Klepsydra — Restaurant in Athens

Among the many gems if cafe restaurants in Plaka, this is the most gently polished. Location is excellen: you sit at a crossroads where breeze from four directions carry the scent of jasmin, rhynchospora and evening primroses. Views: on the one side you look down over the Agora, and on the other up to the Acropolis. The music is excellent (ambient, jazz, crooner) and, more importantly, at the correct volume: a nice background to your conversation. For this is indeed a place where people go to converse, talk, flirt, and relax. If you want your sweetheart to have a nice time, bring her here. Ditto if you met her now and this is the first date. The plates are good, the desserts unique: apple pies, dark chocolate pies, lemon pies. And if you suddenly see a grey cat sitting next to you, it is Carolina the owner's pet, with a behavior indistinguishable from human. I have a photo of them in a sunny winter afternoon sitting on chairs at a table observing the exact same spot at a distance, and looking for all intents and purposes as two persons having a...

Waiter was the rudest man I have ever meet. We stopped by for a drink and a snack, he served us with a rude and arrogant attitude. He ignored our signals and walked away completely when he knew we were not done ordering. I had to get up 20 minutes later because (we understood it was busy). Spoke to the boss he was polite, couple minutes later waiter arrived rudely told us “ you can’t order any of those”, we thought that implied he would give us a moment while we decide for another dessert, however by the time we could even say anything, he had walked away. We hated the atmosphere all because of the workers. Service was beyond bad we decided to leave but we would’ve had to wait another 20 minutes so we got up and asked for the bill. Our total came to 19.20 and we wanted to pay with card, of course his response was that we could not, all because it was less than 20. What kind of business is that ??? We said well, too bad, we only have a card and he proposed to give us back money and we pay 20 in card. We could not be more glad he gave us...

Klepsydra restaurant had an air of romantism about it. Neatly tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the Plaka tourist epicenter, yet a mere short 10 minute walk away from the main plaza.

The restaurant, spotting seats and tables on stairs,is located just uphill from the Roman Agora.

We ordered the pork gyro, grilled sea bass, spinach pie, and fish roe and eggplant appetizers. Food was average/good at best but not truly memorable. Portions were sufficient but my group of 4 was not too hungry due to the hot summer heat. If anything, perhaps the eggplant appetizer shone among the dishes, which came as paste and acted as a great spread for bread.

That said, coming to Klepsydra comes as an experience to soak up sights and watch people in Athens go by. As the sun was setting bathing the area with a warm hue, the soothing voice of a singer down the hill enveloped the air with a soothing tune.

It was a perfect setting to be seated at Klepsydra, unwinding from a day out visiting the Acropolis and watching scenes change from...