The Center for Hellenic Tradition

Arguably the prettiest shop in Plaka, the city’s tourist hotbed, this store and gallery forgoes kitschy souvenirs for ceramic plates from the island of Rhodes and intricately carved wooden frames and trays from Epiros. Exhibits on regional handicrafts make it a haven for browsers, and the in-store café Oraia Ellada (“Beautiful Greece”) is a great place to pause for a café frappé (a frothy iced coffee drink), the national beverage of Greece and a highly caffeinated pick-me-up for weary shoppers.