They may no longer resonate with political debate, they may not contain intellectual wells, poets and novelists may no longer have their tables in certain corners, but modern coffee shops are certainly more inclusive and open to new fashions.

Today, more than ever, cafes are relaxed social spaces, many of them with modern design and aesthetics, subtle music, better lighting, a set of conditions that sometimes turn them into calling cards of the whole area.

Not to generalize, we don’t mean the huge, massive, impersonal coffee shops of the past. New generation cafes tend to be smaller, located in the neighborhood and are increasingly popping up in areas that owe much of their popularity to young people. They are located in Kypseli, Pagrati, Kukaki, Exarchia. Their main characteristic is intimacy and relaxation. Familiar faces, the clientele is not based on passers-by – not excluding them – and they all have the active support of neighbors who are often here.

Over the years, in addition to the product offered, the coffee itself, the quality of which has increased dramatically, the function of specific spaces has also changed. Neocafe is that place – after home and work – where people feel as comfortable as if they were in their friends’ rooms. You can even go there alone, read a book instead of on the couch, meditate over a great cup of coffee or bring your laptop to work away from the monotony of the office, even make an appointment with a friend or a large group. instead of inviting them into the house. Some encounters happen here spontaneously and unplanned, which contributes to our tendency to goggle in attractive surroundings.

With the new normality brought by the pandemic, workers who didn’t have a strict work schedule, as well as digital nomads who arrived in Athens, settled in the morning hours in coffee houses in search of an office with all the comforts: stable Internet, sockets near the tables, moderate music to they could zoom or focus, places next to large bright windows to rest the eyes. But no one lives all day on just “fuel” caffeine. Along with the expertly crafted coffee, small tasty side dishes were added in addition to the classic square toast. Now you will be served breakfast, healthy snacks or delicious pastries.

This is where we recognized the American brunch, this is where we hovered over towering towers of pancakes. In fact, some businesses that have extended opening hours to 8 p.m. are also offering light snacks, salads and desserts, or offering a few classic cocktails in the afternoon. This is how these human nests look now, which can be for some stations of partial inactivity or beehives for the creative masses.