Athens Wine Bars
A neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood guide to the city’s best glasses.
Ten years ago, a wine bar crawl through Athens would have sounded unlikely. Greeks drank wine at tavernas, from carafes, and that was largely the extent of it. Now a new generation of sommeliers has turned Athens into one of the most interesting wine cities in Europe, and the Financial Times recently asked outright whether it’s the coolest wine scene on the continent. I wouldn’t argue.
What makes it work is that these are not precious places. They’re social, warm, a little bit loud, and opinionated about what’s in your glass. Nearly all of them will steer you toward something Greek you’ve never heard of, and you’ll be glad they did.
Here are the ones we keep going back to.
Centre of Athens
Oinoscent
One of the originals and still one of the best. Co-owner Aris Sklavenitis has won Best Sommelier of Greece twice, the list runs to over 1,000 labels with around 20 by the glass, and nobody here is trying to make you feel like you should have studied before arriving.
Address:
Voulis 45-47
Telephone:
+30 210 323 0890
By The Glass
The OG of the Athenian wine bar scene. Around 60 wines by the glass, a French-influenced menu, and a more polished feel than the Exarchia bars. For evenings when you want a proper glass in a proper setting.
Address:
G.Souri 3 & Filellinon
Telephome:
+30 210 323 2560
Heteroclito
The most committed to natural wine of any bar on this list. Exclusively Greek, around 200 labels, biodynamic focus. Madeleine and Dimitris have been running it since 2012, and the regulars who come back every week tell you everything you need to know.
Address:
Fokionos 2
Telephone:
+30 210 323 9406
Wine is Fine
A French-Greek collaboration: Rafael, Thomas, and chef Stavros Chrysafidis. The feel is Parisian bistro dropped into downtown Athens, the wine list is exclusively natural, and the food is as much a reason to come as the wine. Short menu, classic bistro dishes, everything French in instinct and Greek in ingredient. Tables spill onto the street on warm evenings and the place fills fast.
Address:
Vyssis Street, Monastiraki
No reservations
Kennedy Vins
Address:
Nikiou 9
No reservations | Tue–Sat 6pm–12am
Koukaki
Materia Prima
Address:
Falirou 68 | Also at Pl. Mesologgiou 3, Pangrati
No reservations | Tue–Sat 6pm–12am
Fysika by Dough
Tiny wine bar sharing a wall with the Dough pizzeria next door. Your food order comes through a little window between the two kitchens. Compact list of natural Greek wines, vinyl on weekends. Not the place for a serious tasting, very much the place for a Friday night.
Address:
Dimitrakopoulou 17
Telephone:
+30 210 922 4091
Pangrati
Terroirist
The Pangrati outpost, and the one everyone’s talking about. Sommelier Vangelis Domopoulos runs 22 wines by the glass, over 100 by the bottle, and a weekly “News of the Week” feature: three new wines, two dishes. Reason enough to make it a regular stop.
Address:
Empedokleous 28-30, Plateia Varnava
Telephone:
+30 216 808 9368
Profitis
From the team behind Tragos in Psyrri, and already a Pangrati fixture. Calls itself a spritzeria, and the signature cocktails are named after prophets, but the wine list is the real draw: sommelier Giorgos Karampinis, small Greek producers, a handful of international bottles. The decor borrows from the church on the plateia, which sounds strange until you see it.
Address:
Pl. Profitou Ilia 5
No reservations
Exarchia
Tanini Agapi Mou
The name means “tannin my love,” which tells you where the priorities are. Owner Stergios has over 100 Greek natural wines, almost all by the glass, which means you can drink your way across the country in a single evening. If you only have time for one wine bar in Athens, this is it.
Address:
Ippokratous 91
Telephone:
+30 211 115 0145
Gamay
A 1928 Art Deco building, a green marble bar, and co-owner Yiannis Pappas running around 120 labels with a lean toward small Greek and French producers. The pinsa with mortadella and peanuts is the thing you’ll remember. Exarchia at its best.
Address:
Zoodochou Pigis 42
Telephone:
+30 210 380 7311
Warehouse
The one that was here before the natural wine wave, and it’s earned its spot. Tables on the pavement, Greek wines by the glass tilting toward whites and island varietals, and food more ambitious than you’d expect: ceviche, tuna tataki, alongside the usual boards.
Address:
Valtetsiou 21 | warehouse.gr
Telephone:
+30 215 540 8002
Neos Kosmos
Epta Martyres
The concept borrows from the mezedopoleio culture of Volos: order your wine, tell the kitchen how many plates you want, and they send out whatever’s good that day. Around 100 labels, mostly Greek and French, many poured from magnums. Bradley Tomlinson put the wine list together. Book ahead after 8pm, or prepare to stand.
Address:
Menaichmou 3B
Mon–Fri from 6pm, weekends from 2pm
Reservations via Table Agent
Athens wine bars don’t close early, and they don’t expect you to order just one glass.
Start in Pangrati or Exarchia around seven, let the evening find its own shape, and don’t make a dinner reservation until you know where the night is taking you.