The Museum of Cycladic Art boasts a unique location right in the centre of Athens. It is an archaeological museum that focuses on the antiquity of the Cyclades. In the recent years the museum has also been hosting exhibitions of contemporary artists like Ai Weiwei and Mario Merz. Its aesthetic is minimal reminiscing that of its famous collection of statues. The museum café embodies that philosophy and is a perfect addition to the museum experience.
The Cycladic café is simply ideal for relaxing after viewing the exhibitions. Grab a mornign coffee or read a book (the music here is calm and quite), plan a business meeting or have a snack, - it is perfect hangout for any purpose. The café is open during museum hours and is closed on Tuesday. It offers free WiFi and can be visited without a museum ticket.
After its renovation in 2014, the café uickly became one of the must-visit museum spots in Athens. Kois Associated Architects were assigned to the project and asked to respect the museum’s overall aesthetic. The space is designed in accordance with the museum collection of Cycladic Art and the atmosphere of the Cyclades. The beautiful parallel marble benches were produced by doxiadis+ (Aggeliki Mathiioudaki, Architect, Landscape Architect).
The Aegean light and the white houses of the Cycladic islands are a source of inspiration for the café's design. The ceiling is decorated with a floating façade-sculpture by Stelios Kois, a trademark of the new Cycladic Café. The lighting designed by Eleftheria Deko and the natural sunlight that flows in are contributing to the space’s always illuminated and elegant appearance, even when it rains.
The café’s interior is clean, linear and simple. The colors with white being the most prominent are calm, preserving the harmony and creating a serene environment. The furniture, too, follows this concept. Plants and a mirror were put in the background to create the illusion of a large garden or even a tropical jungle. It has a nice relaxing effect on anyone visiting.
The café is situated in the heart of the museum, between the two buildings which are connected with a corridor. It is located next to the shop and is a meeting point between the buildings that invites visitors to relax and refresh your memories from the art on view. The only drawback is that the café is small and during busy days tends to get really crowded.
The menu offers a wide range of options with natural and high quality products at great prices. Polite and friendly stuff can help with any inquiry. Visitors come for breakfast, branch, lunch or something sweet. Many people from the area often prefer to drink their coffee here instead of the neighborhood’s cafés. The menu follows the museum’s focus and offers flavors from the Cyclades. The menu changes with the seasons without losing its signature dishes. Bengis Catering created and directed the menu.
The café succeeds in being an important extension of the museum’s cultural activities. Often it gets artistic touch from its temporary exhibitions or from contemporary artists (Jeff Koons, Franz West, etc.). Recently, it hosted an event with the new appointed director of the National Opera of Greece. The Cycladic museum café attracts a wide audience and exposes it to art and food from antiquity to contemporary, from Greek to international.
