After a long period of abandonment in the late 20th century, the area is acquiring a reputation as an artistic and fashionable neighbourhood due to the opening of many art galleries, museums, and trendy[tone] restaurants and cafes.

[1] The centre of the neighborhood is Avdi Square, where theatres and an art gallery are located, and in which festivals and gatherings are periodically hold.

During the course of Athens' dramatic growth in the late 19th century, Metaxourgeio became a thriving working-class neighbourhood, housing many craftsmen, tradesmen, and small-business owners.

The population of the neighbourhood continued to grow during the course of the early twentieth century, maintaining its working-class profile, until a period of abandonment beginning in the 1970s.

Metaxourgeio's abrupt population decrease during this period reflects the larger situation in Athens, when many inhabitants moved to cities within the region but outside of the capital.

By 2001, the population of the neighbourhood had stabilised, largely due to an influx of immigrants as well as upper middle-class residents who found the area's low rents and proximity to high-profile meeting places attractive.

In the period leading up to the 2004 Olympic games, renovation projects and infrastructure rebuilding throughout Athens extended to Metaxourgeio as well, which further attracted new higher-income residents.

Alekos Fassianos (born 1935) is a well-recognised and celebrated Greek painter whose work "The Myth of my neighbourhood,” on exhibit at the Metaxourgeio Metro station, leads us to a world full of colours and images of another era.

Tassos Livaditis (April 1922- Oct 1988) was a poet born in Metaxourgeio whose poetry has been made famous as lyrics by the musician Mikis Theodorakis.

At a young age he moved to the Metaxourgio section of Athens, where he learned the art of the shadow theatre from Theodoros Theodorellos, a pupil of Mimaros.

[5] His work can still be seen at the Au Revoir on Patission Street which is one of the last of the old cafe-bars, a small monument to a time when Kypseli was the place to be and a popular stop for a drink after the theaters let out.