Open-air cinemas are one of the last few pieces of authentic Athenian culture still alive and subtly resisting the current obsession with modernizing everything. They’re part of what makes summer nights in this hot, heavy city not just bearable, but actually beautiful. And for them to keep doing that, to keep creating those memories we all look back on fondly, they need to stay alive. Behind every summer cinema are people who deeply love films. People who care about cinema as an art form, who understand its history and culture, and who work hard to keep that spirit going. So the least we can do? Support them. Show up. Is there anything more magical than a screening in a jasmine-scented courtyard under the stars?
Cine Zefyros
Probably the most beautiful open-air cinema in Athens, with no exaggeration. Tucked away in a little courtyard scattered with tiny white pebbles and surrounded by walls plastered with vintage posters from ’50s, ’60s and ’70s arthouse films, Cine Zefyros feels like you’ve wandered straight onto the set of a French New Wave classic.
Family-run and full of charm, it’s been around since 1932, when it first opened as a theatre showing Karagiozis shadow puppets for kids and variety shows for the grown-ups. You’ll find it right on Troon Street in the heart of Ano Petralona, very much the neighbourhood cinema, especially if you’re lucky enough to live nearby.
Come August, when the city slows down and every café and taverna nearby is shut, Zefyros holds the fort. It doesn’t show dozens of films (usually two per week) but each one is thoughtful. Old classics, documentaries, or just proper reminders of why we fell in love with cinema in the first place. If they’re screening something special, like Antonioni, go early, get a good seat, grab a cold sour cherry juice, and enjoy.
Cine Oasis
Stepping into Oasis feels like stepping back in time. There’s a kind of faded bourgeois romance to it, as if you're catching a film in old Athens. Its lush garden, vintage posters, and ceramic statuary, create a dreamy, nostalgic atmosphere that pairs perfectly with the films it shows. Mostly old classics, thrillers, and dramas that deserve the moonlit treatment.
The first time we were there, we watched The Servant, and the spell was cast. It’s not just about watching a movie. It’s about being immersed in another world, where story, memory, and summer night blur into something magical.
Cine Galatsi
Cine Galatsi is nestled right in the middle of the lush Veikou Grove. Just a breath away from the city center, it offers not just a film, but a full escape. You can take a long, leafy stroll through the park while families of turtles suddenly appear out of nowhere, and then end your day under the stars, in the gentle company of the cinema’s resident cats. Cine Galatsi is a little summer sanctuary, especially if you pair it with a slow, full-day wander through the blooming grove. A rare kind of Athens magic.
Cine Floisvos
Let’s start by saying this: you don’t go to Cine Floisvos for the movie —it’ll almost always be a Hollywood blockbuster. But then again, open air cinemas were never about the “good films.” They were meant for catching up on what you missed over the winter, not for discovering the next masterpiece.
Thankfully, things have changed. Now you can actually watch fantastic classic films or new releases under the stars, slurping on a strawberry granita.
And that’s the other reason to choose Cine Floisvos. Sure, the movie will probably be very forgettable, but you’ll watch it by the sea, with a soft breeze that might even make you reach for a light jacket — even on the hottest summer nights (just like the old days!). Plus, you get to enjoy an effortlessly casual dinner while you do. What’s not to love?
Cinemarian
A hidden gem in Neos Kosmos we recently stumbled upon, and instantly fell for, is Cinemarian. Since then, it's become a regular stop for us, with weekly visits to catch the incredible lineup of films they bring in.
It’s a self-managed (by people who genuinely love cinema) space that feels more like a creative community hangout than a typical cinema. The kind of aesthetic and atmosphere we love. They show a mix of underground, subculture, rare, iconic, timeless, artistic, and eye-opening films, ideal for anyone looking to explore the incredibly rich world of independent cinema. Some recent, some vintage, all unforgettable.
They also have a lovely little rooftop terrace for summer screenings. Just be warned, it’s small, so getting there a bit early is a good idea. You’ll find films here you won’t come across anywhere else, and tickets are some of the most affordable in the city.
Trust us: once you go to Cinemarian, you won’t want to stop. It’s kind of addictive.
Cine Koralli
Having 4 different open air cinemas to choose from in a little strip of a neighbourhood like Saronida is quite an accomplishment. As regulars in those parts, we’ve visited them all —but there’s one we’re most fond of: Cine Koralli.
It has the reputation of playing “the good films” compared to the other 3. The whole area, Anavyssos, Saronida, and Palaia Fokaia, carries a nostalgic charm, like holidaying in the ’80s, and Cine Koralli only adds to that feeling.
We’ve seen good films here, we’ve seen bad films here, but what we mostly cared about was whether the seat in front of us would stay empty, so we could take off our sandals and use it as a footstool once the lights went down.
MOVIES OF THE WEEK TO SEE
The Exterminating Angel
And Then There Were None
Jules and Jim
The Man Who Knew Too Much
The Hustler
La Haine
Repulsion
Gilda
Spellbound
Wild At Heart
See you under the stars with a granita on hand!
Bisous bisous