Little Kook, Athens – An Honest Review
Looking for the most Instagrammable places in Athens?
Look no further.
Little Kook, Athens, is an enchanting dessert parlour in the heart of the Psyrri neighbourhood, and it might just be the most extravagant café in the world, never mind Athens!
I first visited Little Kook back in May 2023, during my first trip to Athens.
When I returned in December, the entire place had undergone a dramatic makeover, and after learning that this happens 3 times every year, I knew that I had to write a blog post about it.
After all, Athens is jam-packed with historical sites, but if there’s one thing I love, it’s a themed café.
Here’s everything you need to know about Little Kook in Athens.
Little Kook, Athens – The Most Extravagant Dessert Shop in Athens
Little Kook At a Glance
Little Kook is a café and dessert parlour in Athens that first opened its doors in 2015.
Since then, it has amassed a huge online following, and is one of the first things that comes up if you search for ‘Athens Instagram spots’ on TikTok.
Every. Single. Article. Out. There. describes Little Kook as whimsical, so I’m determined NOT to do that.
Other words that fit the bill include: magical, enchanting, dazzling, spectacular, aesthetic (that one’s for my Gen Z readers), bewitching, and eccentric, to name a few.
But what makes Little Kook so special?
Well, Little Kook is not so much a café as it is a whole new world.
Housed in a 2-storey Neoclassical building, Little Kook goes all out with their decorations, taking over much of Karaiskaki Street and Pittaki Street!
The interior of the café is like something out of a fairy tale, with each corner adorned with colourful decorations, twinkling lights, and fantastical props.
Think I’m exaggerating?
Check this out.
The only permanent decorations at Little Kook are the large black dragon on the roof, the umbrellas that hang over the entire street, and the beanstalk inside that passes through the ceiling between the two floors.
Everything else changes depending on the season.
The first time I visited was in summer, and the whole place was Alice in Wonderland themed (or, as they call it, Alice in Kookland).
As my friend and I passed by the Frog-Footman in the doorway and tried to avoid walking into the playing cards hanging from the ceiling, we were seated by a Mad Hatter.
Everywhere we looked, there were mushrooms, giant teacups, white rabbits, artificial flowers, and characters from the book, and the more we looked around, the more we saw.
Christmas at Little Kook
The second time I visited, Little Kook was Christmas-themed, and if possible, the décor was even more OTT than it had been before!
This time, the staff member who seated me was dressed as one of Santa’s elves (what else?), and I decided to sit inside, surrounded by reindeers, presents, bows, candy canes, Santa Claus hanging from the ceiling…the list goes on!
Thousands of fairy lights twinkled around me, and of course, the menu had had a festive revamp (more on Little Kook’s menu later).
It wasn’t only the inside that was dramatically different to my first visit though – the whole street opposite the entrance to Little Kook had been transformed into a festive alleyway, with huge elves, Christmas trees, and some of the most elaborate window displays I’ve ever seen.
Halloween at Little Kook
Every Halloween season, the entire place gets a spooky makeover (even the umbrellas above the street are replaced with black ones!), but unfortunately, this is the only time of year that I haven’t been to Little Kook, so I don’t have photos of Little Kook at Halloween 🙁
Some of the things that you can expect to see are hundreds of pumpkins, vampires, Jack Skellington, giant spiders, the Grim Reaper, witches, and a totally spooky menu to accompany everything.
To get a taste of what Little Kook looks like during Spooky Season, just check out their Instagram page!
However, while the Halloween and Christmas themes remain constant every year, the spring/summer theme changes.
Over the years, themes have included the Circus, Mary Poppins and Pirates of the Caribbean!
Little Kook Menu
The menu at Little Kook consists of cakes, chocolate drinks, coffees, and cocktails, and plus one or two savoury crepes.
The first time I visited, I ordered a white Sangria with strawberries, while my friend went for a white chocolate ‘Frosty’ drink that came with strawberry sauce, salted caramel, and a huge ring doughnut on the top – it was more of a meal than a drink!
The second time I visited, I knew that I had to try one of their famous cakes, so I opted for the ‘Biscottino Creamy Dessert,’ which the menu described as ‘a unique combination of white and chocolate cream with a biscottino flavour, mouth flooding with cream and chocolate, overwhelming your emotional need for both chocolate and biscuit.‘
It was HUGE, and I barely managed to finish half of it!
I would describe it as a gooey lava cake, covered in sauce, chocolate sprinkles, and whipped cream, and with several biscuits sticking out of the top.
For me, it was much too sweet, but I’m definitely more of a savoury person – I know that my boyfriend would have gobbled it down in minutes!
As I mentioned earlier, the menu changes with the seasons, and some of the Christmassy offerings included Dasher’s Gingerbread Chocolate (gingerbread hot chocolate with chocolate praline, whipped cream, and a doughnut on top), and the Mrs Santa High Heel (the chocolate boot of Mrs Santa filled with chocolate mousse, broken biscuits and strawberry cream).
Is Little Kook expensive?
There’s no sugar-coating it (pun intended) – Little Kook is expensive.
Something as simple as a cappuccino or black tea will set you back at least 6 EUR, and even a 33cl bottled beer costs 8.50 EUR, which is very expensive by Greek standards.
However, the hot chocolates come in at about 8.50, which is still on the pricey side, but when you consider how fancy they are, they’re certainly more reasonable than the regular tea and coffee.
The last time I visited (December 2023), the cakes were between 11 – 14 EUR, which is still expensive, but probably better value than the other things on the menu.
I will say that the cakes are enormous, and you could quite easily order one between two and still be totally full.
It’s also clear that you’re paying for the setting rather than the food.
Little Kook is a totally immersive experience, and I’m sure that changing the décor as regularly as they do isn’t cheap.
For this reason, I don’t think that it’s unreasonable for Little Kook to charge the prices that they do. This isn’t a place where you’d come back every single week, so for an occasional indulgence, I think it’s worth it.
Is Little Kook vegan-friendly?
Yes…and no.
If you’re a vegan, you won’t starve at Little Kook, but you won’t be blown away either.
On the Christmas menu, there was only one vegan cake option (Victorian Xmas Choco Cake). Vegan-friendly drinks included homemade lemonades and cocktails/mocktails.
Good to Know
Is Little Kook just for kids?
Absolutely not!
While kids understandably love Little Kook, I was surprised to find that both times I visited, the majority of the clientele were adults!
Young women make up a huge number of people that visit Little Kook, as well as couples.
Both tourists and locals alike love this place.
Where is Little Kook?
You can find Little Kook at Karaiskaki 17, 10554 (Google Maps link). It isn’t too far from Monastiraki, and it’s in the Psyrri neighbourhood.
Little Kook opening hours
Little Kook is open every day from 9am to midnight.
If you’d like to make a reservation, you can call them on 0030 2103214144, or message them on Facebook.
However, unless you’re visiting Athens during peak season or at the weekend, I don’t think it’s necessary to book in advance – Little Kook is deceptively large, and in addition to multiple rooms inside, there are ample tables outside on the street (which is just as magical).
Taking photographs
There are always tonnes of people taking photographs outside on the street, which can get quite overwhelming!
Fortunately, you’re only allowed to take pictures inside if you’re a paying customer, which makes things a bit less hectic.
You aren’t allowed to photograph the staff.
Best time to visit
It’s best to visit Little Kook on weekdays (before the kids finish school), or early in the morning – it opens at 9am, so if you arrive at 8:30, the street should be quiet enough to take pictures.
My Honest Opinion of Little Kook in Athens
I love Little Kook.
Sure, it’s expensive (especially if you don’t even have a sweet tooth, like me!), and the service can be kind of slow, but Little Kook is by far the most spectacular café I’ve ever been to, and it really has to be seen to be believed.
If you’re looking for one of the most unique places in Athens, you have got to visit Little Kook.
You might also enjoy my other Athens posts:
16 Reasons to Visit Athens
Athens In December – A Complete Guide
The Ultimate Athens 1 Day Itinerary
Athens Safety Tips
What to Eat in Greece
So, that’s all I’ve got for today’s post, but if you have any questions about Little Kook, please reach out in the comments section below!
Until next time,
XOXO
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