Pharaoh Athens

Modest simplicity

The wine bar and restaurant, tucked away in a dimly lit alley off Patission, preserves and enhances the quintessential elements of a traditional Athenian building. Its unique operation blends the characteristics of a Greek café, a French brasserie, and a Japanese jazz bar, offering a distinctive and multifaceted experience.

Design Philosophy

The choice to prepare traditional dishes exclusively in wood-burning stoves, the focus on natural wines, and the use of analog sound for the music have established a sense of unpretentious simplicity with minimal intervention. The structure is preserved, while the materials used in architectural modifications were deliberately left raw and unrefined. The view of the street, which is narrower compared to the spacious interior, was designed to surprise visitors. A heavy velvet curtain guides the transition, revealing the double-height ceiling and the full dimensions of the space beyond.

Functional Layout

On the right side of the space, a single 16-meter Z-shaped bar in matte stainless steel anchors the ground floor, seamlessly connecting the open kitchen with the bar area. Overhead, a 6-meter-long handmade black marble luminaire accentuates the linear design. At the center, the DJ booth highlights the pivotal role of music in the venue’s atmosphere. The mezzanine features a custom-made metal cabinet, spanning its full height, housing vinyl records, stereo speakers, and memorabilia -an homage to Japanese “jazz kissa” bars.

On the left, a large P-shaped sofa embodies the spirit of Greek sociability, flanked by marble dining tables paired with bistro chairs. Behind the sofa, mirrors and linear lighting fixtures create a dynamic interplay of reflections, enhancing the sense of space. The loft is dedicated to wine tasting, featuring a grand marble monastic table and a purpose-built cellar showcased behind a glass display. The basement accommodates storage and sanitary facilities, with walls clad in carefully arranged wood repurposed from the ovens, adding warmth and authenticity to the design.

Material Palette

The color palette draws inspiration from the stones of the existing mosaic, a hallmark of modern Athens, featuring shades of deep red, ochre, and green. Reflecting this, the vertical surface beneath the bar is crafted from ribbed concrete in a green tone, while the liquor cabinet combines smooth terracotta-colored concrete with dark metal accents.

In the sanitary areas, green dominates, maintaining harmony with the overall aesthetic. The building’s structural elements and partitions, made of concrete and stone, are left uncoated to preserve their raw texture. Scattered throughout the space, small travel souvenirs and ceramic works by Nikos Vallatos add unexpected charm and character. The result is a wine bar-restaurant that feels authentically Athenian in its materials and details yet carries stories from across the globe.