An intoxicating fusion of art, design, and gastronomy is on the menu at Gallina, an intimate new eatery nestled in the Acropolis-adjacent Koukai neighborhood in Athens. Eleni Petaloti and Leonidas Trampoukis, known for cross-cultural sensibilities as the founders of LOT Office for Architecture and Objects of Common Interest, crafted unfussy interiors with ample breathing room thanks to soaring steel-framed windows that forge an airy ambiance. Red marble countertops and handsome terrazzo flooring by Vasilis Papageorgiou brighten the mood even more, as do Petaloti and Trampoukis signatures like the sinuous Tube Light snaking up the wall to sturdy dining chairs draped with semi-transparent pink gel that honor owner Philippos Tsangrides.
His art collection adds personal touches to an intimate 38-person dining room. The pièce de résistance is easily a hand-knotted wool-and-silk tapestry depicting a sunset-hued nature scene by Jannis Varelas, but don’t miss Olga Migliaressi-Phoca’s cheeky “sexist” exit sign that’s sure to beckon second glances. The menu, meanwhile, sees award-winning Chef Pavlos Kiriakis gracefully fuse Greek, French, and Scandinavian influences. He combines high-end gastronomy with a comfort food sensibility through dishes like pithivier pie with pigeon, foie-gras, eel, and mushrooms, grilled turbot with Assyrtiko wine and caper sauce, and a caviar-topped Basque cheesecake. Pair them with a natural wine selected by sommelier Giannis Gougoutoudis.
