Deana Kartsagouli
Nothing says Greek summer nights like watching a movie at an open-air cinema. A favorite vacation pass time and the place where big love stories begin -since they are the best idea for a first date-, these movie theaters often occupy a special place in our hearts. And everyone has a favorite one, whether it is the one near their summer home where they would go as a child, the one that their friends love or even that which they reserve only for themselves as a place to unwind and be alone.
It is the atmosphere that is the big appeal. The light breeze, the smell of the night flowers and the star filled sky above, all of which work to enhance the experience far beyond simply enjoying a movie. And, for four very specific places in Athens, there is also the Acropolis.
Competing with whatever is on the screen, and far more beautiful than anything you may see up there, the breathtaking view of the Acropolis transforms these spaces, giving them an incomparable allure. Cine Thisio, Cine Paris, Zefyros Cinema and Pool Your Cinema at the legendary Hotel Grande Bretagne, are main points of attraction for Athenian and tourist moviegoers alike.
Cine Thisio – An athenian gem
The most famous open-air cinema with a view to the Acropolis is Cine Thisio. Established in 1935, this athenian gem offers a direct and unobstructed view of the Parthenon. Add to this the trees and greenery all around you, even framing the screen, and you get an extraordinary experience that makes you forget you are in a big city. Everything here is a step back in time, even the offerings at the snack bar that include hand-made specialties like a traditional sour cherry sweet treat, liqueur and beverage.
Besides contemporary movies, Cine Thisio also features many classics like the on-screen adaptation of Truman Capote’s masterpiece, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, starring Audrey Hepburn, that will be shown until July 31st.
Cine Paris – Iconic place
Situated in the picturesque Plaka district, this rooftop cinema was originally opened in the 1920s as a closed space theater by a Greek hairdresser who had just returned to his country after many years spent in Paris -hence its name. The theater moved to its current location in the 1960s, boasting a panoramic view of the ancient temple. Following a four year extensive renovation it has recently been re-opened by Cinobo, the leading Greek streaming platform dedicated to film, that will strive to continue the iconic cinema’s reputation in providing an eclectic selection of movies.
Zefyros Cinema – Award winning films
Moving on from the city center and heading to the nearby Ano Petralona neighborhood, we find Zefyros Cinema. A bit more understated, as this particular part of town and its locals demand, this cozy and welcoming open-air cinema, was established in 1932, as a venue for shadow theater and variety shows, only evolving into a movie screening room after the end of World War II. Today, it is particularly popular, not just for its view to the Acropolis, but also for its screenings of independent films and Greek movies, providing a platform for local filmmakers. It also features strictly selected, award winning international films.
Pool your cinema – Elegance combined with timeless style
The only theater on the list that is part of a hotel, this new addition to the city’s landscape has already won everyone over. Situated on the 7th floor of the Grand Bretagne, by the hotel’s pool, this cinema’s elegant setup is only surpassed by the timeless beauty of the Acropolis and Mount Lycabettus in the horizon. Here, at Pool your Cinema, aside from the movie selection, equally impressive is the menu. After all, at the helm of the hotel’s dining options is Asterios Kostoudis, a Michelin star chef. Handmade nachos, tacos, pizza, Black Angus cheeseburger, corn dogs with caramel popcorn and you have the most gourmet comfort food for the perfect movie night.
Info
Cine Thisio, Apostolou Pavlou 7, Athens 118 51, Tel.: +30 21 0342 0864
Cine Paris, Kidathinaion 22, Athens 105 58, Tel.: +30 21 0325 2996
Zefyros Cinema Troon 36, Athens 118 51, Tel.: +30 21 0346 2677
Pool your Cinema at Hotel Grande Breatagne,Vasileos Georgiou A, 1, Syntagma Square Str, Athens 105 64 (7th floor), Tel.: +30 21 0333 0000
