Hotel bars are rarely frequented by locals, but this one is different. Located in Monastiraki, this sixth floor cocktail bar affords fantastic views of the Acropolis, floodlit at night. With a spacious terrace, minimalist design, DJ music and great mojitos, it’s one of Athens’ most popular venues, and gets so crowded after midnight at weekends that it feels more like a club. To enjoy the view without the rabble, come early for a sunset aperitif.
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Athens Nightlife
Athens has a lively nightlife scene that takes place in the hundreds of bars, tavernas and clubs, as well as in the streets. One of the most popular nightlife areas in Athens is Gazi which has a large amount of bars and clubs that are open until late. Closer to the centre, Psirri also caters for mainstream tastes. To rub shoulders with the Athenian elite, try the upmarket area of Kolonaki. For a drink under the stars with an Acropolis view, head to the open-air cafés lining Apostolou Pavlou in Thissio and Adrianou near Monastiraki. Other vibrant areas include grungy Exarhia (the bohemian student quarter) and Syntagma.
During the summer, the Hellenic Festival offers open-air concerts, dance and theatrical events. Tickets for all performances included within the Athens Festival and the Epidaurus Festival are sold at the Hellenic Festival Box Office, Panepistimiou 39 (tel: +30 210 327 2000; www.greekfestival.gr).
Bars in Athens
A for Athens
Address:
Maiouli 2-4, Athens, 105 54, Greece
Telephone: +30 21 0324 4244
Website:
Brettos
In pretty Plaka, this old-fashioned distillery dates from 1909. The cosy and much-photographed interior combines a wooden bar lined with stools, and walls stacked with shelves of coloured back-lit bottles. The liquors on offer are their own creations, numbering over 30 flavours, based on various Mediterranean fruits, herbs and spices. They also serve a fine selection of Greek wines by the glass.
Address:
Kidathineon 41, Athens, Attica 105 58, Greece
Telephone: +30 21 0323 2110
Website:
Hoxton
The most popular bar in Gazi by far is Hoxton, a former warehouse converted into an industrial-chic lounge-bar. Frequented by the 20 to 40-something age group, it’s all about polished concrete walls, old sofas, low-level coffee tables, and occasional painting and photography exhibitions. The music is an eclectic mix of electronic, indie, jazz and rock. In summer, clients spill out onto the car-free piazza.
Address:
Voutadon 42, Athens, Athens, Attica 118 54, Greece
Telephone: +30 21 0341 3395
Website:
Clubs in Athens
Island
Island in Varkiza is another club by the beach to look out for in summer. Glamour reigns here, with a whitewashed wooden deck affording stunning sea views, and a background of ambient and lounge music. Inspired by the romance of the Cycladic islands, there’s chill-out area with scatter cushions, potted plants and flickering candles, and a restaurant serving creative Mediterranean cuisine plus sushi. Romantic and effortlessly chic.
Address:
Sounio Avenue 27, Varkiza, Athens, Attica 166 72, Greece
Telephone: +30 21 0965 3563
Website:
Steam Athens
This multi-level underground venue has an industrial chic style that is the perfect match for its techno and tech-house music preference. But what truly makes this the ideal club for techno lovers is the hi-tech sound and light system.
Address:
3 Eurimedontos, Athens, Attica 10435, Greece
Telephone: +30 21 0341 2120
Live Music in Athens
Gagarin 205
Rock music enthusiasts might prefer the more informal Gagarin 205, staging live concerts in a former cinema space – the seats have been taken out, but the sloping floor means you can see the stage, even from the back. Attracting international names from the world of alternative music, Gagarin has hosted performances by avant-garde post-punk Manchester band, The Fall, Turkish alternative musical group, Baba Zula, and heavy metal band from Florida, Iced Earth.
Address:
Liosion205, Athens, Attica 104 45, Greece
Telephone: +30 21 1411 2500
Website:
Half Note Jazz Club
For the best jazz in town, visit Half Note Jazz Club in Mets. On the go since 1979, it’s a classic jazz dive - cramped but cosy, with a small stage and a smoky bar area. It attracts an impressive line-up of international names including legendary blues musician Otis Taylor from Chicago, and the Curtis Fuller Sextet, lead by jazz trombonist Curtis Fuller from Detroit. It also offers a platform for local talent.
Address:
Trivonianou 17, Mets, Athens, Attica 116 36, Greece
Telephone: +30 210 921 3310.
Website:
Stoa Athanaton
To hear authentic rembétika (blues sung by immigrants from Asia Minor who came to Greece in the 1920s), try the Stoa Athanaton, in the arcade inside the meat section of the Central Market. Founded in 1930, this atmospheric venue gets packed with locals, both old and young. A flower lady sells carnations, which the audience throw to the musicians during their favourite songs. It warms up around midnight with singing and dancing till 0400.
Address:
Sofokleous 19, Athens, Athens, Attica 10551, Greece
Telephone: 210 321 4362.
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