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» Neighborhood Shops Athens
From world-class art to locally designed jewelry, we’ve tracked down the best shopping in the world’s coolest cities. Find that last-minute holiday gift, or take home something memorable for yourself.
The Draw: An independent jewelry designer with her head firmly stuck in the clouds. Fairy tales are her thing, and metal work is her forte. The Scene: Despite the shop’s trendy location, Lilian Syrigou manages to literally keep things underground, tucked away in the basement of an office building. Entering her workshop is like discovering Santa’s grotto. Clothing and accessories from independent local designers are displayed alongside her handcrafted jewelry that marries folk with funk. Syrigou pieces come with myriad combinations that reunite storybook favorites such as the cow and the moon, the princess and the frog, and Snow White and the apple, all in the form of earrings, necklaces, brooches, and bracelets. Hot Tip: Syrigou creates her pieces on-site, so if you have a design in mind, let your imagination run wild, and she’ll be running alongside.
The Draw: Bettina is more than a boutique; it is a gallery, a design museum, and an all-around ice-cold igloo of contemporary fashion. The Scene: Want to know what will be in fashion long after you’re gone? Bettina is the place to go. Since 1964 it has been at the forefront of the Athenian avant-garde, and it shows no signs of letting up. With a relentless need to evolve, Bettina is always on the lookout for new talent, which makes it a point of reference for all die-hard fashionistas. With a newly renovated boutique designed by the notoriously forward-thinking architect Grigoris Kotsiyiannis (of Metamorfosis fame), Bettina presents three floors of jaw-dropping trends that turn shopping into a cultural experience. Hot Tip: Bettina makes a point of collaborating with galleries and designers to create events and projects that push the bar. Check out the website to see what the store has got up its designer sleeve.
The Draw: Bohbo is one of Athens’ only vintage boutiques in an area filled with wealthy old ladies with killer closets and a penchant for clearing them out. The Scene: Bohbo is dripping in vintage jewelry and accessories, all resting on secondhand furniture. All the names under fashion’s bright sun are represented here, as some of the best-dressed ladies in Greece stop by on a daily basis to drop off vintage classics. Visiting Bohbo is an experience in itself: Against the backdrop of pastel blue and green walls, discover the stories behind the clothes while picking out a vintage piece that is worth its weight in gold. Hot Tip: Bohbo releases a daily newsletter informing clients of hot new items acquired on the same day. Sign up before your trip, and compile your shopping list.
