She Knows Greece- A Conversation with Helene Kolovos

At The Greek Providore, we’re always inspired by people who share our love for Greece its flavours, its stories, and its timeless beauty. Helene Kolovos, the founder of She Knows Greece, captures that spirit through her carefully curated travel guides that help travellers experience Greece like a local. Her work celebrates the art of slow travel, authentic food experiences, and interiors that tell a story. We sat down with Helen to talk about her love for Greece, her most memorable food moments, and the way she brings Greek soul into everything she does.

What inspired you to start She Knows Greece? Was there a defining moment when you realised you wanted to turn your love for Greece into beautifully curated guides? 

Very simply, I started She Knows Greece because I just love Greece. The idea came to me one summer in Mykonos. I was by the pool at our hotel when a woman I went to school with came over and said she’d booked the same hotel after seeing my stories. That was the moment I thought, okay, people are really following along. Every time I’m there, my inbox fills with messages asking where I’m staying, eating or what beach I’m at, these sort of questions. So I thought, why not make it easy and put everything in one place, basically the Greece I know and love.

 

Your guides encourage travellers to experience Greece with intention. How do you personally like to slow down and connect with a place when you travel? 

For me, slowing down means taking time to actually live in a place, not just visit it. I love going back to islands I already know, but I also like adding new ones to the list. This year it was Syros, my new favourite, and I can’t stop talking about it. Once I’ve been somewhere before, I don’t feel the need to rush. I go back to my favourite beaches, the little taverns I loved and see locals I’ve met along the way. That’s when you start to feel really connected, when it feels less like a trip and more like being part of the place. I also like staying longer in those familiar spots, it gives everything a slower pace.

You have such an eye for design. How does your love for interiors and aesthetics influence the way you create your guides, from photography to storytelling? 

My guides are for people like me, people who care about design, comfort, quality and the little details. I spend a lot of time researching where I stay because the space matters as much as the location. My interior design background means I notice texture, light, materials, how a place makes you feel. That naturally flows into my guides. The photography, the layout, the tone, it all reflects that same eye for simplicity, balance and intention. I like things to feel calm, considered and real, just like a well-designed home.

Describe your ideal day in Greece, from morning coffee to sunset. Where would you be and what would you be doing?

I love this question! My ideal day in Greece sees me in Folegandros. I’d start with a freddo cappuccino (metrio) and some watermelon with feta before heading out. I love morning walks through the Chora, watching the town slowly wake up as the locals set up for the day. Then I’d head to Agali Beach, take the water taxi to the smaller beaches nearby, swim, read and probably fall asleep to the sound of the sea. By early afternoon, I’d be back at Agali for lunch, I love the taverna there.  My lunch would consist of prawns, horta and a Greek salad with a chilled rosé served in a tin jug. A swim and siesta by the hotel pool, then an evening walk through town, a drink of rakomelo at Baraki, a traditional islander dinner at To Spitiko and finishing the night on our verandah at Anemomilos watching the sea.

Greek food is deeply tied to emotion and memory. What’s one meal in Greece that you’ll never forget, where were you, what did you eat, and who were you with?

There have been so many beautiful food moments but one that really stands out was this year up north. I was born in Thessaloniki and my parents are from Serres, so we went to visit family in the village which is near the beach. In the neighbouring village, Nea Kerdyllia, there’s this psarotaverna called Makis, right by the water, full of locals and not a tourist in sight. We went with my cousins who of course they knew everyone there, so we got the star treatment. We had the best prawn saganaki I’ve ever had, with bread from my mum’s village to mop up the sauce. Seafood, family and a few glasses of ouzo, the perfect Sunday lunch.

If we were to peek inside your Greek pantry, what would we find? Which ingredients are a must and how do they inspire your cooking?

 I can’t live without the trinity of Greek cooking - good Greek extra virgin olive oil, it has to be Greek and extra virgin, oregano and lemons. Also need quality vinegar. They’re simple but they go into almost everything I make.

Bringing Greece Home- For those of us far from Greece, what are your favourite ways to bring that magic of the islands and the mainland into everyday life here in Australia?

You’d have to see my house to believe it, it’s very Greek, my son calls it my Greek shrine. Over the years I’ve collected pieces from all over Greece, from art to ceramics, Posters framed from museums and icons from churches. Pieces that remind me of certain places and moments. Food is a big one. Cooking Greek food instantly takes me back a Greek salad, slow-cooked lamb, or just good bread with olive oil. Hearing the Greek language and listening to Greek music (how good was Argiros!) also brings that same feeling too. It’s those everyday things that keep me connected.

Thessaloniki Vs Athens- You’re originally from Thessaloniki, what’s something you love most about your city, and what makes it different from other parts of Greece?

Thessaloniki is like no other city I know. She has so much character, shaped by all the different influences over its history - Greek, Byzantine, Ottoman and Jewish. You feel it everywhere, in the food, the buildings, the people. I love the mix of retro 60s architecture with old stone buildings and the sea is right there. A walk down Leoforos Nikis encapsulates all these.  She’s raw, she’s but so beautiful. And for me, it’s family. I was born here, I have lived here, I have so many childhood memories, every time I come here it feel like a big warm hug.

Athens seems to divide people, some absolutely love it, others need a little time to warm up to it. Where do you stand? What’s your take on Athens?

Where Thessaloniki has my heart, Athens has my soul. I know Athens divides people, but for those who don’t warm to her straight away, I want them to see my Athens, I know they’ll love her once they get to know her. She’s an enigma; once you peel the layers away, you get to the beautiful core. That’s why I’ve spent so much time working on my Athens guide, to show that side of the city. Athens has a rawness, beauty and depth that’s hard to explain. The past and present live side by side and somehow it all works. I love everything about this city, she’s always felt like home.

What’s next for She Knows Greece? Are there new guides or destinations you’re dreaming about exploring?

 I’m working on a few new guides at the moment and something a little different, a travel journal that ties in beautifully with She Knows Greece. I’m also exploring ways to make things a bit more personal for those who want a more tailored experience. And of course, I’m planning my next trip. I missed Mykonos this year so that’s high on the list, JK wants to explore more of the mainland around Mani, so that might be on the cards. And always, Athens, she’s never not on the list.