The Central Market, spread along Athinas street, is the largest and oldest market of Athens. It is located more or less around the same area for 150 years. The first plans of its development were designed in 1836 by Christian Hansen. Eventually the market was built 50 years later. The structure was influenced by other European markets with a lot of neoclassic elements added on. The central market is also called the Varvakeios Market due to the school that was located near by built by a wealthy man named Varvakis.

The Central market is a place that most Greek families, particularly the ones living in the central domain of Athens, use to do grocery shopping, buy meat, fish and other items. Visiting regularly the market is a habit of the older generation of Greeks, like my dad, who religiously would visit the market once per week. For him, as with other older Greeks, prices in the market were a blueprint of the economical situation in Greece. Young Greeks seem to prefer the market during the wee hours to taste some “patsa” known to help with large consumption of alcohol or hang out at the new restaurants that popped up in the market during COVID pandemic.

Whatever is your reason to be at the Central Market day or night just let yourself sink into the atmosphere. This is likely your best chance to grasp the beat of the city.