Night life in Athens is indeed absorbing for many. A line of customers waiting in front of popular restaurant at 2.30 am can be nothing unusual in this city of 4 million people. A typical tourist to Athens may be surprised by this particularly after making a beeline for the Greek islands and perhaps the obligatory visit to the Acropolis and the predictable Plaka district. To discover the many charms of Athens, you should venture out into the neighborhoods, eat at any of the innumerable restaurants, and see Hollywood stars in a romantic outdoor cinema right under the real stars – that is what the Greeks do.

The Greek capital derives its name from the ancient goddess Athena and her favorite animal, the owl. A native Athenian has observed “Athens by day is unlivable, but it is magical at night”. The extended subway system and the new tram make it easier to see the hidden Athens more than ever. The old working class neighborhood of Psirri with its diners, dancers and dandies gazing up at the nearby Acropolis is where the versatile personality of Athens’ is splendidly noticeable.

The city’s greatest collection of Byzantine churches, built around the 11th or 12th centuries is in a triangle on the edge of a huge flea market. These churches somehow managed to survive the mass demolition of over 70 dilapidated or damaged churches in 1843. The renaissance of Psirri which gained momentum in early 1990s has resulted in some fine restored buildings. Psirri has now attained the status of a popular entertainment district and braces to compare itself with London’s Soho. A web site in Greek and English provide a description of the neighborhood where you can also make dinner reservations online. Natives maintain the old feel of the neighborhood and the nearby Monastiraki sub way stop relentlessly bring in wannabe dwellers.