Mercedes Café drives into winter 2005-2006
As you take your last step up the stairs and enter the room, a comfy looking sofa beckons, but the last thing you think of is sitting down. Music pounds from all directions. Above the music, laughter lingers and glasses clink. Behind the sofa a big glass window overlooks the streets of Glyfada. Two doors face each other on either side of the room. To the right, the door opens and Greek music streams in. To the left, the door opens and house music bounds in. You make your choice, or you go back and forth. Welcome to Mercedes Café.
On October 9 Mercedes Café is making its comeback; lead by legendary Tsilichristo and the team of Destijl Club. On opening night, and every Sunday, guest DJ Valentino will be making an appearance, playing sounds and beats from oldies, classics and, most of all, Greek artists, creating a nostalgic mix.
“People didn’t have to go to bouzoukia to hear their favorite songs, they came to us,” said Mike, no last name, simply Mike, one of the owners of Destijl Club and a guru of night life.
Along with the music that flows out the doors comes the scent of mouthwatering cuisine. Sizzling tortellini with cream dressing passes by on a large ceramic plate held high by the waiter’s right hand and a roka salad with parmesan topping and cherry tomatoes held by his left. For dessert there is a fudge brownie topped with vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup melting over it.
“The food is just great at Mercedes. I love to eat there because they usually don’t serve food that is very heavy, and then you can dance it right off,” said Haya Abuhamad, a Mercedes regular. The kitchen opens at 9:30 p.m. and serves through the night.
Open Thursday through Sunday, Mercedes Café is located at Plateia Esperidon in the heart of Glyfada. Known as Mikro Mercedes when it was first opened in 1986, it revolutionized the way Athenians party. Mikro merged Greek and foreign music for the first time, setting a trend for other clubs.
“Mikro Mercedes was the first bar in the ´80s to play Greek music,” said Mike. “We are in Greece, and the people here appreciate and love their music. So, Mercedes was avant-garde in the sense that it played Greek music in a new way. This caused a celebration, not just a party.”