27 Best Nightlife in Athens, Greece

With a menu of more than 70 cocktails and an extensive wine list, there is something for everyone at this rooftop bar in the heart of lively Monastiraki Square. An unexpected bonus is the magical view of the Acropolis.

Cool architects and graphic designers, arty students and hipster DJs, revolutionaries and experimental philosophers: they all hang out in the cavernous basement of this Bauhaus building in the Kerameikos neighborhood, part of the greater Gazi district. Expect to hear the best electronica music in town. In summer, relish the view of the Acropolis from the postmodern, neon-lighted roof terrace. A handful of "multispace" imitators have emerged, offering offbeat film/video and music events in painfully hip industrial spaces—but Bios remains the standard.

Laptops, coffee mugs, and chess sets cover the long wooden tables in this Central Athens joint by day. By night, chatty partygoers squeeze—booze in hand—into any spot they can find at this bar, which remains as edgily cool as when it first opened in the 1990s. It often feels like a laid-back party, as DJs navigate through rock, pop, and dance tunes and the multitasking bar hosts art exhibits, dance performances, art films projected on a massive wall, and theater installations. Wood details, low-hanging sculpture-lamps, and wax artworks give a warm feel to the high-ceilinged space.

With walls adorned with brightly lit bottles in all colors of the spectrum, Brettos is mainly popular among tourists who have seen photos of it over the years. Locals who still choose to come here do so to relish the memories of the oldest distillery in town (going strong since 1909) and the second-oldest bar in the whole of Europe. The huge barrels store head-spinning spirits produced on the premises even today—ouzo, cognac, liqueurs (like top picks cinnamon or mango), tsipouro, and more. Order a mezedes platter to accompany your beverage of choice.

This small and elegant wine bar focuses exclusively on Greek wines, and has knowledgeable owners who will help you navigate their extensive wine list. The vibe is breezy and relaxed, somewhat reminiscent of a Parisian street café, where you can dawdle for hours sipping a perfect glass of wine.

On Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturday evenings, a rembetika or traditional laiko band plays sing-along favorites much appreciated by the largely Greek crowd., and the price of the old-style Greek entertainment at this century-old taverna is surprisingly reasonable. Meanwhile, the food at this all-day taverna is displayed on big trays, which allows you to choose the dish of your choice with help from owners Mario and Pericles (the latter is also a noted rembetika singer).

On hot summer nights, clubbers can groove under the stars in this open-air dance club right in the center of industrial Athens. Maze is located in the backyard of industrial complex "Area 19" in Votanikos. Underground house and techno music lovers flock here for the warehouse parties hosted by Athenian and international guest DJs.

At this traditional, but somewhat dated as a place and concept, music taverna you can get a taste of folk dances and costumes from throughout Greece. At the end of the night the music turns more "Eastern,"and everybody is invited to show off their own dance moves (if you don't want to dance, pick your seat accordingly). The price of this slice of old-style Greek entertainment is fair; there's a reasonably priced prix-fixe menu and wine by the bottle.

This taverna has everything: good food, barrel wine, and an acoustic duo with guitar and bouzouki playing old Athenian songs in an 1882 house. In summer, the show moves to the garden. Whatever the season, Greeks will often get up and dance, beckoning you to join them (don't be shy). Live music starts at about 8:30 and goes on until 1 am.

This legendary bar from the 1980s and '90s has reopened its doors a couple of hundred meters from its original location. Athens's party crowd comes to this club/restaurant to groove mostly to rock music (with some dance and Greek pop hits subtly making their way into the playlist). Saturday is very busy, so your best bet is to book a table and enjoy the Mediterranean menu before moving on to cocktails and a bit of dancing. From May to September, Rock n' Roll goes on holiday.

Now in its twentieth year, this gay-friendly bar-club-lounge attracts a standing-room-only crowd every weekend. The draw is the great music, the joyous vibe, and the very fact that it's in Gazi, where a number of LGBT-friendly spots are located.