through the creative process. The beauty and little treats get to live on and on - until we get to experience it, or something like it again!

And eventually, those details start connecting.

That's where my Greek Views painting collection began to come to life. (Available September 2nd!!)

From Athens to the Greek Islands

Athens gave me history, architecture, food, really friendly people, and the first layer of Greek color. More than anything, it gave me a few days to slow down, look around, and start collecting the visual pieces of this trip before heading into the next part of the adventure.

From Athens, I continued on to Alonissos and then Mykonos, where the experience shifted from historic city streets to the water, scuba diving, beaches, and island life.

The islands added something completely different: different colors, different textures, different little treats, and different ways of seeing.

And that's what I'm excited to share next—not just the travel recaps, but how these different places, colors, textures, and experiences eventually merge throughout Greek Views, my upcoming collection of Greece-inspired art and Greek-inspired paintings! Athens was only the beginning.

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Sharing my traveling adventures through artwork is such a special experience and I’m so grateful for all the love and support <3 I love hearing from you and chatting about these amazing “little treats” of travel! The cherry on top is when you bring home my artwork to enjoy in your home!! So thank you. Thank you for being here and sharing your excitement of travel!!

Greece Travel Inspiration: Athens, Greece Through a Traveling Artist’s Eyes