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Wine & Dine with Art at MGallery’s Mappemonde Restaurant in Athens

It’s not an overstatement to say that a very special dining experience awaits those who visit the Mappemonde Restaurant Bar & Lounge on the 10th floor of the Athens Capital Hotel – MGallery in the center of the Greek capital.

Before you enter, just keep this in mind: when you visit the Athens Capital Hotel – MGallery you’re embarking on a “journey” to a world that combines hospitality, gastronomy and art – all in one place.

Located on the hotel’s rooftop, the Mappemonde Restaurant Bar & Lounge is named after the original 3,000-piece interactive installation sculpted by the late Greek artist, George Lappas, which spans the hotel from the lobby all the way to the 10th floor.

And although an elevator is available, it is worth walking up the 10 floors to the restaurant, as you have the chance to see and appreciate fine art, which is literally everywhere.

Entering Mappemonde on the rooftop

Once you reach the hotel’s 10th floor you also reach the most impressive part of the Mappemonde installation.

The next to catch your eye is the infinity pool and of course the best panoramic 360 degree views of multifaceted and vibrant Athens and its top sites including the Parthenon and Lycabettus Hill.

Once seated, you can’t help but notice that the restaurant’s minimalist aesthetic works so well with its lounge features.

This may be the best time to sample one of Mappemonde’s four signature cocktails inspired especially for guests by its experienced mixologist. Try the Capital Dream Cocktail (Mastiha, Blue Curacao, Prosecco) or the Capital Lady (Mastiha, Honey, Yogurt, Lemon Juice, Cinnamon Syrup) while getting a birds-eye view of the city, or raise your glass of Mastic Velvet (Mastiha, Lime Juice, Rose Liquer) or Fragola Diversa (Martini Bianco, Strawberry Puree, Lime Juice, Angostura Bitters) while uploading your next Instagram story!

At Mappemonde you will also find an extensive wine list that includes both local and international labels.

The menu
Dishes that elevate the dining experience

When looking through the menu, you may need more time than usual to decide what to order. Making a selection won’t be easy since the Mappemonde promises to travel its guests to new taste horizons and provides many interesting options.

Executive Chef Dimitris Boutsalis and his team present a well-crafted, delicious and expressive modern Mediterranean cuisine with many Greek elements.

Steamed Greek grouper

Steamed Greek grouper

Chef Boutsalis tells us:
“The hotel is located in the heart of Athens and is the first MGallery in Greece. In this context, our goal is to give visitors a true taste of Greek, Mediterranean and Athenian gastronomy, which, in combination with the unique view of the capital, will offer a truly unforgettable experience.”

Mappemonde’s chef has inspired a menu with genuine Greek flavors and creatively altered recipes, based on fresh raw material.

Take the salads for example. They all have a strong color that just says “Greece”, with the Greek salad (cherry tomatoes, cucumber jelly, green pepper, onion, Kalavryta feta cheese cream and oregano on carob rusk tart) standing out.

Greek salad

Another selection, which is also highly recommended by the chef, is the “Inspired by Her” quinoa with baby artichoke, arugula, pear and aromatic mint oil. This popular selection is served in all of the restaurants of the hotel.

Evoikos langoustine tartare

From the many appetizers, we suggest the tuna and salmon carpaccio (red pepper and chili sorbet, avocado – wasabi cream, yuzu, shiso and wakame), which is a signature dish, and the Evoikos langoustine tartare (peach gazpacho, chili, ginger and coriander).

Main courses that bring back memories

The menu’s main courses give a full range of options between meat and fish dishes.

Aegean sea bass

Try the Aegean sea bass with baked tomato, zucchini-basil cream, crispy zucchini flower and yuzu beurre blanc and the image of a Greek summer afternoon will pop into your head.

Or if you have the rack of lamb that includes eggplant ‘papoutsaki’, smoked yogurt, homemade tomato paste and lavender sauce, you may just get a flashback of a Sunday family dinner.

Homemade tortelli carbonara

Homemade tortelli carbonara

The menu also includes meat-lover favorites such as Black angus beef fillet with potato foam and grilled asparagus and Rib eye black angus beef steak with house fries – two dishes that are sure to please.

Those who have a soft spot for pasta may want to try out the homemade tortelli carbonara with guanciale, prosciutto, egg yolk, confit and parmesan foam, among the many selections.

Chef Boutsalis tells us:
“Food is love and sharing and this is what we have created through the menu: what we want the visitor to experience, our love for Greek cuisine and warm hospitality.”

As for desserts, the restaurant’s Mille feuille vanilla – caramel (caramelized mille feuille puff pastry infused with layers of vanilla – caramel and whipped cream) is highly recommended. Or you can try the signature Mastic macaroon for a one-of-a-kind taste of mastic muslin cream infused with citrus marmalade and candied olive.

A hotel with a unique story

The Athens Capital Hotel is the first ever MGallery Collection Hotel by Accor in Greece.

The MGallery brand includes more than 100 illustrious boutique hotels around the world. Each MGallery property narrates a unique story inspired by the destination.

The Athens Capital Hotel-MGallery Collection features a total of 177 rooms, including 18 suites and one impressive Presidential Suite.

As mentioned, art is an integral part of the overall experience of Athens Capital Hotel-MGallery Collection. Guests can discover works from both famous and upcoming Greek artists.

The Athens Capital Hotel-MGallery Collection enjoys an unrivalled spot in Athens as it is located next to the upscale neighbourhood of Kolonaki and amid art galleries and boutiques.

Visit the hotel’s website here: https://athenscapitalhotel-mgallery.gr/


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About the Author
Nikos is Greek-American born in New York, USA, and has lived in Greece for over 30 years. He is the managing editor of Greece's leading monthly travel and tourism guide, the Greek Travel Pages (GTP) since June 2008 and of news site GTP Headlines since its launch in September 2012. Nikos has also served as international press officer for the City of Athens and for the mayor. He has a degree in Mass Media and Communications, specializing in Journalism. Nikos is a native English speaker and speaks Greek fluently.

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