Fuelled by the reopening of the old gas works as a trendy cultural space, Athen’s once neglected district of Gazi is now home to the city’s best hang outs. Marissa Tejada takes us on tour…

One warm Athenian summer night, among a sea of sharply dressed Greeks, I couldn’t help but spot an ambling pair of comfortably dressed Japanese tourists.  With their guide book wide open and a big camera in hand, they began to make their way through the thick crowd ahead of them. They were clearly awed by sheer amount of people that occupied the public square and spilled onto the streets. It seemed like their guidebook was right, Gazi was the place to check out.

However, my friend visiting was more interested in the giggling group of girlfriends that passed by. Another friend of mine was still contemplating out loud which bar we should hit first; meanwhile, a skateboarding punk whizzed by as attempted to push our way into Gazi’s midsummer night’s maze. To cap it all off an elderly Greek couple somehow cut in front of us to stroll at a snail’s pace – holding hands.

That’s Gazi. It’s the place to define your meaning of a great night out. People bump shoulder to shoulder in its narrow streets that are filled with more crowds that hover around good drinks, conversation and company. Each turn there are more choices; a new bar to have a fancy cocktail, a trendy place to dine or a packed place to dance. The diversity in music, ages of people and types of food has become part of an energy that is tough to beat in any other part of Athens today.

Just two decades ago, Gazi was quiet.  The city’s undesirables built a small neighborhood in the shade of an old gas tower – that still stands today. That’s what Gazi means in Greek – gasworks.

1984 marked the historical year Athens Gasworks closed down. It was the only gas factory in Europe untouched during WWII, because the Germans feared bombarding it might harm the Acropolis. Following that time, it was a refuge for immigrants and even housed brothels, but by the nineties its incredible development was well on its way.

Gazi By Day

In 2007, the opening of the Kerameikos metro stop secured Gazi as a place to spend the day and to live and work. The station’s escalator leads up into Gazi’s large concrete square where cafes, bars, galleries, theatres and clubs pack the surrounding streets. Over the past decade alone, it has been reported that property values have soared 300 percent, quite a change in value for a place that used to cover the city with soot.

“There is a special atmosphere here. You’ll see a tourist watching groups of people laughing, little children playing, bands performing, teens with skates and bikes, senior citizens discussing politics at the Gaze al’ eau cafe to couples flirting,” says Fotis Ignatiou of Athens City Council. The old gas tower is still part of the area’s skyline… but in modern form. It has been completely cleaned out and redesigned as a chic industrial cultural centre called Technopolis of which Ignatiou is also the Chairman and Managing Director. Technopolis is hailed as a one of a kind cultural centre in Europe, hosting diverse events from art to fashion shows. “Europe has many old industrial spaces that have been transformed, but what’s so unique here is the rate of cultural development after so many years of abandonment.”

Ignatiou explains that Technopolis is a mix of Gazi’s past and its artistic present, remaining as a great example of how a de-industrialized space can set the pace in a city’s cultural life all the while maintaining its unique identity.

“A walk, any time of day or night here, would be enough to feel the atmosphere in Gazi and notice characteristic details. For example, Technopolis’ blast furnaces were specially lighted to resemble the fiery color they once had, projecting how important it is for a cultural space to remain “sleepless”. Especially on weekends, Gazi can certainly be described as sleepless. “Gazi and Technopolis provide infinite choices for having fun, no matter what age, orientation or preferences may be. At any time of the day, we are setting a unique pace in the heart of the city.”

Gazi By Night

Gazi’s public square and its surrounding streets, Iakou, Persephonis, Dekeleon and Voutadon are lined with cafés that double as bars come nightfall. The district branches out further around the square where you’ll find more nightlife and the heart of the city’s gay scene. It’s a place to sit and have a great meal. Go around Greek dinner time which starts at 10pm – when you’ll begin to see tables fill up. Try The Butcher Shop for delicious grilled meats, or Kandavlos for Greek fast food, like souvlakia, which are less pricey, tasty and right next door.

When in Gazi, a drink or two is in order. Gazaki is one of the district’s first bars and remains a hot spot on Triptolemou. On Voutadon Street, Gazarte offers live music, Hoxton displays art and 45 Degrees is known for its hard rockin’ rooftop.

Up for dancing? The best Athenian clubs are found within its Gazi’s perimeters. Villa Mercedes on Andronikou Street is where Greek paparazzi find their best shots especially when international DJs spin here. Or you can line up for a night of hip-hop at Dream City.

This is a gay friendly neighborhood and the selection of gay bars and clubs prove that. S-Cape on Megalo Alexandrou boasts a fun military theme and a sexy crowd that loves to dance. Meanwhile boutique O&B Hotel is nearby and with champagne and fresh fruit welcome, Molton Brown toiletries (to use or steal as you please) and Egyptian cotton sheets (…Milo Minderbinder would be chuffed) makes for a very pleasant stay. The Eridanus is another nearby upmarket choice, and some rooms even have views of the Acropolis. If you’re coming to Athens in summer then the Fresh Hotel‘s rooftop swimming pool and bar may be a deciding factor.

Don’t forget to check out Urban Travel Blog’s guide to Athens for info on the rest of the city!