When the famous storyteller and traveler, Hans Christian Andersen, visited Athens in 1841, he couldn’t miss a visit to “Oraia Ellas”, describing it as one of the most luxurious cafés he had ever seen in all of Europe. From its very founding, “Oraia Ellas” became a symbol of the city. Its history begins almost simultaneously with the establishment of the modern Greek state in the 1840s.
At its tables gathered warlords, politicians, ambassadors, and literary figures — a diverse mix of people that often became explosive and triggered developments influencing the course of the entire country. Recognizing the importance of the place, many politicians frequently placed their “representatives” at the café to promote their views. Combined with the fact that “Oraia Ellas” was the only spot where one could obtain foreign newspapers, the café gained the characteristics of a powerful “news agency.”
“Oraia Ellas” also served as the economic center of the era, functioning as the first, albeit unofficial, stock exchange, before the Greek state established its own a little further up on Sofokleous Street. It was during this period that young but ambitious patrons coined the historic phrase, “Can you make me a minister for 24 hours?”
All these factors made the café a landmark, with many businesses in the city using it as a geographic reference point: “…above Oraia Ellas…,” “…near Oraia Ellas…” and so forth.
Acting as a time capsule,“Oraia Ellas” today offers its visitors, alongside coffee and meze, a priceless piece of history. Important politicians, actors, and literary figures continue to gather within its walls. Foreign dignitaries such as Queen Sofia of Spain, and renowned professionals like the English chef Jamie Oliver, who included “Oraia Ellas” among the best in the city — are among the contemporary famous visitors, much like Andersen was nearly 180 years ago.
In recognition of all this, the Greek state included Oraia Ellas in 2021 in the National Registry of Intangible Cultural Heritage.