Hi

I am travelling with 40 students to Athens in March and was hoping to take them to an authentic Greek dinner/evening. Can anyone recommend a place that would hold 45 people (with chapersones) and that is accessible by transit?

Thanks : )

Check the Greece forum at http://www.tripadvisor.com

One of the regulars has started an Athens map of recommended restaurants. There are also several local residents who are active on the board who can point you in the right direction.

Rob

There are places that stage "Greek nights" for tour groups, with guys in skirts dancing and shouting "Opa!" Is that what you have in mind? It happens, but not authentic. Also, a place that will accommodate a group of 45 is not going to be a typical Taverna, unless you arrange to take it over ... you might be able to do that, if these are North Americans who eat early (i.e. 8 pm). However, it would just be a bunch of Americans in a Greek restaurants. Hve you considered maybe breaking it up into 2 groups of 22 each? In that case, it might be easier.

What you're looking for are "Bouzoukia." For the tourists that travel in Greece and want to get to know the local way of life, the main places of night activity is the area of Plaka and the area of Psiri and Thission near and around the Acropolis, in Plaka, once the centre of the Athenian nightlife still some restaurants offer syrtaki and bouzouki shows for the tourists. Psyrri a former scruffy area of any kind of handicraft shops next to Monastiraki flea market, became during the late 90's the replacement of Plaka with numerous restaurants, taverns and bars attracting a huge part of the Athens night outing, another place of nightlife with many bars and upmarket restaurants is the Thission area , mostly for the younger generations.

A good magazine about knowing events, places, clubs, restaurants and all kind of entertainment in Athens is the Athinorama (www.athinorama.gr) . Within this magazine you will find all the addresses and telephones of all of the above businesses like bars, clubs, restaurants, theatres, music halls etch.

LIVE BOUZOUKIA AND GREEK POPULAR MUSIC

IIFIGENEIA, 201 Sygrou Avenue, live Bouzouki music.

ALLI FASI ,121 Konstantinoupoleos street, live bouzoukia

VICTORIA, at Victorias square in Athens, live Greek popular music (Laika).

ENNEA OGDOA, 40 Alexandras Avenue, live Greek music.

STOA ATHANATON, if you like the traditional rebetika music this is the place, right at the centre of Athens between Omonia and Monastiraki at 19 Sofokleous street.

Taverns with Greek live music:

To Perivoli tou Ouranou at 19 Lysicratous street near Hadrian's Arch.

Sissyfos at Mnisikleous street 31.

Allegro, 71 Pireos street and Agion Asomaton, with famous Greek popular music that became famous in the old Greek movies.

Stoa Athanaton referenced above is a real experience. I went with my daughter and we were the only non-Greeks in the very large crowd. Rembetika music until very very late at night, but I believe they might have afternoon shows also. The place is upstairs in the central market building.