Best Wine Bars in Athens: Enjoy Many

Varieties of Wine

Wine bars in Athens cover a variety of styles, mainly relaxed and casual, in
some cases more elegant and high end. Serving mostly locally produced
wines, which combine ideally with snacks or dishes prepared from traditional
Greek cuisine, they offer a reasonably priced solution for lunch, aperitifs or
evening entertainment. Some have existed for many years, before the
concept became fashionable, and have been focal points for wine lovers,
while others have followed the trend, or developed from wine cellars to bars.
Some operate also as restaurants, with wine as the central idea, around
which the menu is developed and are also venues for specific wine tasting
evenings, organized by producers. Choose amongst Oinoscent a friendly
and cool wine bar and wine shop on central Voulis str, just 200 mtrs from
Syntagma, Heteroclito cave & bar a vin, which opened recently in the
historical center of Athens, right on Mitropoleos square, Winepoint very close
to the Acropolis Museum, By the Glass in a quiet arcade just off Filellinon
street, Kiki de Grece on Ipitou pedestrian street, Vintage Wine Bar and Bistro
on Mitropoleos street, BoBo in Koukaki, Monk in downtown Athens, Stinking
Bishop in Kolonaki, cellar and wine bar Oktana in the neighborhood of
Pangrati, and enjoy your wine.

1. OKTANA Pagrati
 Oktana in Pangrati started as a wine cellar with the signature of well
known brand Strofilia, bringing local wines closer to a wide public and
operating also as an affordable wine bar, in a modern, vibrant space
where customers can enjoy a glass of their favorite wine. The wines
served are more than fifteen labels in a wide range of prices. The wine
selection is a simple and pleasurable experience, and wines are
presented depending on their style. The wines are accompanied with
simple dishes, based on Greek products, and the menu includes
specialties such as chick peas from Santorini, rigatoni with tuna and
hummus with smoked pork, amongst others. The wines and the menu
are renewed monthly, following specific themes. Beers and interesting
distillates are also available, to taste on the spot or take home.

2. STINKING BISHOP Kolonaki

 Stinking Bishop is a bar with unique personality. Located in the elegant
neighborhood of Kolonaki, the space is decorated in minimal style, with
a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Here customers can taste or take
home some of the best varieties of cheese and hams from Greece,
France, Holland, England. The selections were made after long
research and visits to producers. The cheese menu can be enjoyed in
dishes with cheese and hams, in open face sandwiches, accompanied
with salads, soups, salmon, prepared on the spot with fresh
ingredients. The research on wines has also been extensive, selecting
approximately forty five different labels, mainly from local produce,
several of which are served by the glass. The friendly staff will advise
you about the best combinations and pairing between the various
tastes on the menu and the ideal wine.

3. BOBO Koukaki
 BoBo Wine Bar was created by four friends who have in common their
love for wine and the enjoyment it can offer. Searching around Athens,
they wanted to find a corner where one can relax and learn about
Greek and international varieties of wine by trying them and not only
through a wine expert with special knowledge. People who visit BoBo
have a great time, can express their opinion about the tastes they
prefer and discover together the variety of wine they like best. At BoBo
the main feature is good Greek wine and good company. In this friendly
place you can also enjoy wine-based cocktails, Greek beer and
selected dishes inspired from regional cuisine.

4. MONK GRAPES AND SPIRITS MONASTIRAKI

 Monk Grapes and Spirits wine bar-restaurant is situated very close to
Agias Irinis square in downtown Athens. The impressively renovated
neoclassical building and the long bar with high stools, small tables and
lounge couches make a welcoming and attractive environment. Every
evening the Dj accompanies your wine selections with jazz, soul and
groovy music. The team of Monk has great wine expertise and includes
well known sommelier Vasilis Papadopoulos, member of the
Panhellenic Sommelier Union. The wine list he has curated for Monk
has 115 varieties from twelve different countries, which are served in
150 or 75 ml glasses, using the Coravin system, which draws wine
from the bottle without uncorking it. At the open kitchen cold and warm
dishes are prepared, which combine ideally with the wine list. You can
also taste cocktails based on wine and premium distilled spirits. Monk
is ideal for a lunch break, corporate meetings with a special menu, and
other social events.

5. KIKI DE GRECE Syntagma

 Kiki de Grece, the wine bar on Ipitou pedestrian street close to
Syntagma, is the ideal place to taste Greek wine and snacks. The
name is inspired by the twenties French artists muse Kiki de
Montparnasse, who had declared that 'in hard times the only thing I
need is a piece of bread, an onion and a bottle of wine'. At Kiki you can
taste a large variety of Greek wines by the glass, at very reasonable
prices, starting from 3,5 Euro. The list is renewed often and for summer
2015 is dedicated to the Aegean islands. Accompany your wine with
delicious snacks prepared with local ingredients from various regions,
such as chick peas from Santorini with capers and smoked eel,
summer oil pie from Rhodes with haloumi cheese, platters of Greek
cheese and honey and many more selections. Kiki's chef also prepares
several creative main dishes and desserts, which vary depending on
the season.

6. WINEPOINT Acropolis
 Winepoint is a favorite point exclusively for Greek wines in Athens. At a
short distance from the Acropolis Museum and very close to the metro
station, this interesting wine bar offers customers the opportunity to
learn more about the excellent wines of Greece. More than 270
different labels from all over the country which can be accompanied
with cheese and finger food are served. The wine list includes about
thirty wines by the glass, which change often, starting at five euro. Dont
miss the Wine Tasting event, which includes a presentation and tasting
of eight representative wines from eight different regions of Greece.
This takes place every day from 13.00 to 20.00 hours, the duration is
90 minutes and the cost 25 euro. The tasting is accompanied by a
delicious plate with Greek cheese and cold cuts and a 24 page wine
tasting guide is an extra bonus. Foreign visitors are pleasantly
surprised to discover this different aspect of contemporary Greece.

7. VINTAGE Monastiraki
Vintage Wine Bar & Bistro on central Mitropoleos street very close to
Monastiraki, in an elegant space and is a pleasant surprise for wine
lovers and not only. The style is French 1960s and the name was
chosen because there are many vintage wines on the list. The wine list
is arranged according to the taste, with a detailed description and
specific dishes are served with each type of wine so as to exalt the all
over taste experience. The menu includes varieties of cheese, dried
fruit, olives which combine ideally with specific wines, enhancing the
experience. All the ingredients are home made on the spot, even the
butter, which can contain cocoa, herbs, beetroots and more and are
exclusively seasonal. At Vintage wine bar there are three separate
spaces: the ground floor with the cellar, the high ceilinged first floor with
a small patio and a large table made from a tree trunk, which seats
sixteen persons, whilst the most recent addition is the outside space on
the pedestrian street of Kapnikareas with a view of the Acropolis. The
wine list by the glass is impressive, with approximately 250 labels, 150
of which are Greek varieties. These wines can all be tasted with the
Coravin method, with which the wine can be drawn from the bottle
without uncorking it. All the varieties can be served also in 75 ml
glasses and the prices start from 4,50 euro. The menu includes more
than thirty selections in cold cuts and cheese from various countries
from which you can choose the combination you prefer. The cold cured
salmon is one of the favorites, the lamb from Vonitsa is also a great hit
and the new arrivals include king prawns with gremolata of lemon and
parsley.
8. HETEROCLITO Plaka

Heteroclito cave & bar a vin opened recently in the historical center of
Athens, right on Mitropoleos square, with the concept of offering
customers the occasion to know and appreciate prestigious Greek
wines, discovering the best varieties from the wide range of local
production. This cozy wine bar serves well known, renowned, rare,
special, new, different and unique qualities, so that the public can learn
more about this fascinating subject, through first hand experience. All
the labels on the list are also for sale, at cellar prices. Greek wine
combines ideally with carefully selected local varieties of cheese, hams
and other delicacies, in a unique space downtown. At Heteroclito wine
is culture, knowledge and enjoyment at reasonable prices.

9. BY THE GLASS Syntagma

Based in the city center, in one of the most beautiful urban corners, the Ralli
Arcade, next to the Russian church, a historic building of 1825 has been
converted into an atmospheric wine bar. "by the glass" is equipped with a
state of art wine machine that can serve up to 80 different wine labels as if
they were just opened, with the Coravin method. It is an essential all day stop
with more than 200 selected labels of Greek and international wine varieties,
sparkling wines, unique distillates, bottles of rare and special vintages paired
with delicious Mediterranean dishes. Tuna fillet, salmon tartar, chicken with
ginger, salads paired with special wines and unique deserts exclusively made
by local products in tasty varieties. You can enjoy your coffee in the
exquisitely designed interior or arcade all day long, drink wine by the glass,
have the experience of a wine tasting, choosing between three different sizes
measured by the special dispenser or distilled spirits from all over Greece.
Recently they have expanded to the small square opposite, right next to the
Russian Orthodox Church, built in 1904, a monument of rare beauty.

10. OINOSCENT Plaka

Oinoscent a friendly and cool wine bar and wine shop on central
Voulis str, just 200 mtrs from Syntagma, is one of the best places for
enjoyable wine tasting. The owners, with a wide experience of wines,
will offer their advice on which variety to choose. Greek wines and also
labels from all over the world, which can be sipped accompanied with
Greek cheese and salami plateau. Wine tasting evenings are held
often on the premises, where you can also shop for elegant gifts. Plan
your personal wine tasting for the ultimate experience. New wine list
every week. Besides the wine list, you can chose a bottle from the
cellar (700 different labels) and enjoy it with an extra charge of 8 euro
upon the retail price. Delicious light meals are served, with traditional
rusks, with oil, oregano and olives, lasagna with spinach or paprika,
mozzarella with cherry tomatoes. The recent additions to the menu
include shrimps with guacamole, veal carpaccio, various salads and
bruschette with local products. You can also shop wines for take away.