Kolonaki

Kolonaki Κολωνάκι
Neighborhood
Location in Athens
Coordinates: 37°58′40″N 23°44′30″E
Country	Greece
Region	Attica
City	Athens
Postal code	106 71, 106 72, 106 73, 106 74, 106 75, 106 76, 106 80, 115 21
Website	www.cityofathens.gr

Kolonaki (Greek: Κολωνάκι, pronounced [koloˈnaci]), literally "Little Column", is an upscale neighborhood in central Athens, Greece. It is located on the southern slopes of Mount Lycabettus. Its name derives from the two metre column (located in Kolonaki Square) that defined the area even before the area's urbanization.

Description

Shops in Kolonaki include boutiques such as Claviano, Massimo Dutti and Balenciaga and haute couture from Greek and international designers. One of its main shopping streets, Voukourestiou Street, is now known for its jewelry.

Museums and galleries include the Benaki Museum, inside a preserved neoclassical manor house, and the Goulandris Museum of Cycladic Art. Two smaller museums to be found in Kolonaki are the Museum of the History of Greek Costume and the Theater Museum, both highly specialized in their respective areas. Across the street from Vasilissis Sofias Avenue are the Byzantine Museum, and the War Museum of Athens.

Options for nightlife include bars, ouzeries, and tavernas. There is outdoor seating on pedestrian walks, and the main Kolonaki Square (with the small column) is surrounded by cafes and restaurants.

The Lycabettus Funicular, a funicular railway, links Kolonaki to the summit of Mount Lycabettus. Kolonaki also hosts two metro stations, Evengelismos and Megaro Mousikis.

Parks and squares

Besides nearby Lycabettus, there are other small parks and open spaces:

• Kolonaki Square
• Dexamini, named after Hadrian's Reservoir. Dexamini has a small square where young children often play football, a playground and a cafe.
• Plateia Katsiki
• Parko Eleftherias
• Garden of Megaro Mousikis

Gallery

• 
  Detail from "Plan d'Athènes" 1853. Origins of the name of Kolonaki shown, with the location of the Column (Colonne) now in Kolonaki Square
• 
  The little column in Kolonaki Square
• 
  St. Nicholas church
• 
  View of Kolonaki Square
• 
  Early modern buildings

Notable people

• Miranda Xafa
• King Constantine II
• Konstantinos Karamanlis