Magazines |
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 Wallpaper magazine
Special travel issue
May 2002
“Café
Abyssinia …. With floral-print wallpaper, dark deco
carpentry and quirky ceramics. This central café has
something of "Vieux Cairo" about it. If the flea market becomes too
much, or you’re preparing to traverse touristy
Plaka, this is the place to rest your legs.
Athens
guide/Hellenic Highs:
“The Best Hotels, restaurants, bars.”
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Book |
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Katie Koufonikola's
book "is an entire universe, a
particular life-style: the invisible aroma that
unites Europe, as we younger people know it, with
the Balkans, the rich Northern culture of a bygone
Greece and the city centre with its works for 2004 -
the aromas of English roast beef, paprika, Indian
spices and Sauerkraut all combined in the same
pan..."
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Newspaper |
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 The New York Times
Sunday 24 January
1993
No
less picturesque is Avissinia, in the flea market
district north of Plaka known as Monastiraki. An odd
assortment of shops lines these narrow, winding
streets. During the week Avissinia is an elegant
oasis from the bustle - the jewel box dining room a
backdrop for lunching couples and a trio of jejune
model comparing notes on the joys of smoking. On
weekends, the two or three outdoor tables give way
to more than a dozen and Avissinia Square, which
doesn't appear on any map, becomes a magnet for hip
Athenians who tool up their Harleys and join the
resident accordionist in song. A cynic might
characterize this as another scene out of an updated
"Zorda", but it's Ketty Tooros the owner, greets
patrons, takes orders and takes pleasure in
suggesting a wine or special dish. She has given
Avissinia an almost Byzantine feel, and this sliver
of an ouzeri is awash with color. A drop ceiling is
painted to look like Venetian glass. One wall is
saffron, another covered with pink, blue and green
flowered wallpaper. Porcelain pitchers and an
amusing teapot shaped like Ben Franklin's head grace
a high shelf, and above them is a row of paintings.
There's a skinny wood bar in the back for those who
want to have their mezedes and ouzo standing up. The
owner takes darling approach with the food too. For
starters, the menu is in French. Alongside classic
Greek dishes, there are some interesting departures:
snails, for instance, and a few more substantial
offerings such as pork with prunes, though these are
served "ouzeri-style" on a small china plates. |
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The
Sunday Times |
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The Sunday times,
Sunday 24 January 1993
Wedged
between second-hand furniture shops near the flea
market, this chic little cafe has a deserved cult
following. Dishes include a fabulous "saganaki" (fried
cheese), brains with black butter, snails, baked
potatoes and smoked sausages with peppers. Beer is
sold from the barrel. Athenians linger for hours
listening to the cafe's resident "gypsyish" diva belt
out Greek love-songs, and the waiters have an
endless supply of folding tables for late arrivals.
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