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Monastiraki
Rum is the star at this trendy, popular bar in the heart of Monastiraki. All the liqueurs, syrups, and essences to flavor highly original and delicious cocktails are made in-house. The vibe is buzzy both indoors—where the decor has stylish yet quirky vintage touches like stained-glass lamps and antique drinking glasses—and out, where crowds gather especially on weekends. From tiki-inspired beverages to dark rum, chocolate, and lemon creations, you can spend hours experimenting here. Voted as one of the top 50 bars worldwide.
Klitiou 6, Athens, Attica, 10560, Greece
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Kolonaki | Bars/Pubs
Just two minutes walk from Kolonaki Square, on the buzzy Tsakalof street packed with bars, this sleek, Prohibition-era-themed bar is always kicking with a mixed crowd sipping excellently mixed cocktails. Chesterfield-style sofas, high padded stools, and elaborately tiled floors as well as a vibrant soundtrack keep customers here until the late hours.
Tsakalof 6, Athens, Attica, 10673, Greece
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Syntagma
If you'd like to learn about Greek wine using both your mind and your taste buds, this modern bar with bold yellow walls and high stools is the place for you. Serving some 50 Greek labels by the glass among a selection of 500, this wine cellar--turned--wine bar/restaurant is popular for its high-quality wines, educationally minded staff (it is run by a team of wine experts), and foods that pair well with what you choose to drink.
Voulis 45–47, Athens, Attica, 10557, Greece
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Exarcheia | Bars/Pubs
Dark, moody, and very atmospheric, with a long bar lined with leather stools upon which the city's hip and glamorous people sip their cocktails, this newish spot can easily become a favorite hangout. Drinks are accompanied by small cold cut meze instead of the usual bowl of nuts, and cocktails are expertly crafted. Music is very important to both the owners and customers here, and every Wednesday and Sunday DJs play vinyl-record sessions, while on other nights you'll hear everything from German B-movie soundtracks to spiritual jazz. To experience the bar in its full stylish glory, head here between 6–8 pm and sprawl out. After that it gets extremely busy on most nights.
Asklipiou 69, Athens, Attica, 10680, Greece
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Monastiraki
With a menu of more than 70 cocktails and an extensive wine list, there is something for everyone at this rooftop bar in the heart of lively Monastiraki Square. An unexpected bonus is the magical view of the Acropolis.
Ifaistou 2, Athens, Attica, 10555, Greece
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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Gazi-Kerameikos
Get here before 9 pm for a drink and a chat, but after that be prepared for a fun night of bopping along to live jazz, funk, or blues performances as you sip your drink and maybe even sing along. There's always a happy atmosphere here, plus fresh talent, good drinks, and friendly service.
Ierofandon 13, Athens, Attica, 11854, Greece
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Exarcheia
This elegant Parisian-style bar and café is frequented by fashion personalities, academics, and thespians alike, who come to unwind over a few cocktails. During the day you'll find a great range of teas and coffees served in porcelain cups. Bistro-style food is also served.
Benaki 69A, Athens, Attica, 10681, Greece
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Psirri
Over the last few years Greece has exploded with microbreweries, with even ordinary supermarkets now selling at least a handful of exceptionally fresh, sometimes unpasteurized and always interestingly flavored beers. The ideal place for choosing among hundreds of labels of Greek craft beers is this pub in Psirri, where you can relax for hours watching the world go by.
Iroon Sq. 1, Athens, Attica, 10554, Greece
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Gazi-Kerameikos
Cool architects and graphic designers, arty students and hipster DJs, revolutionaries and experimental philosophers: they all hang out in the cavernous basement of this Bauhaus building in the Kerameikos neighborhood, part of the greater Gazi district. Expect to hear the best electronica music in town. In summer, relish the view of the Acropolis from the postmodern, neon-lighted roof terrace. A handful of "multispace" imitators have emerged, offering offbeat film/video and music events in painfully hip industrial spaces—but Bios remains the standard.
Pireos 84, Athens, Attica, 10435, Greece
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Syntagma
Laptops, coffee mugs, and chess sets cover the long wooden tables in this Central Athens joint by day. By night, chatty partygoers squeeze—booze in hand—into any spot they can find at this bar, which remains as edgily cool as when it first opened in the 1990s. It often feels like a laid-back party, as DJs navigate through rock, pop, and dance tunes and the multitasking bar hosts art exhibits, dance performances, art films projected on a massive wall, and theater installations. Wood details, low-hanging sculpture-lamps, and wax artworks give a warm feel to the high-ceilinged space. The antiestablishmentary attitude of the cooperative means that smoking is permitted on the premesis
Kolokotroni 57, Athens, Attica, Greece
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Plaka
With walls adorned with brightly lit bottles in all colors of the spectrum, Brettos is mainly popular among tourists who have seen photos of it over the years. Locals who still choose to come here do so to relish the memories of the oldest distillery in town (going strong since 1909) and the second-oldest bar in the whole of Europe. The huge barrels store head-spinning spirits produced on the premises even today—ouzo, cognac, liqueurs (like top picks cinnamon or mango), tsipouro, and more. Order a mezedes platter to accompany your beverage of choice.
Kydathinaion 41, Athens, Attica, 10558, Greece
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Psirri
With wine-obsessed and highly knowledgeable owners, Cinque is a deli/wine bar where you can get to know some of the most unknown and fascinating Greek wines from around the country. The ambience is friendly, intimate, and warm and the staff is always happy to help you find the ideal label for your palate or to suggest pairings with the cheeses and cold cuts they serve. As this is a small place, book your table in advance.
Voreou 10, Athens, Attica, 10551, Greece
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Monastiraki
This youthful, scenic, and modish bar offers a different kind of local color than the usual walk-in or street-level place, as you'll have to enter an arcade selling antiques and take the elevator to the top floor of an old building to reach it. As you step out onto the roof, you'll come face to face with a stunning view of the Acropolis, the National Observatory, and the Anafiotika area—and after sunset all of them beautifully lit up. The cocktails are creative, the finger foods tasty, the music loud (there are regular DJ sets hosted), and the service friendly.
Normanou 3, Athens, Attica, 10555, Greece
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Syntagma
This small and elegant wine bar focuses exclusively on Greek wines, and has knowledgeable owners who will help you navigate their extensive wine list. The vibe is breezy and relaxed, somewhat reminiscent of a Parisian street café, where you can dawdle for hours sipping a perfect glass of wine.
Fokionos 2, Athens, Attica, 10563, Greece
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Gazi-Kerameikos
Rockers and metal-heads look no further. With walls splattered with album cover posters from bands like AC/DC and Metallica, the Intrepid Fox will satiate any yearning you may have for this genre of thunderous compositions. Pride of place in the center of this large, grungy bar is a pool table facing the main live stage, and tucked away in a corner is a boxing machine. For a less intense but no less sanguine experience head up to the rooftop bar to take in the view of this post-industrial quarter of central Athens.
Triptolemou 30, Athens, Attica, 11854, Greece
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Kolonaki
A lively bar with tables sprawled out onto the pedestrianized street outside during summer and a colorful, vibrant interior in the ground-floor space it occupies in a neoclassical building. Fairy-lights, plants and trees, friendly service, and artsy "hidden" rooms make this a fun place to enjoy a few artfully mixed cocktails. It's open from 9 am until midnight so you can also visit for coffee.
Delfon 3B, Athens, Attica, 10680, Greece
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Psirri
On Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturday evenings, a rembetika or traditional laiko band plays sing-along favorites much appreciated by the largely Greek crowd., and the price of the old-style Greek entertainment at this century-old taverna is surprisingly reasonable. Meanwhile, the food at this all-day taverna is displayed on big trays, which allows you to choose the dish of your choice with help from owners Mario and Pericles (the latter is also a noted rembetika singer).
Platia Theatrou 2, Athens, Attica, 10552, Greece
Nightlife Details
Rate Includes: No credit cards
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Gazi-Kerameikos
Created by a Greek businessman in cooperation with the celebrity (Lindsay) that it's named after, this is the city's biggest and most popular dance club, especially among those who want to see and be seen. When the main action starts, the clubs dancers take center stage, undulating in the flashing strobe lights to the beats house music.
Iera Odos 30–35, Athens, Attica, 10435, Greece
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Gazi-Kerameikos
On hot summer nights, clubbers can groove under the stars in this open-air dance club right in the center of industrial Athens. Maze is located in the backyard of industrial complex "Area 19" in Votanikos. Underground house and techno music lovers flock here for the warehouse parties hosted by Athenian and international guest DJs.
Orfeos 182, Athens, Attica, 11855, Greece
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Plaka
At this traditional, but somewhat dated as a place and concept, music taverna you can get a taste of folk dances and costumes from throughout Greece. At the end of the night the music turns more "Eastern,"and everybody is invited to show off their own dance moves (if you don't want to dance, pick your seat accordingly). The price of this slice of old-style Greek entertainment is fair; there's a reasonably priced prix-fixe menu and wine by the bottle.
Agg. Hatzimihali 13, Athens, Attica, 10558, Greece
