Facce Strane opened recently in Athens, very close to the Caravel Hotel, and has already become a great success with the young crowd and with all those who like Italian taste. The owner, Dario Fagnoni, grew up in the urban area of the city and was brought up on his father’s original Italian panini, served at Ciao in Kolonaki, and on authentic Italian cuisine by papa Walter Fagnoni at the famous restaurants Al Convento, Stars and Al Milanese. He decided to suggest something a little more casual and moved from expensive Kolonaki to more reasonably priced Ilisia, where he created a cozy environment, designed by friends for friends in order to enhance the district. Sketches by Tasos Georgiou on the walls, magazines artfully arranged on sideboards, and an authentic record player side by side with a fluo plexiglass little horse make up the original decor.

Interior of Facce Strane — Photo courtesy of Facce Strane

Facce Strane, named after the song by Jovanotti, is open all day with coffee, juices and desserts and serves lunch and dinner with expertly prepared Italian specialties, including panini with homemade bread with various Italian ingredients such as prosciutto,coppa,gorgonzola and scamorza, boiled ham, brie and sauce tartare, focaccie with turkey, fontina and trifolati zucchini, marocchino coffee, frullato and hot chocolate. In the evenings the menu includes pasta, with the exquisite tagliatelle with truffles topping the list, and one of the best semifreddo in town.