During the early 1900s, Athens was undergoing a cultural and architectural renaissance.
As Greece emerged from the 19th century and the dust of wars and revolutions began to settle, the capital city transformed into a hub of refinement, European influence, and intellectual awakening. This was Athens' Belle Époque - a period marked by elegant buildings, flourishing arts, and the rise of cafés and salons that became the beating heart of the city's social and cultural life.
The Belle Époque (c. 1890-1914) was an era of optimism, peace, and artistic development throughout Europe. In Athens, it brought a wave of neoclassical architecture, modernist ideals, and a desire to align with Western European capitals like Paris and Vienna.
This period gave birth to:
New theatres, like the Municipal Theatre of Athens.
Literary movements (e.g., the New Athenian School).
The emergence of an intellectual elite who gathered in specific spots for discussion and inspiration.
Cafés were not simply places for coffee - they were meeting points for poets, painters, philosophers, and politicians.
Here are a few notable spots:
Café Zonar's (Founded 1939, but inspired by the earlier salon culture)
Though slightly post-Belle Époque, Zonar's was modeled after Parisian cafés and soon became the epicenter of artistic life. Even in its early decades, it echoed the grandeur of the salon tradition.
Café Neon
Located near Omonia Square, it was a haunt for both bourgeois society and the creative elite. Politicians, journalists, and intellectuals would often debate the issues of the day while sipping strong Greek coffee.
Patisserie Deligiorgis
An early version of a salon/patisserie, popular in the 1910s, where aristocratic Athenians mingled in marble-floored rooms with Viennese confections.
Café Panellinion
One of the earliest modern coffee shops in the city, attracting thinkers and writers with its European decor and cosmopolitan feel.
Parallel to the cafés, private salons began to form in the elegant homes of wealthy Athenians. These were evening gatherings featuring:
Live chamber music
Poetry readings
Discussions on politics, philosophy, and aesthetics
Prominent hosts often included foreign-educated women who introduced refined European customs into Greek social life.
These salons helped:
Promote Greek writers like Kostis Palamas
Encourage translation of foreign literature
Nurture early feminist voices and liberal thinkers
The fashion of the Belle Époque mirrored French and Italian trends. Long skirts, lace gloves, and tailored suits for men were the norm. Strolling down Ermou Street or Academias Avenue, one would see the rising Athenian middle and upper class expressing this newfound sense of identity.
The architecture also mirrored this elegance:
Neoclassical mansions (some still stand today)
Ornamental details, iron balconies, and colorful tiles
Many places in Athens still hold echoes of this golden age:
The National Library and University of Athens - magnificent buildings that capture the neoclassical spirit.
Neighborhoods like Kolonaki and Plaka - where old mansions and period buildings remain.
Benaki Museum - with exhibits on Athenian life during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
