SPRING TRAVEL DIARY - STYLED BY ZALANDO
words MARIE-PAULINE CESARI
Athens Fashion Odyssey
New season, new destination; and this time, it was my turn.
If you don’t know me, I’m Marie-Pauline, Digital Content Director at Numéro Netherlands. For this spring escape, I craved sun, somewhere I’d never been before. A place with a bit of mystery, some culture, and obviously: good light for photos.
And then it clicked. As a kid, I was obsessed with Greek mythology. My dad once gave me this illustrated book full of ancient stories, period fashion, and historical drawings. I remember being completely fascinated by the draped white togas, the fluid silhouettes, the simplicity of it all. Honestly? Probably my first fashion memory. So heading to Athens felt kind of poetic, a little full circle moment, with a suitcase packed with some of my favorite brands from Zalando, ready to explore!
Friday - First day in Athens
Travel Day Look
For my travel-day look, I went for a mix of comfort and silhouette. I wore the AGOLDE Balloon Relaxed Fit Jeans, which are honestly perfect for travel (love the shape, love the ease), and paired them with a black asymmetric cardigan by Staud. One shoulder out, minimal effort, maximum cool.
📍 Check-in: Radisson Blu Park Hotel, Athens
Leof. Alexandras 10
We arrived just in time for the golden hour and headed straight to the hotel rooftop. The view? Acropolis-lit, absolutely magical.
📍 Dinner: 10 Urban Roof (Radisson Blu Park Hotel)
We stayed in for dinner at the hotel’s restaurant, 10 Urban Roof. We started with sourdough bread, served with Messinian olive oil and marinated Kalamata olives, then moved into a perfect Cretan pasta dish; Skioufihta with prawn tartare, in a rich bisque with tomato and tarragon. The scorpionfish in “savoro” sauce was equally stunning. But the star of our first meal in Athens? A chocolate cream with olive oil, sea salt, and vanilla ice cream. I know it sounds heavy, but it was perfectly balanced. Sweet, salty, silky, delicieux!
Saturday - Second day and first explorations
Gym session look
We started strong with a morning gym session and a gentle yin yoga class at the hotel. My workout look was cute and functional: a black Nike Performance Zenvy Bra paired with an Even&Odd Active training jacket, both from Zalando. Light, breathable, and flattering (yes, even at 9 am.)
Outfit Switch: time to explore the city
After a quick shower, I changed into something light and city-friendly. I chose a simple white tank by Vero Moda (a go-to basic) and a black Adidas cargo skirt that saved my life more than once that day with all the pockets. Between sunscreen, phone, lip balm, and receipts, I felt like a stylish Dora the Explorer.
Destination: the Acropolis! (…well, almost)
📍 To-go Matcha: Myller Coffeeshop
Katsikogianni 9
We grabbed a matcha to go from Myller Coffeeshop and walked toward the Acropolis. The way up is already a dream: you pass through Plaka and Anafiotika, two charming neighborhoods that feel like movie sets. Tiny sunlit streets, colorful houses, flowers spilling over balconies... I stopped every five seconds to take pictures.
And then: our one fail of the trip. We got to the Acropolis, and it was sold out. Fully booked, no way in. Not even our best “please we came from Amsterdam” faces could convince the staff. So if you’re planning to go, please book in advance!
Not wanting to waste the day, we rerouted. On the other side of the hill, we stumbled onto Pnyx, a peaceful spot with panoramic views and almost no one around. It’s one of the earliest sites of Athenian democracy, and the calm energy there? Something else. From that angle, the Acropolis looked even more majestic.
We continued down to the Ancient Agora, where we explored the ruins and took some gorgeous shots in front of the Temple of Hephaestus; honestly, one of the best-preserved temples in Athens. Then, finally, hunger kicked in! Time to eat.
📍 Lunch: Wanna Flirt Athens
Mikonos 15
We wandered into Psyri, a lively neighborhood filled with cafés, art, and a random little vintage market we couldn’t resist. We ended up at Wanna Flirt Athens for brunch. We had the avocado toast and a salmon waffle. Miam.
Later that afternoon, we wandered through Monastiraki Square before heading to Mount Lycabettus (best view of the city!) for sunset. Athens unfolded beneath us in gold, magical. On the way up, we passed through Exarchia, a more alternative, artsy district with murals, vintage stores, and a lot of character.
Saturday night: date night mood with the perfect cocktail dress
After walking 15+ kilometers, we gave our feet a break and took public transport back to the hotel. I wanted a “Greek goddess goes on a date” vibe for dinner, so I wore a show-stopping cocktail dress by UNDRESS CODE. It had a heart-shaped sheer panel on the belly, so pretty.
📍Dinner: Metropolis Roof Garden restaurant, Electra Hotel
Mitropoleos 15
We had dinner at the Metropolis Rooftop Garden Restaurant, a hidden gem on the 10th floor with one of the best views of the Acropolis. The atmosphere was romantic and intimate, exactly what I wanted for our dinner.
We started with a glass of Ktima Tselepos Blanc de Gris 2020, a white wine that tasted like roses and citrus blossoms. Still dreaming about it. For the main course, we had cod in broth with wild greens and lime, and spaghetti with cuttlefish, turmeric, pine nuts, and black garlic. Dessert was a vegan carrot cake, and here don’t picture the usual loaf, this one was delicate, almost architectural!
That night, the city was alive with Easter processions, Athens celebrates Orthodox Easter in full glory. From the restaurant's terrace, we could hear choirs singing into the night. It felt sacred and cinematic all at once.
If we weren’t so exhausted, we would’ve explored more nightlife but we wanted to stay fresh and ready for our last day. Sometimes, beauty sleep wins. If you’re in a party or cocktail mood, friends recommended the following places:
📍The Clumsies
Praxitelous 30
📍Baba au Rum
Klitiou 6
📍Falaina
Asklipiou 39
📍 Attic Urban Rooftop
Ermou 86
Sunday - last strolls
Last breakfast on the rooftop
Our last morning in Athens started with a sunny breakfast on the rooftop of our hotel. For the occasion, I wore a Pinko shirt with balloon sleeves and a clever belt detail that fastens with little clips; revealing just the right amount of skin. I styled it with a leather mini dress by Boss, cute right?
Last outfit, chill and comfy
After breakfast, I slipped into a more low-key look: black capri pants and a black tee, both by Noisy May perfect for one last walk around the city.
We visited the National Garden, then circled back to Plaka to explore it properly this time. It was more crowded than on Friday, but still magical.
📍 Matcha & healthy bites: Amygdalo
Epimenidou 1
We stopped for coffee and snacks at Amygdalo, a cute little spot with gluten-free, refined sugar-free treats. I had a date filled up with peanut butter that gave me life (and energy), plus yes, another matcha.
📍 Lunch: Avit
Kalamiotou 8
Lunch before our flight was at Avit, a sweet vegetarian spot where everything is homemade, even the kombucha. We had creamy hummus and a bright tangerine salad on a sun-drenched terrace. It felt like a soft goodbye. Athens, I’ll come back!