Manolis Moutsos: Establishing all-day entertainment
Manolis Moutsos, entrepreneur and principal founder of Momentum Group, is behind some iconic southern suburbs hangouts, such as Akanthus, Nalu, Istioploikos, Posidonio and Romeo Club, which have been setting the “beat” of nightlife for years.
- 29/07/2025, 13:00
Before “all-day” became a trend, Manolis Moutsos and his associates had already established it. He was one of the first entrepreneurs to transform dining venues into clubs after midnight, giving a new dimension to Athenian entertainment. “We saw that people wanted it”, he tells us. A southerner by origin and soul, with basketball in Paleo Faliro as his starting point and Akanthus as his first “court”, he managed to connect everyday life with nightlife, offering an experience that lasts from the first coffee of the day to the last drink of the night. He speaks to “White Paper” about his journey and the habits of the Southern Suburbs – the ones that no one sees behind every full table.
• The southern suburbs are my “home”. I was a basketball player in Paleo Faliro, but due to some injuries and two surgeries, I stopped playing professionally. This change was the reason for me to turn to hospitality, at a conjuncture that proved to be decisive. I happened to meet my future partners and together we opened Akanthus. That’s how my journey began. Hospitality became my passion.
• In some areas we outperform cities like Barcelona and Miami, while in others we still have room for improvement. However, the necessary elements – high-level investments, quality services and constantly good weather – are already there, providing a strong foundation for further growth.
• Sports and hospitality are linked through core values: discipline and cooperation. At the same time, there is a great correlation between them, given that through sports you meet a lot of people, which helps to attract people to hospitality.
• Momentum Group’s success is based on the balancing of different concepts — from restaurants and clubs to bouzouki — which is achieved by selecting very capable partners.
Published in “White Paper: The Big Business of the South”, NouPou Media’s special edition spotlighting the current landscape and future prospects of the Athens Riviera.