The rain may be slamming against the window but you’re lost in the warm buzz, cool tunes and beautifully-mixed drinks. The pandemic may not be over but we’re going out to the city’s cozy bars and we’re not coming home early!

Galaxy (10 Stadiou St, Laimou Arcade, Syntagma)

A really, really old-school ‘cafeteria’ bar that served its first drink in 1970. It’s still visited by loyal clientele of old mixed with eclectic youngsters, and known for its late night, dimly lit chatter.

Wine Point (2 Porinou & Athanassiou Diakou, Makriyianni)

A two-storey bar with low lighting, live jazz bands every so often and a dedication to – as its name suggests – over 200 wine labels, from around the country. Try menus themed around wineries that combine grapes with bites.

Tiki Bar Athens (15 Falirou, Koukaki)

Leopard-print and neon, live gigs and cool DJ sets combine with Tiki cocktails that raises the spirits and may even get you boogeying along in a timeless spiral.

Convento Del’ Arte (Virginias Bekani 7, Metaxourgeio)

An atmospheric space that seems to belong to a different era and wine labels from over 650 winemakers with a jazz, tango or classical soundtrack and modern Greek dishes. 

Brettos Bar (Kydathinaion 41, Plaka)

Famous for its rows of liqueur bottles lit up by coloured lights and benches with barrel seats, this old Plaka haunt serves potent homemade spirits as well as wine and beer and is known to keep punters in til the wee hours.

Drupes and Drips (Misaraliotou 14, Makriyianni)

A tiny place with a big personality and early closing hours, this is a charcuterie/juice bar by day and the best place to enjoy a very decently priced spritz cocktail from the afternoon till night-time.

Baba Au Rum (6 Klitiou, Monastiraki)

A hip vintage-style bar with world-acclaimed mixologists and some of the best rum cocktails you’ll ever drink – indeed that’s cocktails plural because it’s near impossible to stop at one.

The 7 Jokers (7 Voulis,Syntagma)

Come here for a beautifully mixed ‘I can’t cope with reality’ Bloody Mary in the afternoon or that last glass of wine late, late into the night, after wandering around the historical centre’s less classic spots.

O Kyrios (Mavili Square, Ambelokipi)

A long marble-top bar, mirrored walls and checkered floors with aproned servers, a French-Italian-Greek inspired menu and elegant cocktails sweep you into art deco style glamour and a stylish social buzz.

Upupa Epops (7 Alkiminis, Petralona)

A patchwork of spaces – all of them very welcoming and decorated with a unique style – and an impressive cocktail menu that is definitely designed to tantalise the tastebuds.

Main Image by O Kyrios