Athens is a world-class and sophisticated destination for dining and drinking, and is home to a number of cocktail bars that have been awarded among the finest in the world. There is no shortage of standout cocktail bars in spectacular settings – from a chic drinking spot with unparalleled sea views, to an elegant lounge set within an opulent Neoclassical mansion. Upscale cocktail bars tend to be concentrated in the Syntagma/Historic Center area and in Kolonaki, while the more alternative venues can be found in Monastiraki & Psyrri. Modern Athens bars, which tend to attract students, are found in the Gazi area and offer stunning city views. So many great cocktail bars, so little time. We cut to the chase to help you find the best cocktail bars in Athens.
Baba Au Rum: This bar has earned international acclaim – and a regular place on “The World’s 50 Best Bars” list – for its classic & creative rum cocktails, and is known to have one of the most outstanding rum collections in Europe, as it stocks 150 varieties of its namesake spirit. Their award-winning cocktail menu is divided into two sections: Avant Garde Cocktails inspired by the social movement of modernism, and of course Rum Society – where you’ll find unconventional and exotic tiki and rum cocktails. If you don’t like rum, you’ll still have plenty of spirit options to enjoy, as well as a delightful selection of beer and wines available. The venue itself sports a unique, 1950s retro – exotic style, a mix of old-fashioned accessories, vintage eye candy, and antique furnishings. Baba Au Rum is a place of exotica and alternative music, with a happy 25-45 year old crowd.
You will notice a real buzz in the bar, especially during the summer months when the outside pavement is teeming with customers who arrive for one drink, and stay for four. Its service is generally professional and friendly enough, but can feel painfully slow on a busy, weekend night.
Contact details: Klitiou 6, +30 211 7109140, https://www.babaaurum.com/ (7min walk from Syntagma square, 7min walk from Monastiraki square).
The Clumsies: If you are looking for a brilliant experience in one of the best bars in the world with elegant, timeless design and mingle with cool crowd, Clumsies all day bar is the place. This place isn’t just about ordering a drink, but rather about rediscovering your own taste buds as each beverage is properly served in a glass befitting the cocktail, with a presentation conveying style and elegance. The Clumsies is located on two floors of a restored 1919 Athenian townhouse where restoration work by the owners has achieved a remarkable outcome – balancing the new with the old. The team behind this carefully crafted space strongly believe that an all-day bar should be warm and welcoming and feel familiar, with interior spaces drenched in natural light. As the day progresses and changes into evening, the ambience changes to a little more on the sophisticated side, when a first class cocktail list takes center stage and people revelers gather here for an epic night out.
Contact details: Praxitelous 30, +30 210 3232 682, https://www.theclumsies.gr/ (5min walk from Panepistimio metro station, 8min walk from Syntagma square, 7min walk from Monastiraki square).
Barro Negro: is a Tequila and Mezcal bar created by 2 passionate friends, bartenders, and agave spirits lovers who spent years traveling to Mexico and back to Athens with only one mission – to study the story and culture behind their favorite spirits and introduce them to Athenians and the world in the best way possible. After a lot of hard work and dedication, the team at Barro Negro Athens has achieved great recognition, and the bar was ranked Νο. 52 on The World’s 50 Best Bars list.
The sleek and modern space invites revelers to discover over 120 different tequilas and mezcals in a lively and contemporary atmosphere, with a sophisticated Mexican feel. Here you won’t find sombreros or other appropriated Mexican props, but rather agave spirits served with respect in classic style, twists on classics, house creations and punches.
The interior is small enough to create an intimately lively ambience, while the large open front lets in plenty of air, light, and energetic discourse from the patrons packed into the sidewalk tables.
We love coming to Barro Negro again and again for a Paloma, Smoky Margarita or San Cosme Mezcal on the rocks.
Contact details: Ioannou Paparigopoulou 15, +30 210 010 7618, https://www.barronegroathens.com/ (4min walk from Panepistimio metro station, 7min walk from Syntagma square, 9min walk from Monastiraki square).
Kolokotroni 9: Named after the street where it is located, Kolokotroni 9 is a quaint, small & cozy bar, an eclectic easy-going hangout. Kolokotroni 9 could easily go unnoticed, as it’s much less imposing from the outside than others on the list. But its bravado lies in other aspects: namely the artful cocktails, attentive bartending, and incredible DJs who spin here. Great ambience, playful details, fantastic music, local flowers and fresh herbs are the main character of this drinking den. Enjoy the different genres of music (jazz sounds, hip hop selections, pop & rock) playing in the background while taking a sip of their innovative, but always well-balanced cocktails. The bartender here is incredibly passionate about the ingredients and recipes he creates, and has been known to handpick many of the flowers and herbs he uses. The bar manager is a rum enthusiast, thus expect a good selection of this spirit that you can enjoy on the rocks or in a cocktail. Kolokotroni 9, and the drinking is easy!
Contact details: Kolokotroni 9 +30 698 171 3389, https://m.facebook.com/Kolokotroni9/ (5min walk from Panepistimio metro station, 5min walk from Syntagma square, 10min walk from Monastiraki square).
7 Jokers: is a late-night dive bar with a loyal local following, whose interior resembles a New Orleans blues bar. Just like the surroundings, the cocktails are colorful and boozy, and there’s a selection of quality wines, beers and liquors to choose from, so whatever you’re in the mood for, you’ll be covered. It’s also a drinks industry favorite, as per the eternal law of bartending (the quirkiest bar with the newest license is always an after-shift hot spot) which means that the cocktail list is worth exploring. The music sound is primarily rock or indie, with the occasional electric tune and funk rhythm.
The 7 Jokers is a community treasure drinking hole, able to turn any dull late night into a lively afterparty. Due to its small, stretched-out interior, the bar can be packed on weekends, but chances are there will be space before midnight and between 4:00 and 6:00 AM. The major advantage of this after-hours bar is that it fixes moods. Here you will find young professionals having a drink after work, or small groups of friends, or people in their 30s-40s having a great night out thanks to its party vibe. Although it’s open all year round with a short break in August, 7 Jokers is mostly a winter bar, as summer time guests may prefer enjoying their drinks outside in the open air.
Contact details: Voulis 7, +30 210 321 9225, https://www.instagram.com/the7jokersbar.athens/ (6min walk from Panepistimio metro station, 4min walk from Syntagma square, 10min walk from Monastiraki square).
Barreldier: is a small, welcoming all-day cafe-bar in the Historic Centre. It’s a local haunt for good coffee or an after-work cocktail, or even to stay up until late at night. Jazz and funky music dictate the ambience, which will help you relax and enjoy the retro-vintage environment. It’s a bar that has the makings of an all-time classic, where we know from the start that we’re going to have a good time and drink superbly crafted drinks. The cocktails are unique to Barreldier, made with their own blends that are aged in the miniature barrels behind the bar. But we never go just for the drinks, as there is also a rhapsodic hospitality that emanates from the host, Mario Basso. A person who knows how to manage & win you over with his kindness, and make you feel special. It is this atmosphere that is often missing from modern and designer bars; that’s why we like to come back again and again to this corner, small, cozy bar in Syntagma for a Negroni or a Manhattan. The truth is that winter suits Barreldier better, since the interior with the beautiful bar begets a warm atmosphere. However, in the summer you will also find tables outside, both in the gallery and in front of the wide sidewalk of Voulis Street.
Contact details: Voulis 7, +30 210 325 4711, facebook.com/Barreldier (6min walk from Panepistimio metro station, 4min walk from Syntagma square, 10min walk from Monastiraki square).
The bar in front of the bar: Unconventional might be the best way to describe The Bar in Front of the Bar, a streetside youthful and vibrant cocktail bar launched on a pedestrian street in the heart of Athens, where energetic young staff prepare twists on classic cocktails using ingredients produced on site.
The team wanted to open their own bar, but the reconstruction of the building they chose in the center of Athens was happening at a very slow pace. So, the idea was born to open a pop-up bar, in front of the bar they were working on opening – hence the name. It was meant to be a temporary pop-up solution, however, quickly became a local favorite and isn’t going anywhere, anytime soon. Its relaxed, unpretentious atmosphere, simple aesthetic, polite and cheerful service, combine with the drinks it serves will win you over. The bar offers a limited selection of signature cocktails that rotate every single day, made with a zero-waste mentality. Whatever is left over is used the next day, as long as the ingredients are still fresh.
P.S. The “bar behind the bar” is now open and called Rumble in the Jungle, which is very atmospheric and is perfect for winter time.
Contact details: Petraki 1, +30 698 063 5896, https://www.facebook.com/the.bar.in.front.of.the.bar/ (8min walk from Panepistimio metro station, 3min walk from Syntagma square, 9min walk from Monastiraki square).
