‘The last fortress’: historic Athens cafe closes as countercultural area gentrifies
The Mouria coffeehouse, a three‑decade‑old venue in Athens' Exarchia district, closed after it could not secure a new lease. Known as a gathering spot for left‑wing activists, protests and cultural events, the cafe symbolised the neighbourhood's countercultural identity. Its shutdown underscores the gentrification reshaping the historically radical area. Mouria was unable to renew its lease, ending a long‑standing hub of solidarity and resistance.