Sometimes all you have to do to upgrade reality is open the nondescript gates in an unremarkable street. Sometimes that unremarkable street is named Praxitelous and located in Athens. Welcome to The Clumsies.
I’m equal parts voyageur and voyeur. On my travels, I always reserve time for people-watching. You thought flamingo’s were curious creatures? Try sitting in a bar by yourself for ten minutes without wondering how human beings got to the top of the food chain. It’s a miracle that suggests some form of divine intervention.
In Athens, the capital of Greece, there’s a bar that celebrates human imperfection: The Clumsies. Here, in the heart of the city, favourite mistakes and spatters on clothes and surfaces are considered stepping stones to an unforgettable experience. Perfection might not be attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence – and that’s exactly what The Clumsies did.
Behind the gates on Praxitelous awaits a sparsely lit corridor that leads to a covered patio drenched in daylight. Each of the interconnected rooms has a warm, welcoming and familiar feel to it. If you so wish, a visit to The Clumsies could be an all-day affair: the bar opens at 10:00 and closes at 2:00 (4:00 on Friday’s and Saturday’s). Watch the ambience change as the day progresses and the facial features blur.
Once you’ve satisfied your voyeuristic needs – please don’t tell me it’s just me who indulges in that kind of behaviour – and want to socialize with friends, The Room is highly recommended. It is reservation only, features a fireplace, bookcase, billiard table and vinyl LP’s, and comes with a personal bartender who shakes and serves a selection of extraordinary cocktails. The gods looked down from the Acropolis, only fifteen minutes by foot, and saw that all was well.
