The nightlife in Athens rivals that of any metropolitan city in the world, but here it also comes with ancient views and venues that are sometimes even open throughout the day. In the heart of the city, the atmosphere is upbeat. It thrives with slick cocktail bars offering creative concoctions, whilst the cool neighbourhoods offer alternative venues with buzzy squares packed with people on warm summer nights. Where else would you go out to a bar and lounge on a hammock?
Things to know before going out in Athens
Below is some useful info to equip yourself with before heading out to Athens for all that fun. The summer months are high season, and as much as there are loads of crowds to hang out with, you will also need to pay top prices for flights, accommodation, and venues. However, you could still have as much fun when the weather is still warm, but with smaller crowds and far better prices in the spring, between March-May, and early autumn, between September–November.
Carry cash with you. Yes, most places take cards, but there are still places that only deal with cash, so it would be wise to have some with you at all times.
Download the taxi app Beat. This way, you can pick the driver whose profile you like based on reviews, knowing he speaks English and will also accept your preferred payment method.
Monastiraki
Monastiraki is known not only for the ruins of Hadrian’s Library and the Ancient Agora but is also where you’ll find most of the rooftop bars and restaurants. Monastiraki Square and its surrounds are the place to be for the best bars and restaurants, offering fantastic views, great music, and unforgettable cocktails. These are some of the best in the area, but this is far from an exhaustive list.
360 Cocktail Bar
You couldn’t find a better place to be on the square than at 360 Cocktail bar. You don’t need much imagination to know what it offers. On Ifestou Street, a short walk from Monastiraki Square, it does exactly what it says on the tin: it offers 360° views of the city, including the lit-up Acropolis. The cocktail list is as impressive as its views, with signature concoctions bearing the names of Greek cities and islands, as well as classics with a twist; the spicy margarita has a zing to it.
A For Athens
With an unforgettable name, A For Athens would be a worthy contender for the best rooftop bar in Athens. Set atop a hotel, this chic and stylish bar not only has fabulous views but an Odyssey cocktail list dispensed by experienced and friendly mixologists. For some of the best nightlife in Athens, head there on a Friday or Saturday night.
Couleur Locale
You can find another must-visit venue with great rooftop views on Normanou Street. An all-day venue, Couleur Locale hosts guest DJs, while offering live music on Sundays (there’s no better place to enjoy Sunday brunch whilst recovering from the night before) and serves cool cocktails with casual bar food.
City Zen
And if you head to Miaouli Street, spread across two floors of a renovated building, City Zen is a place to take that special someone to celebrate a special occasion. The industrial-like setting is home to an all-day rooftop bar with a Greek Italian-inspired menu to die for. It has the seal of approval from the locals and visitors alike. Needless to say, the views alone are worth the visit.
Six d.o.g.s
Meanwhile, on Avramirotou Street, on a side street off Monastiraki, you will find a one-of-a-kind venue which may offer one of the best nightlife venues in Athens. Six d.o.g.s is another all-day cultural space that boasts its own record labels, so it’s the right place if you’re looking for live performances. It often features both local and international DJs too. With its support of the Athens art scene, you’ll often find exhibitions during the day, including various art installations.
Kolokotrioni Street
For some of the best nightlife in Athens, heading from Syntagma in the direction of Monastiraki and around the Agias Iriris Square, you will get to Kolokotrioni Street, where you will find some of the best bars and clubs in Athens. There is plenty to choose from, but notable amongst them are the following:
Barley Cargo
If you enjoy beer, then right on the booming strip of the trendy Kolokotrioni is Barley Cargo. The hint is in the name as they serve over 200 types of beer, 70 of which are Greek, including 17 on tap. The setting is relaxed, with open crates filled with an uncountable number of beer bottles lying around and aluminium beer kegs all over the place. They also have a seasonal menu, using local produce to complement the beers, with DJs and live music serenading patrons until the early hours of the morning.
The Bank Job
Opposite the Barley Cargo is a rather interesting setting, that of a former bank vault, where you will find The Bank Job. It’s a rather swanky cocktail bar where they set the mood with jazz and funk music, and the cocktails bear the names of famous bank robbers. What else would you want from a night out?
Booze Cooperativa
Another place not to be missed out on the street is Booze Cooperativa, a quirky and edgy all-day venue that sometimes masquerades as an art space. Here, you’ll find laptop tables, some with chess sets and low-hanging lamp shades. By night, it’s a cool space to listen to and dance the night away with live music whilst films are projected on its relatively large walls. It’s such a cool place to hang out, with a laid-back and welcoming mood.
Agias Iriris Square
If you want to hang out with the cool crowd in Athens, then Agias Iriris Square is the place to be. Once a flower market, it’s now a pedestrianised zone in the heart of the city, flanked by cool and trendy bars and restaurants.
Chaplin
If you’re in search of ‘healthy’ cocktails – there is such a thing in Athens – then not too far from the main square on Kalamiotou Street, Chaplin is exactly the place to be. Boasting a chic interior whose centrepiece is a huge wrought iron chandelier, the bar’s extensive cocktail list features infusions boosted with superfoods, such as acai and goji berries. You will often find live celebrity DJs jamming away at the decks until all hours.
Monk Grapes and Spirits
For an entirely different pace, head further up along Korori Street, where you’ll find the rather swanky Monk wine bar, part of the Monk Suites, set in an old building with high ceilings. This is the place to be for a sophisticated night with an extensive menu. Food is served while you’re serenaded with the undertones of jazz music whilst wine is decanted with a flourish at your table; there are offerings by the glass too. Tuesdays offer live music and Thursdays offer wine tasting. Bookings are essential if you want to get in between Thursday and Saturday nights. The roof garden is open in the summer and serves delicious cocktails accompanied by imaginative tapas.
Baba au Rum
Not too far from Syntagma Square, on Klitiou Street and close to the trendy and happening Romvis Street, is where you’ll find a venue that specialises in rum, Baba au Rum. It’s been listed as one of the top rum bars in the world and offers a fine selection of spirits. The joint also offers a selection of cocktails featuring organic herbs and spices with surprising results. If you’re after an alcohol-free night, the non-alcoholic offerings aren’t boring either and include a wide range of handcrafted artisanal blended sodas.
Kolonaki District
Whether you’re after cool restaurants, some shopping, or a bit of the old Athens and a buzzy nightlife while escaping the frantic pace of the city without losing out on all the fun, then one of the suburbs to head to is Kolonaki, only a short drive away. It’s one of the oldest suburbs of Athens and a fine example of an area that has managed the balance of mixing the new with the old with class. The pedestrianised zone on Haritos Street bustles with hip joints, including restaurants and bars. Of note amongst them are:
T5
If you’re out for a long night and want to bar hop, start your night at T5. With seating spilling out onto the pavements, which throng with excitement as the evening wears on, you’ll be able to enjoy tasty pizzas before the night’s activities kick in. It’s on the other pedestrianised strip in the area, along Tsakalof. Otherwise, head to Patriarchouloakim, where you can join the cool crowds at either Malconis or Zurbaran, a trendy all-day bar/restaurant whose menu offers a modern twist to Greek classics with a creative cocktail list.
Gazi District
Another 10-minute bus drive west will bring you to the former gas works quarter of Gazi, now a trendy area with mural-filled streets, high-class street food stalls and Greek-style tavernas reinventing Greek cuisine. It’s a cool, trendy, and diverse area to hang out. The area has so many night and day spots from which you can take your pick.
Omicron2
It wouldn’t be fair to assume it’s because of its views that it’s on the list, but Omicron2 offers some of the most incredible views back on the Acropolis and the city. It’s a unique venue in this vibrant area, offering a restaurant-café-club all in one.
Acro Club
The must-visit club in the area is Acro Club, also one of the best clubs in Athens. Although, with a strict door policy to balance male and female patrons, you require a reservation to get in. If you truly want to experience a night like no other, make a booking.
