Ilios Athens Restaurant

Inside one of the oldest arcades of downtown Athens, in Stoa Spiromiliou, the restaurant Ilios was designed with references to the Athenian diner of the 50s and 60s decades. The long space runs parallel with the arcade, with large openings towards it and towards the external seating area, which is defined by a metal pergola above and clay pots with plants around the perimeter. This creates a garden setting on the semi-private terrace, separating customers from the arcade’s pedestrian traffic.The interior comprises of three areas separated in two spaces; the kitchen with the bar in one and the dining hall in another. Wood panelling unifies these zones by running around all the wall surfaces. In the bar/kitchen area the floor was replaced with terrazzo tiles, while the existing timber floor of the dining hall was retained. The use of marble, wood and vienna straw is not limited to the decorative details but is also applied to the furniture, and the choice of such materials, colours and textiles give off a homely warmth.