Athens has a thriving, sophisticated wine-bar scene, from cosy spots pouring rare Greek labels to natural-wine havens, where you can discover indigenous grapes like assyrtiko and agiorgitiko by the glass. Pair a tasting with skip-the-line sightseeing tickets and tours from My Greece Tours for a delicious side of the city.
This wine-lover’s guide is a flavourful corner of the Athens travel guide. The sections below cover the Athens wine-bar scene, the Greek grapes to discover, the best areas, what a wine bar is like, food pairings, and tips for enjoying wine in Athens.
What is the Athens wine-bar scene like?
Athens has a vibrant, fast-growing wine-bar scene, ranging from intimate, bistro-style spots specialising in rare Greek labels to lively natural-wine bars and stylish venues with global lists. Knowledgeable sommeliers guide you through indigenous Greek grapes and small-producer wines, often by the glass, paired with cheeses and small plates. Concentrated in the central neighbourhoods, the city’s wine bars offer a sophisticated, welcoming way to discover the renaissance of Greek wine.
Beyond its famous tavernas and ouzo, Athens has in recent years developed a genuinely sophisticated and exciting wine-bar culture that delights wine lovers and casual drinkers alike, reflecting the broader renaissance of Greek wine. The city’s wine bars span a wide and appealing range, from tiny, cosy, bistro-style rooms dedicated to rare and limited-production Greek labels, to buzzing natural-wine bars championing organic, biodynamic and low-intervention wines, to stylish, design-led venues offering vast international cellars of hundreds or even thousands of bottles. What unites the best of them is a passion for and deep knowledge of wine, with friendly, expert sommeliers and staff eager to guide you through the offerings, introduce you to unfamiliar indigenous Greek grape varieties, and pour a wide selection by the glass so you can taste and explore rather than commit to a whole bottle.
Many pair their wines beautifully with Greek cheeses, charcuterie, homemade pies and small plates. Concentrated in the lively central neighbourhoods, these wine bars offer a relaxed, welcoming and cultured way to spend an evening. They reveal a thrilling side of modern Athens. The Greek wines themselves are the real discovery. Indigenous grapes are the stars.
What Greek wines and grapes should you discover?
Athens wine bars are the perfect place to discover Greece’s remarkable indigenous grape varieties. Try the crisp, mineral white assyrtiko from Santorini, the aromatic malagousia and moschofilero, and reds like the elegant agiorgitiko from Nemea and the structured xinomavro from northern Greece. There are also dessert wines like Samos muscat and vinsanto. Tasting these distinctive native grapes, little known abroad, is the great reward of the city’s wine bars.
The single greatest reason to explore Athens wine bars is the chance to discover the extraordinary wealth of Greek wine, built on indigenous grape varieties found nowhere else in the world, which are enjoying a quality revolution and remain largely unknown to international drinkers. Among the whites, the star is assyrtiko, the bone-dry, crisp, mineral-driven white grape made famous on the volcanic island of Santorini, but you should also seek out the lush, aromatic malagousia, the delicately floral and citrusy moschofilero from the Peloponnese, and the noble savatiano and roditis. Among the reds, the most celebrated is agiorgitiko, the smooth, versatile and food-friendly red of Nemea in the Peloponnese, alongside xinomavro, the bold, structured, tannic and age-worthy grape of northern Greece often compared to Italy’s Nebbiolo.
For something sweet to finish, Greece produces glorious dessert wines, from the honeyed muscat of Samos to the sun-dried vinsanto of Santorini. A good wine bar lets you taste a range of these by the glass, often with expert commentary on the grape, region and producer, turning a drink into an education. Discovering these native grapes is a genuine revelation. The city’s neighbourhoods point you to the best spots. Knowing where to go helps.
Which areas have the best wine bars?
The best wine bars cluster in central Athens. The historic centre around Syntagma and the old quarters has elegant, long-established wine bars; Psiri and Monastiraki offer lively, characterful spots; Koukaki and the Makrygianni area near the Acropolis Museum have cosy, modern bars; and Kolonaki provides upmarket choices. Each neighbourhood has its own atmosphere, but all are walkable and full of welcoming venues, making a wine-bar crawl an enjoyable way to explore the city.
The wine bars of Athens are concentrated conveniently in the central, walkable neighbourhoods, so you are never far from a good glass, and each district lends its own flavour to the experience. The historic centre, in the streets around Syntagma Square and the old commercial quarter, is home to some of the city’s most respected and elegant wine bars, including long-established institutions with deep cellars and refined atmospheres, perfect for a serious tasting. The lively, characterful districts of Psiri and Monastiraki, just off the main square, offer a more bustling, bohemian scene with atmospheric spots tucked among the bars and tavernas. Down toward the Acropolis, the trendy neighbourhoods of Koukaki and the Makrygianni area near the Acropolis Museum have a cluster of cosy, modern and natural-wine-focused bars, ideal after a day of sightseeing.
For a more upmarket, polished evening, chic Kolonaki provides sophisticated choices favoured by well-heeled locals. Because these areas are all central and close together, a relaxed wine-bar crawl, moving from one welcoming spot to the next, makes a wonderful way to spend an evening and to explore the different faces of the city. Wherever you wander, a good glass awaits. The format itself is easy to enjoy. Knowing how a wine bar works helps newcomers.
What is a wine bar visit like, and what about food?
An Athens wine bar offers a relaxed setting to taste wine by the glass or bottle, with staff happy to recommend and let you sample Greek and natural wines. Most serve excellent food to match, from Greek cheeses, cured meats and pies to full small-plate menus, as wine here is meant to be enjoyed with something to eat. You can drop in for a glass or settle in for a long evening of tasting and grazing, all in a friendly, unpretentious atmosphere.
For those new to the concept, a visit to an Athens wine bar is a relaxed and approachable pleasure, quite different from a formal restaurant or a rowdy bar. The essence is flexibility and discovery: you can drop in for a single glass or stay for a long, leisurely evening, and a generous selection of wines is offered by the glass, allowing you to taste your way through different grapes, regions and styles rather than committing to a full bottle. The knowledgeable staff and sommeliers are the heart of the experience, genuinely happy to chat, to ask your tastes, to recommend, and to introduce you to indigenous Greek and natural wines you would never find at home, often offering a taste before you choose.
Food is integral, since in Greek culture wine is meant to be drunk with something to eat, and the bars rise to this beautifully, serving anything from simple, perfect plates of Greek cheeses, cured meats, olives and homemade pies to ambitious full menus of creative small plates designed to pair with the wines. The atmosphere is typically warm, friendly and unpretentious, welcoming both connoisseurs and curious beginners. This makes wine bars a comfortable, sociable delight. They reward both the expert and the novice. A few tips ensure you get the most from them.
What tips help you enjoy Athens wine bars?
To enjoy Athens wine bars, ask the staff for recommendations and try indigenous Greek grapes by the glass rather than familiar international wines. Order some food to pair, embrace natural and small-producer wines, and visit in the evening when the scene comes alive. Consider a guided wine tasting for a deeper dive. Don’t be shy as a beginner, as staff love to share their passion, and pace yourself across a relaxed, sociable evening of discovery.
To make the most of the wonderful wine bars of Athens, a few simple tips will deepen and enrich the experience, whether you are a seasoned oenophile or a curious novice. The most rewarding approach is to embrace discovery: rather than ordering a familiar international wine, ask the knowledgeable staff for their recommendations and seek out the indigenous Greek grape varieties, such as assyrtiko, malagousia, agiorgitiko and xinomavro, tasting several by the glass to compare styles and regions, and being adventurous with the natural, organic and small-producer wines that the city’s bars champion. Always order some food to accompany your wine, as the cheeses, charcuterie, pies and small plates are designed to complement the bottles and are part of the pleasure.
The scene comes most alive in the evening, so that is the ideal time to settle in. For a more structured and educational experience, consider booking a guided wine tasting or a wine-focused tour, several of which run in the city and offer expert insight into Greek wine. Above all, do not feel shy or intimidated as a beginner, since the staff genuinely love sharing their passion and helping newcomers. It also helps to ask about the producer and region behind a wine you enjoy, as Greece’s wine country, from volcanic Santorini to mountainous Naoussa and the vineyards of Nemea, is well worth knowing and even visiting on a day trip.
Many bars can suggest bottles to take home, a lovely way to carry the experience with you, and some run regular tasting evenings or seminars for those who want to learn more. Pace yourself, relax and savour a sociable evening of tasting and grazing. It is one of the great delights of modern Athens. The questions below cover the points visitors ask most.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there good wine bars in Athens?
Yes, Athens has a thriving and sophisticated wine-bar scene, ranging from intimate spots specialising in rare Greek labels to lively natural-wine bars and stylish venues with huge international lists. Knowledgeable sommeliers guide you through indigenous Greek grapes by the glass, paired with cheeses and small plates. The bars cluster in the central, walkable neighbourhoods, making them easy to enjoy.
What Greek wine should you try in Athens?
In Athens wine bars, try Greece’s indigenous grapes: the crisp, mineral white assyrtiko from Santorini, the aromatic malagousia and floral moschofilero, and reds like the smooth agiorgitiko from Nemea and the bold, structured xinomavro from northern Greece. For dessert, sample the muscat of Samos or Santorini vinsanto. Tasting these distinctive native varieties by the glass is the great reward.
Where are the best wine bars in Athens?
The best wine bars cluster in central Athens. The historic centre around Syntagma has elegant, established wine bars; Psiri and Monastiraki offer lively, characterful spots; Koukaki and the Makrygianni area near the Acropolis Museum have cosy, modern and natural-wine bars; and Kolonaki provides upmarket choices. All are walkable and close together, making a wine-bar crawl easy and enjoyable.