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Avissinia
Square has a long history of trade. It was given its
name in honor of the King of Avissinia (Abyssinia),
present day Ethiopia. Amongst the locals, the square
is also known as “Yousouroum”, having taken this
name from an antiques dealer who was well known for
trading in the old market. Every weekend the flea
market still sets up its corrugated iron roved
stalls in the square and surrounding labyrinth of
cobbled streets. It turns the area into a magical
world of bizarre and wonderful objects, antiques,
and practically anything else you can imagine. Café
Avissinia sits on the corner of the square, in the
middle of this mosaic of colourful artifacts,
collectables and unusual objects that conjure up
lost images of the past.
Café
Avissinia first opened in 1986. It began as a small
tea house, the only one in the area, attracting all
sorts of locals, people of the arts, and those with
an artistic soul. It was immediately embraced by
Athenians, as it became a meeting point, a place to
rest, the place to eat and gradually turning into a
restaurant. There, a celebrity could hide from his
fame and the everyday customers could feel like the
central character in a novel. Ever since, hundreds
of people have enjoyed themselves in “Avissinia”,
either discovering the peculiar tastes of the
family’s cooked meals, or having a blast
participating in the unique atmosphere of the
musical performances on weekend afternoons; all of
whom added to the fascinating history of this
authentic Greek bistro. |
