Athenians are night owls. That’s part of the reason why there is always traffic late at night - another is that they love their cars so much. People will usually start their evening in a restaurant and continue for drinks late into the night. The city offers an endless and ever-changing variety of entertainments, which reaches its peak during the summer, when the balmy weather draws people onto the pavements. Even cinemas have adopted the open-air culture, making watching a movie in Athens a unique experience. Each neighbourhood of the city attracts its own “tribe”, with fashionistas hitting the area of Gazi and Psyrri like a hurricane, while students and intellectuals inhabit Exarhia. Plaka, Monastiraki and Thissio attract an even mix of tourists and casual crowds, while label-chasers exchange compliments in Kolonaki. Another interesting nightlife trend is the amalgamation of a café, bar and restaurant under one roof. You may sit for a quiet lunch in Gazi and before you know it it’s midnight and the coffee in your hand has been replaced by a mojito. Such venues are multiplying and are mostly found in Psyrri, Gazi and Kolonaki.
Summertime is also the season when the nightlife - and more specifically clubbing - shifts to the southern suburbs, as their proximity to the sea makes them an ideal hang-out spot. The hotter the weather gets, the more Athenians look for nightspots that offer that holiday feeling. In the evening, the seaside neighbourhoods between Palio Faliro and Glyfada are where you will find youngsters in flashy clothes walking past the numerous bars. Most Athenian clubs lead double lives – in the winter they are located in the centre and are packed to the point of madness. In the summer, they move south, where the venues have double the space and are partly open-air. Having said this, those looking for a quieter time continue to frequent the same bars in central Athens. Most bars in the city are small, but in the summer they usually open to a back-garden or a terrace, where they often host cultural events. Clubs charge an entrance fee which usually includes one free drink, but the bars only charge you for the drinks you buy.
A famous Mykonos Island bar has opened in Athens and continues its tradition for upbeat music in a Cycladic-style setting. The right place to show off your tan and trendy outfits.
Tokyo
21 Sina Street, 213 0035558 / Metro: Panepistimio
Tiny, trendy and usually packed bar is favoured by those who want to dance.
Barak
8A Loukianou, 210 7214959 / Metro: Evangelismos
This stylish champagne bar plays swing, jazz, soul and 90s music and serves finger food prepared by the chef.
An old, all-day bar for locals and celebrities alike, Mai Tai also serves wine at its bar. The music is good, but it is rather narrow and can get too crowded on weekends. Tables are placed outside.
Named after the first two letters of the streets it inhabits, this mainstream bar holds several musical events during the week, as well as guest DJ sets. Music is sometimes too loud.
A small bar, at the first floor of an old building right at the centre of the colourful Avyssinias Square, recently opened its doors, offering drinks at €5. The crowd of 20-somethings swing lightly to Iggy Pop and in the summer the terrace will open up, offering an amazing view of the Acropolis Hill.
One of the oldest distilleries in the city and one that respect its clientele. The wooden barrels and shelves are packed with colourful liquer bottles and it is one of the best places in the area to have a good drink. You may also buy a liquer or two.
Hidden in the narrow Avramiotou Street, this venue is literally a three-minute walk from Monastiraki Square. The three-room building houses a couple of bars, a slightly claustrophobic concert venue, and a hidden all-day open-air café, located down the neon-lit staircase. It mainly entertains twenty-something youngsters who crowd the rooms and eventually spill out onto the street, taking over benches and pavements.
James Joyce Pub
12 Astigos, Monastiraki, 210 3235055
A classic Irish pub in a quiet side-street of Monastiraki. The wooden-panelled pub has a long list of imported beers and some very hearty burgers and sandwitches on offer, as well as a few tables outside which are rarely empty. During the winter, it attracts some British and Irish expats craving a cold bee and maybe a football match on the large TV screens.
Situated right next to the train tracks, this friendly café-bar offers great value-for-money for an evening drink, or just a cup of coffee. Sitting at a table on the pedestrian Thessalonikis Street, you have a view of the tall chimney of Technopolis cultural centre, just behind the trees, across the street.
Exarchia
Luxus
27, Valtetsiou Street, 213 0047353 / Metro: Omonia Entrance to this small bistrot-cocktail bar takes you back to the 1930s, when art-deco was in full swing and bars played jazz. Great coffee and light meals are served in daytime, while in the evening, Luxus’ experienced bartenders start serving perfect, sui generis cocktails, and some even made from organic ingredients.
The first thing you need to know about this classy café-bar, is that is usually full. The second is that it serves to its artistic clients delicious baquetes and good French wine.
Circus
11 Navarinou Street, 210 3615255 / Metro: Omonia
A successful blend of café and café-bar housed in a neoclassical house, Circus is usually packed in the evenings. Its drinks are brought in huge glasses.
Kokkinos Lotos
5 Zoodohou Pigis, 210 3801380 / Metro: Omonia
With its Asian décor and red walls, this small bar always attracts the attention of passers-by. The crowd here is artistic and appreciates the ultra-cheap drinks, that will set you back just €3.20.
The Drugstore
Corner of Arahovis (10) and Ippokratous Street / Metro: Omonia
The only drug you might need here is an aspirin, if you stare too long at the dizzying black-and-white floor tiles. The menu says that coming here is ‘cheaper than staying at home’, which I guess may be true if you order take-out. A simple drink costs €3.5.
O Kipos tis Kalashnikov
87 Emmanouel Benaki, 210 3813685 / Metro: Omonia
Kalashnikov’s Garden (Kipos) is a multi-venue that plays rock music and hosts live gigs and exhibitions.
Kazu
3 Mavromihali, 210 3602242 / Metro: Omonia
For an early drink tiny Kazu is a favourite bar.
Habeat
44 Themistokleous Street / Metro: Omonia
This bar is a testimony to Exarhia’s alternative reputation. Habeat is an odd creature, both a bar and a vinyl store. The DJs play music only with vinyl records, which they also sell at the first floor and drinks are super cheap.
Ginger Ale
Exarhia Square, 210 3301246 / Metro: Omonia
With its odd mix-and-match of furniture, Ginger Ale is a standard hangout bar for locals.
Metaksourgio
Barrio
53 Keramikou, 210 5246564, Metro: Keramikos
Starts early with coffee and fruit juices and continues with soul and funk music through the night.
Cabaret Voltaire
30 Marathonos, 210 5227046, Metro: Metaksourgio
Combines different elements successfully – a restaurant, a bar, a treatre and good music.
Gazi & Keramikos
The old run-down area has transformed into an uber trendy neighbourhood, which caters to the needs of its ever-moving clientele. Gazi is a quiet neighbourhood during the day, but as the evening approaches, groups of people and couples emerge from the metro station and disappear in nearby mezedopolia and bars for an early drink. By midnight, the streets are filled with people who rush to grab a couple of seats in one of the areas bars. For all the venues mentioned below, the closest metro station is Keramikos, unless otherwise stated.
Gazi College
53 Persefonis Street, 210 3422112
Since its opening, this large New York-style venue raised the bar for all-day hangouts in the area. There are filling salads and street-food to nibble on while you wait for your fresh cocktail and a floor-to-ceiling libraby right behind you to pass time while you wait for your friends. Additional points for being smoke-free.
A Liar Man
2 Sofroniou, Gazi, 210 3426332
Walk inside the narrow Sofroniou Street and find this taverna-looking bar at number two. Its jazzy music and Mediterranean-style décor – and food – have made it a very popular hangout place.
Hoxton Bar
42 Voutadon, 210 3413395
When you feel like pumping up the volume, head into the main square and walk into Hoxton, a tribute to its namesake in London. The backdrop is industrial with leather couches and cement walls. It houses alternating artwork, gigs and parties and opens out on the pavement.
Nixon
61B Agisilaou, 210 3462077
Urban chic décor and tables with a separe set the tone in this trendy multi-venue. Nixon serves well-made cocktails, delicious burgers and great music. The large glass windows allow full street view.
Further up Pireos street is the trend setting multi-venue which houses dj sets, theatre performances, cultural events and the best mojito in town. With an impeccable 70’s urban environment, it opens its terrace to the thirsty public.
An English rock-metal pub in the centre of Athens, with a wide selection of beers and live gigs. There’s a pool table too.
Gazaki
31 Triptolemou, 210 5227046
One of the first bars to open in Gazi, it’s wooden, cosy and crowded.
Gazarte
32-34 Voutadon Stret, 210 3460347
This bar certainly has one of the best views of downtown Athens from its large roof-top terrace. Visit Gazarte for an early drink, as it can get pretty crowded later on.
Join Athens’ youth in this excellent venue for mainstream music, live Greek bands and good drinks.
Kerameio
27 Plateon Street, Keramikos, 210 3464221
This café-bar has a friendly atmosphere and is frequented mainly by college students and locals who wish to avoid the noise and hype of nearby Gazi. Drinks include beers and rakomelo, while the bar often hosts DJ sets and other events.
Petralona
Vraziliana
4 Arkadon, Merkouri square, Ano Petralona, 210 7108428, Train: Ano Petralona
An all-day venue offering coffee and light lunch during the day and a low-key bar serving caipirinhas and mojitos to the sound of Brazilian melodies during the night.
Klouvi
Kithadinon & Dimofondos 57, Petralona, 210 347999
The name of this place means “cage”, but you will not feel trapped at all. Small and friendly, Klouvi plays jazz and draws customers in right after dinner-time.
Psirri
Cubanita
28 Karaiskaki, 210 3314605
You feel like a guest in a house in Havana as soon as you enter this popular joint, great for a second round of drinks and maybe some salsa dancing. The cocktail menu lets you select among a wide range of specialties with mojitos being more prominent. There’s also a restaurant but it’s closed for the summer.
Philipp
4 Tombazi, 213 0325624, Metro: Monastiraki
An amazing aquarium is the centre of attention in this classic style champagne bar.
Syntagma-Commercial centre (Emporiko Trigono)
Baba au Rum
6 Klitiou, 6948 242455 / Metro: Panepistimio
The first bar to revive the love for top-quality cocktails, mint-coloured Baba has an amazing range of cocktails, rare brands of rum, surprisingly good food served until 2300 and professional barmen who can prepare pretty much anything you ask of them. Happily, it is also smoke-free.
Do you like gin? So does this tiny, retro-style bar which opened recently to teach Athenians the authentic gin cocktails as they were served in the 1920s and beyond. Black and white décor, big-band and jazz music and its peculiar cocktail glasses make it stand out.
Bartessera
25 Kolokotroni, 210 3229805 / Metro: Panepistimio
Tucked away in an arcade, this is an all-day bar that hosts exhibitions and live events.
Not to be confused with posh Galaxy Bar oat the Athens Hilton, this is a classic American bar and a haven for after-work drinks and quiet conversations.
The usual after-work hangout for journalists and people in the media business. If you go early (before 2200) sit on the stools next to the large window.
A chic cocktail and wine bar in a Monaco-styled marina, decorated with wood.
Skippers
Inside Marina Kalamakiou, Palio Faliro
Skipper’s is a quiet café-bar for an early drink. It’s wooden deck and sea view marks it out as one of the best bets for a quiet night out. Dress code is casual.
This venue is in a category of its own. The creators of Balux decided this year there’s no place like home. Thus they remodelled the well-know venue into a proper - rich man’s- home. This house seems to have no end – and no walls. There’s a living room to sit and chat with friends, a playroom to improve your skills in pool or play cardboard games, a telly to watch your favourite TV series, a modern kitchen with a long wooden bench, a dining room to dine in style and a massive bar to complete your evening. There’s also a bedroom with ehm, beds. Of course no house would be complete without its garden. Balux’s garden opens on the seaside with tables arranged around white tents. The venue even has a playground for kids with a large pool next to it. Did I mention it also has a library?
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