Nightlife
Drinks
The easiest thing is to spot the places where foreign tourists go for a drink. A walk around the apartment's area will reveal places like the Sports Bar—right next to a hostel—where you can sip chilled lager, watching whatever football game is on.
If you are looking for where the locals go though, here is a quick reference guide:
Koukaki (our neighbourhood)
- Tiki Bar: Among its mid-century décor, you can drink cocktails with fresh fruits, organic, and Fair Trade products.
- Pulp: A no-fluff place, with rock/blues music, occasional live bands, beer on tap, and a friendly atmosphere.
The two main attractions, though, are two pedestrian streets: Drakou Str. and Olympiou Str., both of which host cosy coffee shops and taverns definitely worth exploring.
In the broader area, you may also try:
- Duende: opening at 8pm, this gorgeous bistrot serves food, drinks, and plenty of jazz.
- Winepoint: this wine bar specialises in Greek labels, accompanied by generous assortments of cheese or cold cuts. It also often organises tasting events or presents the produce of local winemakers.
Psiri & Monastiraki
Try A for Athens—a restaurant on a hotel terrace overlooking Monastiraki Sq.—or Cantina Social—an alternative bar hidden in the yard of a stoa by Leokoriou Str.
Furthermore, the whole area of Psiri—full of bars, coffee shops, and restaurants—is worth visiting and exploring, both by night and day.
Kolokotroni Str.
Another vibrant bar area. Try Drunk Sinatra, Noel, Booze Cooperativa, and Bartesera, or simply let your steps guide you to your favourite place.
Live Music
If you enjoy live music and are staying in Athens for more than a couple of days, consider looking into the city's current concerts. Check the venues below, find the one that suits your taste, and look through their programs.
High End Venues
- Odeon of Herodes Atticus ("Herodeon"): this Roman theatre (built 160–174AD) is one of the most majestic and prestigious drama and concert theatres in Greece.
- Athens Concert Hall ("Megaro Mousikis Athinon"): also one of the top concert venues.
- Greek National Opera: founded in 1939, it came under the wing of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation in 2017.
Rock Scene
An Club, the oldest rock club in Athens, is in the Exarcheia area. Farther away are Gagarin 205 and Fuzz. All three have hosted world famous rock/metal musicians and bands.
Jazz Clubs
Athens may not be New York City, but you can find a couple of places to take the A train. The tricky part is they are scattered all around the centre, therefore check out their events before venturing out:
- Half Note—in Mets; one of the oldest and most famous jazz clubs in Athens.
- Orfeas Bar—on Fokionos Negri Str.
- Poetry Bar—in Exarcheia
- SPITI Art Bar—at Gkazi
- Jazzèt—in Chaidari
- Almagesti—in Votanikos
- Alogokrito—in Pagkrati
- Mingus Cava Bar—in Kolonaki
For an overview of the Athens jazz scene, visit Jazz Events Live.
Music Festivals
Depending on the season of your visit, you may get the opportunity to join the following festivals:
- Release Athens (June–July): not far from our area and for several summer nights every year, Release Athens presents world famous live bands of various music genres.
- Athens Rockwave (July): a tougher venue to access (a little less than 45km away and an hour's drive) yearly features great names of rock, hard rock, and metal music.
- Jazz Festival (May–June): for more than 20 years, this event offers plenty to the jazz lovers—for free, too. It takes place at the Technopolis City Athens (the old gas factory), which by itself is an important monument of 19th century Athens.