From the Waves of Alimos to the Heart of Palaio Faliro
There are places that are not merely businesses—they are chapters in the life of a city.
For over three decades, Skipper’s has been such a landmark: a café, a bar, a refuge of emotions and stories that helped shape the character of the Athenian Riviera.
From its humble beginnings in September of 1987 at the Marina of Alimos, to its rebirth in September 2024 as “Skipper’s on the Road” in Palaio Faliro, its journey is one of resilience, passion, and devotion to the sea.
The place that everyone remembers so fondly today was, back then, a barren landfill with no life. No one believed that a venue could survive there, next to the fishing boats. However, Giannis saw what others could not: a pier of dreams. Together with his brother Alexis, they began to build a small 30-square-meter bar with a few tables outside and a view of the sea.
“We didn’t use architects,” he says. “Everything was done by hand, with friends, with passion. We wanted people to walk in and feel as if they were boarding a ship”.
“And that’s exactly what happened. Anchors, ropes, lanterns swaying in the breeze, and wooden surfaces creaking like a deck. And in front of the pier stood a wooden ship, the Varthalabau—crafted with love, with masts, sails and working cannons. It wasn’tdecoration. It was a statement. It was the soul of Skipper’s.
The 1990s brought to Skipper’s a mosaic of people—from sailors and artists to politicians and stars of Greek cinema.
Many politicians and ministers visited discreetly, drawn by the simplicity and warmth of the place.
“We never distinguished between the famous and the non-famous”, says Giannis. “Everyone was equal. That’s what kept the place authentic.”
For many Athenians, Skipper’s became the setting for love stories. As Alimos Online once wrote:
“It’s hard to find a couple from the southern suburbs who didn’t have their first date at Skipper’s.”
Under the lanterns, with the sound of rigging and waves, friendships, romances, and memories were born.
No feature became more closely identified with Skipper’s than the wooden pirate ship ‘Varthalabau’ that stood proudly on the pier. Built from wood, a replica of the legendary Bounty with masts and cannons, it became a landmark of Alimos.
Every October, on the anniversary of the Battle of Lepanto (1571), the ship ‘came alive’ to reenact the battle, while in June, it participated in the Miaoulia Festival in Hydra, reenacting Admiral Miaoulis’ burning of the Turkish flagship.
The most unforgettable moments were the unplanned ones:
One Christmas Eve that started quietly and ended with a celebration until 7 a.m.
Or the night when Emir Kusturica, moored at the marina, picked up his guitar and played for the patrons.
Or when the French canoe-kayak athletes at the 2004 Olympics came to celebrate their medals, dove into the harbor, and were hosed down afterward to wash away the seawaterand the champagne.
“The best parties are the ones you don’t plan”, Giannis laughs.
In October 2022, after 35 years, Skipper’s ran its course.
With the upcoming redevelopment of Alimos’ Marina, the old wooden venue ceased operation.
Athens was moved.
On the final night, the marina overflowed with thousands of people. The lights were on, the music played softly…
“Tonight, it’s time to say goodbye here, on the pier where we first met…” — Athens Voice, 2022″),
It wasn’t the end. It was a brief respite before a new voyage.
As NouPou.gr wrote:
“Skipper’s is a landmark, not only for Alimos but for all of Athens.
And as Alimos Online added:
“Skipper’s never really left. It just took a new road—returning with every story, every song, every laughter.”
Today, Skipper’s on the Road continues a 35-year tradition with the same respect, simplicity, and love for the sea.
The view may have changed—but the soul remains the same.
