Athens has never been more exciting for cocktail lovers. With fresh concepts, bold flavors, and bars steeped in history, the city continues to reinvent what a night out means—so much so that it regularly places venues on the list of the World’s 50 Best Bars. Whether you’re chasing cutting-edge mixology or simply looking for a cozy spot where “everybody knows your name,” here are 14 places that show why Athens has become a global cocktail destination. Cheers!
New Arrivals
Walk In Athens, Exarchia
The team behind two of Athens’ most acclaimed bars, The Clumsies and Line, has opened this all-day venue in Exarchia. Start with specialty coffee and brunch, stay for dinner, and finish with cocktails built around sustainability. Expect creations like beetroot Negroni, coconut-peach Gin Fizz, and Amaretto Mojito made from fruit pits. Even the bar snacks include treats for your dog.
📍 Mavromichali 56
Quinn’s, Ilisia
Helmed by legendary Athenian bartender Elias Marinakis (ex-Baba au Rum, Bar Guru Bar), Quinn’s is intimate, authentic, and full of personality. Think heavy wooden furniture, a triptych of Hieronymus Bosch’s Garden of Earthly Delights, and a cocktail list that’s already creating buzz. Don’t miss the signature Dry Martini or the spiced Bloody Mary. Coffee is served daily from morning.
📍 Maiandrou 7
Ideal – Not in Athens, Exarchia
Despite its playful name, Ideal is very much in Athens—specifically on a lively pedestrian street in Exarchia. Designed with a retro cinema vibe, it blends vintage furniture with neon signs and a vinyl-friendly hi-fi system. Drinks range from playful twists like Purple Rain (coconut, pineapple, red cabbage) to elevated classics. Come for the cocktails, stay for the street party atmosphere.
📍 Kiafas 8
Moggy Bar, Exarchia
Named after a street cat (and with one as its mascot), Moggy is a tiny, laid-back bar with big ambitions. The focus is on easy-drinking cocktails served on tap—lower in alcohol, perfect for more than one round. Wine and coffee are also on offer, making it a casual all-day hangout.
📍 Asklipeiou 43
Teleion, Kypseli
Located in a former pastry shop that once defined the neighborhood, Teleion preserves its marble floors and wooden display cases while transforming into a listening bar with superb acoustics. Music ranges from jazz to disco, while the drinks menu focuses on classics, inventive Gin & Tonics, and original creations. It’s all about cocktails and sound—no kitchen, no distractions.
📍 Ithakis 40
801 Rooftop Bar, Piraeus
Perched on the 8th floor of the Mitsis N’U Piraeus Port Hotel, this seasonal rooftop is all about breathtaking views of the port and the Saronic Gulf. Expect inventive cocktails, premium spirits, Greek distillates, and a strong wine list. Chic but relaxed, it’s ideal for summer nights from April through October.
📍 Aristidou 16–20
Classic & Beloved
Baba au Rum, Syntagma
The bar that transformed Athens’ cocktail scene when it opened in 2009. Known for its vast rum collection and creative drinks, it consistently ranks among the world’s best. The retro-European setting and pioneering approach to mixology make it a must-visit.
📍 Klitiou 6
The Clumsies, Center
Housed in a neoclassical mansion, The Clumsies is a global institution, known for its ever-changing seasonal menus and warm, almost familial service. Drinks here blur the line between cocktail and cuisine, featuring ingredients like truffle, smoked herbs, and Greek fruit.
📍 Praxitelous 30
Line, Kato Petralona
One of the newest stars on the world stage (currently ranked 6th globally), Line pushes boundaries with fermentation-driven cocktails and a strict sustainability ethos. Housed in a repurposed industrial building, it’s where science meets flavor.
📍 Agathodaimonos 37
The Bar in Front of the Bar, Syntagma
What started as a temporary pop-up is now one of Athens’ most creative drinking spots. The cocktail menu changes daily, always fresh, always experimental. Only two classics remain constant; everything else is reimagined.
📍 Petraki 1
Briki & Loras, Mavili Square
Mavili Square is legendary in Athens nightlife, thanks largely to these two neighboring institutions. Briki, a tiny bar that spills onto the street, has been a student favorite since the 1980s. Loras, across the way, dates back to 1967 and offers an old-world cabaret vibe with low lighting and wooden interiors. In summer, the outdoor tables are perfect for people-watching.
📍 Briki: Dorylaiou 6 | Loras: Dimitriou Soutsou 7
CV Distiller, Ilisia
A temple for whisky lovers, with one of Greece’s largest collections—from rare Japanese bottlings to single malts from Scotland. The gentleman’s club atmosphere (wooden bar, leather chairs, low lighting) makes it ideal for slow sipping, tastings, and masterclasses.
📍 Hatzigianni Mexi 7
CHE Cocina y Barra Sudamericana, Piraeus
Step off a quiet Piraeus street and into Latin America. CHE is vibrant, colorful, and packed with flavors from across the continent: smoky mezcal, refreshing Caipirinhas, rare Caribbean rums, and agave spirits from Mexico. Add salsa nights, tango events, and themed parties, and you’ve got a cocktail bar with a fiesta soul.
📍 Karaïskou 151
