Athens Nightlife – The Best Bars & Clubs
Wondering where to go for a drink in Athens? Here is a list of the best nightlife spots. Athens by night is pretty awesome!
1. Brettos – Plaka
A Plaka landmark since 1909, Brettos is a cozy bar and distillery offering a wide variety of spirits and cocktails. Their house-made products line the shelves in a rainbow of colors and include 5 types of ouzo, 2 types of brandy, tsipouro, rakomelo, and 40+ flavors of liqueur. Popular with locals and travelers alike. Open all day from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.
2. Baba Au Rum – Monastiraki
The leader of Athens’ cocktail bar revival, Baba Au Rum offers beautifully crafted drinks in a lively setting. Rum is the specialty here with over 150 carefully selected labels on the menu, though the bar offers a range of high-quality spirits from around the globe. Spicy, sweet, and complex cocktails are assembled using local, organic herbs and spices, alongside homemade sodas, orgeat, and aromatic seltzers. Open Sunday through Friday from 7:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. and on Saturdays from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m.
3. six d.o.g.s. – Monastiraki
Eclectic cultural center combining a bar, club, café, restaurant, and garden – seamlessly rolled into one trendy space. The venue hosts DJs, live bands, art exhibits, and more. The menu features a wide range of signature cocktails, Greek and international beers, and casual fare with vegan and vegetarian options. Though located near the tourist hotspot of Monastiraki, this is more popular with locals than travelers. Open 365 days a year from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 a.m.
4. The 7 Jokers – Syntagma
Casual, rock-n-roll bar offering creative cocktails, draft beers, and an excellent liquor selection, including rare and special edition spirits. Popular within the industry, this is where Athens’ bartenders drink after their shifts, so it gets busiest very late at night around 2:00 a.m. This late-night standby is open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. weekdays, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. on Sundays.
5. 360° Cocktail Bar – Monastiraki
Cosmopolitan rooftop bar and restaurant with striking views of the Acropolis. The wine list features a variety of regional Greek varieties, while the food menu suggests regional dishes for the perfect pairing. A variety of signature cocktails is on offer, as well. A popular sunset perch and romantic dinner spot, reservations are recommended to secure tables with the best views. Open from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m.
6. The Clumsies – Monastiraki
Classy yet unassuming bar offering skillfully-made cocktails, comfort food, and a welcoming setting in an old townhouse. The drink menu changes regularly but always features inventive cocktails and well-made classics. Their VIP section, The Room, offers an exclusive drink menu, fireplace, and billiard table; The Room has a slightly formal air, seats up to 10, and is available by reservation only. Open all day from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.
7. Alexander’s Bar – Syntagma
Refined bar set in the 5-star Hotel Grande Bretagne on Syntagma Square. Alexander’s Bar offers an extensive list of rare whiskeys (especially Scotch and single-malts), brandies, and cognacs. The decor is sophisticated, filled with rich mahogany, dark marble, white columns, and an 18th-century tapestry of Alexander the Great (the bar’s namesake) above the bar. The dress code is smart casual. Open from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
8. Heteroclito – Plaka
The best wine bar in Athens, Heteroclito highlights native Greek wines, with a special emphasis on natural wines. Over 200 Greek labels are on offer at any given time, and their “by the glass” selection changes every month, while Greek cheeses, cold cuts, and other small bites are on offer to accompany any selection. Open Monday through Friday from 12:30 p.m. to midnight, Saturdays from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., and Sundays from 6:00 p.m. to midnight.
9. Kerameio – Kerameikos
Wonderful café and dive bar known for live music (mostly jazz and soul) and cheap drinks. The bar is cozy and charming, set in a revamped old building with vintage furnishings and a covered patio filled with potted plants. Kerameio offers quiet oasis for a coffee during the day, but at night when the bands hit the stage, it gets loud and a little rowdy. Pro-tip: after the party head to O Elvis (owned by the same people) next door for some of Athens’ best souvlaki. Kerameio is open from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. or later.
10. MoMix – Kerameikos
Experimental bar serving molecular mixology: cocktails in non-liquid forms. These wild creations are come in a range of textures (bubbles, jelly, ice cream, foam) and are served in test tubes, smoking, or in a dry ice fog. Beyond the gimmick, the cocktails taste great and the staff are super friendly. Open every evening from 6:30 p.m. to 3:00 or 4:00 a.m.
11. Noel – Monastiraki
Parisian-style, Christmas-themed bar with a lively atmosphere and over-the-top decorations. The furnishing gives off a nostalgic vibe – somewhat baroque, somewhat art-deco – with lots of gold, velvet, fringe, and rich colors. Go for the delicious cocktails and magical atmosphere (but skip the food). Open Sundays through Tuesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. and Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m.
12. Intriga – Exarcheia
One of the oldest bars in Athens (since 1981), Intriga is a tiny, locals bar in the graffiti-covered, antiestablishment, gallery-studded neighborhood of Exarcheia. Come here for cheap drinks (beer and basic cocktails), a classic rock/punk soundtrack, and the occasional photography exhibit in the upstairs gallery. Outdoor seating is recommended; it gets pretty smoky in the main bar. Hours are not exact; Intriga operates as a café by day, then switches into a bar in the early evening and goes until 2:00 a.m. or so.
13. Beatniks Road Bar – Exarcheia
Inspired by the Beat Generation rebels, especially Kerouac and Burroughs, Beatniks Road Bar is a bluesy haven for classic cocktails and Greek spirits. The bar is designed to feel like a 1950s blues hall, with a checkerboard floor, red accents, and trumpets hanging over the bar top. DJs spin early rock, blues, garage, and even a little surf on Fridays and Saturdays; live bands play about once a month. Like all bars in Exarcheia, this is more popular with locals than travelers. Open from 7:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
14. Odori Vermuteria – Monastiraki
Italian-style vermouth bar (the first vermouth bar in Greece) and restaurant, specializing in aromatic, cocktails, Greek and Italian wines, and Neapolitan-style pizzas. The cocktail menu features a mix of original drinks, and fresh, modern spins on traditional drinks. Odori offers a casual, romantic atmosphere with a botanical garden theme, offering indoor and outdoor seating on their large terrace. Open Mondays through Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m., and on Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.
Wondering where to go for a drink in Athens? Here is a list of the best nightlife spots. Athens by night is pretty awesome!
1. Brettos – Plaka
A Plaka landmark since 1909, Brettos is a cozy bar and distillery offering a wide variety of spirits and cocktails. Their house-made products line the shelves in a rainbow of colors and include 5 types of ouzo, 2 types of brandy, tsipouro, rakomelo, and 40+ flavors of liqueur. Popular with locals and travelers alike. Open all day from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.
2. Baba Au Rum – Monastiraki
The leader of Athens’ cocktail bar revival, Baba Au Rum offers beautifully crafted drinks in a lively setting. Rum is the specialty here with over 150 carefully selected labels on the menu, though the bar offers a range of high-quality spirits from around the globe. Spicy, sweet, and complex cocktails are assembled using local, organic herbs and spices, alongside homemade sodas, orgeat, and aromatic seltzers. Open Sunday through Friday from 7:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. and on Saturdays from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m.
3. six d.o.g.s. – Monastiraki
Eclectic cultural center combining a bar, club, café, restaurant, and garden – seamlessly rolled into one trendy space. The venue hosts DJs, live bands, art exhibits, and more. The menu features a wide range of signature cocktails, Greek and international beers, and casual fare with vegan and vegetarian options. Though located near the tourist hotspot of Monastiraki, this is more popular with locals than travelers. Open 365 days a year from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 a.m.
4. The 7 Jokers – Syntagma
Casual, rock-n-roll bar offering creative cocktails, draft beers, and an excellent liquor selection, including rare and special edition spirits. Popular within the industry, this is where Athens’ bartenders drink after their shifts, so it gets busiest very late at night around 2:00 a.m. This late-night standby is open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. weekdays, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. on Sundays.
5. 360° Cocktail Bar – Monastiraki
Cosmopolitan rooftop bar and restaurant with striking views of the Acropolis. The wine list features a variety of regional Greek varieties, while the food menu suggests regional dishes for the perfect pairing. A variety of signature cocktails is on offer, as well. A popular sunset perch and romantic dinner spot, reservations are recommended to secure tables with the best views. Open from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m.
6. The Clumsies – Monastiraki
Classy yet unassuming bar offering skillfully-made cocktails, comfort food, and a welcoming setting in an old townhouse. The drink menu changes regularly but always features inventive cocktails and well-made classics. Their VIP section, The Room, offers an exclusive drink menu, fireplace, and billiard table; The Room has a slightly formal air, seats up to 10, and is available by reservation only. Open all day from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.
7. Alexander’s Bar – Syntagma
Refined bar set in the 5-star Hotel Grande Bretagne on Syntagma Square. Alexander’s Bar offers an extensive list of rare whiskeys (especially Scotch and single-malts), brandies, and cognacs. The decor is sophisticated, filled with rich mahogany, dark marble, white columns, and an 18th-century tapestry of Alexander the Great (the bar’s namesake) above the bar. The dress code is smart casual. Open from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
8. Heteroclito – Plaka
The best wine bar in Athens, Heteroclito highlights native Greek wines, with a special emphasis on natural wines. Over 200 Greek labels are on offer at any given time, and their “by the glass” selection changes every month, while Greek cheeses, cold cuts, and other small bites are on offer to accompany any selection. Open Monday through Friday from 12:30 p.m. to midnight, Saturdays from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., and Sundays from 6:00 p.m. to midnight.
9. Kerameio – Kerameikos
Wonderful café and dive bar known for live music (mostly jazz and soul) and cheap drinks. The bar is cozy and charming, set in a revamped old building with vintage furnishings and a covered patio filled with potted plants. Kerameio offers quiet oasis for a coffee during the day, but at night when the bands hit the stage, it gets loud and a little rowdy. Pro-tip: after the party head to O Elvis (owned by the same people) next door for some of Athens’ best souvlaki. Kerameio is open from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. or later.
10. MoMix – Kerameikos
Experimental bar serving molecular mixology: cocktails in non-liquid forms. These wild creations are come in a range of textures (bubbles, jelly, ice cream, foam) and are served in test tubes, smoking, or in a dry ice fog. Beyond the gimmick, the cocktails taste great and the staff are super friendly. Open every evening from 6:30 p.m. to 3:00 or 4:00 a.m.
11. Noel – Monastiraki
Parisian-style, Christmas-themed bar with a lively atmosphere and over-the-top decorations. The furnishing gives off a nostalgic vibe – somewhat baroque, somewhat art-deco – with lots of gold, velvet, fringe, and rich colors. Go for the delicious cocktails and magical atmosphere (but skip the food). Open Sundays through Tuesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. and Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m.
12. Intriga – Exarcheia
One of the oldest bars in Athens (since 1981), Intriga is a tiny, locals bar in the graffiti-covered, antiestablishment, gallery-studded neighborhood of Exarcheia. Come here for cheap drinks (beer and basic cocktails), a classic rock/punk soundtrack, and the occasional photography exhibit in the upstairs gallery. Outdoor seating is recommended; it gets pretty smoky in the main bar. Hours are not exact; Intriga operates as a café by day, then switches into a bar in the early evening and goes until 2:00 a.m. or so.
13. Beatniks Road Bar – Exarcheia
Inspired by the Beat Generation rebels, especially Kerouac and Burroughs, Beatniks Road Bar is a bluesy haven for classic cocktails and Greek spirits. The bar is designed to feel like a 1950s blues hall, with a checkerboard floor, red accents, and trumpets hanging over the bar top. DJs spin early rock, blues, garage, and even a little surf on Fridays and Saturdays; live bands play about once a month. Like all bars in Exarcheia, this is more popular with locals than travelers. Open from 7:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
14. Odori Vermuteria – Monastiraki
Italian-style vermouth bar (the first vermouth bar in Greece) and restaurant, specializing in aromatic, cocktails, Greek and Italian wines, and Neapolitan-style pizzas. The cocktail menu features a mix of original drinks, and fresh, modern spins on traditional drinks. Odori offers a casual, romantic atmosphere with a botanical garden theme, offering indoor and outdoor seating on their large terrace. Open Mondays through Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m., and on Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.