If it is now a code of honour amongst the wine lovers and the new generation of wine, that wine bars are the de facto protagonists in the city’s nightlife, Psyche on the other hand has been the best wine ambassador: with all the bottles of pleasure, of relaxation, of the sip that helps the weariness of the day go down and real heartfelt meals.
It’s outlandish how turning into the alley of Kornarou 4, you are suddenly greeted by absolute calm, as if popped from the dream of any Athenian who wants to escape from the hustle and bustle of downtown. A green courtyard with romantic light garlands and soft music mingles brilliantly with all the motley of central Athens, after work, passing by or shopping, weekdays from 17:00 and on Saturdays from early noon, creating a stylish aura with good vibes.
At Psyche, the care and refined passion of its owners – Amalia Augeri and Antonis Mougias – are reflected in every aspect: They are constantly wine searching and looking for unchartered terroirs, new origins and new varieties, having collected more than 300 labels in their walk-in cellar, which sits elegantly in the background. All that while they source daily, the freshest, most valuable products from small producers to utilize them in the daily dishes and their platters. Sixty of those bottles can also be enjoyed by the glass.
The menu has special semantics, since it is curated in such a way as to create unique pairings that highlight each label, in complete harmony with seasonality. You can’t help but love, for example, the veal tartare – tender and perfectly executed with handmade salty crackers – or the refreshing carpaccio of sea bream ‘cooked’ in citrus juices. The beetroot ravioli stuffed with chickpeas and vegetable brunoise or prawns with saffron and avocado cream, also show a deep investment in the ritual of wine-drinking.
On Mondays, Psyche gives us another reason to shake off the blues of the lost weekend. They recently launched wine dinings, where at a preferential price one can combine wine and food, with special guests, wineries, sommeliers and wine trading companies. A very beautiful experience that, if you are a wine lover, you must gift yourself with.
‘We want our guests to gather around good wine and good food,’ Amalia tells me. ‘You’ve earned it’ I tell her instantly and we both smile. How many can claim that in such a short period of time they became a favorite hangout of such a diverse and large community?
Psyche Wine Bistrot
4 Kornarou Street, Αthens, tel. +302103221271
www.psychewinebar.gr | Facebook | Instagram
