One of the up and coming areas of Athens that has truly arrived also happens to be within walking distance of the Plaka. This is the area called Thission named after the ancient temple in the Agora that is actually a temple to Haephastus.
The whole neighborhood which used to be full of the furnaces of the metal workers would have been more aptly named for Haephastus who was the God of fire and the patron of all craftsmen. Instead it has existed for centuries named after Theseus who had gone to Crete to kill the minataur.
Thission used to be a place where few people went, especially tourists. Except for the temple you won't even see it mentioned in the guidebooks. But it is a fun neighborhood and there are some great tavernas that are patronized by locals that you may stumble upon though I would become Thission public enemy #1 if I were to divulge their exact location.
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Apostolou Pavlou street which is the big main road that connects with Dionissiou Areopagitou are both pedestrian walkways now which means you can walk all the way around the Acropolis without having to deal with automobile traffic.
The small streets of Thission teeming with cafes, bars, restaurants and lots and lots of young people give the area a lively New Orleans feel to it.
In fact you are just as likely to hear New Orleans Jazz in the bars as you would Rembetika.
To get to Thission the easiest way you would follow Dionissiou Areopagitou around the Acropolis and continue when it connects with Apostolou Pavlou street.
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If you are coming from the direction of Athinas street you can go to Monastiraki and walk up from the old Turkish Mosque at the square one block and take a right on Adrianou.
Follow the tracks on your left until they go underground and you can actually turn left. Of course the easiest way is to take the Metro to Thission and cross back over the tracks and walk up with the Acropolis on your left when you leave the station.
If you just walk straight down Ermou Street past Monastiraki square you will come to a small church called Agios Assomaton and a large square. If you turn left you will walk right into Thission. If you turn right you will walk into Psiri.
