Central Athens has a vibrant wine bar scene. Mary Pateras picks her top bars and restaurants for wine lovers.
Top Athens wine bars and restaurants
Start your tour of Athens wine bars at Brettos. It’s an institution, founded in 1909, and is traditional and colourful, with a very good selection of Greek wines. Then move on to By the Glass, which is cool and elegant, with lots of outside space in a shady arcade. All the wines are available by the glass, the staff are very knowledgeable and speak excellent English.
By the Glass wine bar in Athens
Move on to supper at Vintage (Mitropoleos 66-68), where they serve substantial food and a great selection of Greek and international wines – 60 by the glass. Or have dinner at Strofi, which offers rooftop views of the Acropolis, light, elegant Greek food and a good wine list, all sensibly priced but booking is essential. For more informal dining, try Kafeneio for tasty Greek meze and a very good wine list, or for wine and music try Fabrica de Vino (Emmanouil Mpenaki 3), which has a very good list of Greek wines, often accompanied by live music.
Heteroclito wine bar, Athens
Finally if you are off to the islands by air, allow time to stop off at the new Kir-Yianni Wine Bar in the domestic departure lounge of Athens airport. Other suggestions include Para Siempre in the Kolonaki area (good wines and tapas), and Heteroclito. These are not in the touristy spots but only 10 minutes’ walk from Constitution Square.
Written by Mary Pateras, founder of UK Greek wine importer Eclectic Wines.
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