If you're staying in Athens for more than a few days and working remotely, sometimes you just need to get out of the apartment, take your laptop and work somewhere else for a few hours. Kypseli has plenty of cafés, but not every nice café is necessarily a good place to work. These are three places I would choose for very different reasons.
Kick — my favourite for a proper work session
Of the three, Kick is the one I personally like the most for working. It's large, bright and spacious, with plenty of room inside as well as tables outside, including along the pedestrian street.
What I particularly like about Kick is that it isn't just a café. Part of the space is dedicated to clothes, accessories and objects by independent designers and small brands, while downstairs there is an exhibition and event space. There is always something more going on around you, without it feeling like the wrong environment to open your laptop and get some work done.
For me, the combination of space, light, thoughtfully prepared food and atmosphere makes it somewhere I could comfortably spend several hours working.
My personal note: If I wanted to settle down with my laptop for a proper work session, this would be my first choice.
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Lake Kypseli — cosy, intimate and good food
Lake Kypseli has a completely different atmosphere. It's smaller and more intimate, with a more enclosed, cosy feeling that I particularly associate with the colder months.
It's a lovely place to sit with a laptop, but one of the things that makes it stand out is the attention they give to what they serve. There is specialty coffee and a thoughtful selection of fresh, handmade food, with plenty of vegetarian options.
I would choose Lake when I want to work somewhere cosy for a couple of hours and have something good to eat at the same time.
My personal note: This would be my choice for a rainy or colder Athens day — laptop, coffee and something good to eat.
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Cultivos Kypseli — one that's on my list
I haven't personally worked from Cultivos yet, so this one comes with a small disclaimer: it's on my list rather than one of my tried-and-tested favourites.
I included it because it ticks many of the boxes I look for in a place to work: good coffee, Wi-Fi, food, plenty of natural light and, most importantly, a beautiful green courtyard at the back. It's also known locally as a place where people settle in with their laptops.
When the weather is good, the idea of working from a quiet courtyard surrounded by greenery sounds pretty hard to beat.
My personal note: I haven't tested this one myself yet. Once I do, I'll come back and update this article with my verdict.
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Three cafés, three different moods
That's probably why I wouldn't choose one café and call it simply “the best”.
If I wanted space and a bright environment for several hours of work, I'd go to Kick. If I wanted something smaller and cosier with good food, I'd choose Lake Kypseli. And on a beautiful Athens day, I'd be tempted to try the garden at Cultivos.
Whichever you choose, they're also a good excuse to close the laptop when you're done and spend a little more time exploring Kypseli.
