Athens Emerges as a Premier Wine Destination with 33 Top Wine Bars

Athens: A New Wine Capital Unveiled

Athens, a city steeped in ancient history and vibrant culture, is rapidly emerging as a significant player in the global wine scene. A comprehensive guide published on February 11, 2026, by Alexia Amvrazis, showcases 33 top wine bars that are transforming the city into a premier destination for wine lovers. This development reflects a burgeoning passion for wine deeply rooted in Greek heritage, echoing the tales of Dionysus, the ancient god of wine and revelry.

Over the past three decades, Greece has firmly established its presence on the international wine map, with its diverse regional offerings gaining widespread recognition. Athens, in particular, has witnessed an explosive renaissance in its wine-drinking culture. The days when wine was merely a dinner accompaniment are long gone; it has now taken center stage, with many restaurants employing seasoned sommeliers to curate exquisite pairings.

The Thriving Athenian Wine Bar Landscape

The featured wine bars, predominantly located in the city center, offer a rich tapestry of experiences, making a wine-bar tour an essential and enjoyable outing. Many establishments provide opportunities for wine tastings, introducing patrons to a myriad of grape varieties from across Greece and often pairing them with expertly crafted dishes.

Notable Wine Bars and Their Unique Offerings:

• Kennedy Vins (Nikiou 9, Syntagma): This unique bar focuses on scheduled listening sessions with a dedicated sound system and vinyl programming. The wine list emphasizes small producers, native yeasts, and minimal intervention, complemented by a concise food menu of preserved fish, cheese, charcuterie, and bread.
• Gamay (Zoodochou Pigis 42, Exarcheia): Named after the Beaujolais grape, Gamay boasts over 130 labels, with at least 20 available by the glass, curated by sommelier Giannis Pappas. The kitchen offers comforting plates like ladenia and tacos.
• LOU (Chavriou 1, Syntagma): Small and discreet, LOU focuses primarily on Greek wines, with about 75% of its list dedicated to local varieties. The concise food menu is designed to complement the wine.
• Walk In (Marvromihali 56, Exarcheia): A sibling of the award-winning The Clumsies bar team’s Line, Walk In embraces sustainability and zero-waste principles. It offers on-tap fruit-made wines and bottled Greek wines made with gentle winemaking processes.
• Epta Martyres (Maiaichmou 3B, Neos Kosmos): A recent and highly popular addition, this bar features a wine selection from France and Greece, with over 100 different labels and around 10 choices by the glass, mostly from magnum bottles.
• Bobo (Anastasiou Zinni 36, Koukaki): A laid-back bar in a converted garage, Bobo specializes in Greek and international biodynamic and organic wines, listed on a daily chalkboard, accompanied by tasty tidbits like carpaccios and salads.
• By the Glass (G. Souri 3 & Filellinon, Ralli Arcade, Syntagma): Located in the heart of Plaka, this elegant bistro offers over 500 wine labels, including rare Greek and international vintages, with more than 200 by-the-glass options.
• Cinque (Agatharkou 15, Psyrri and Voreou 10, Monastiraki): Emphasizing wine education, Cinque offers popular curated tastings of Greek wines, with staff using maps and visuals to illustrate origins.
• Heteroclito (Fokionos 2 & Petraki, Syntagma): A connoisseur’s delight, Heteroclito focuses exclusively on Greek wines, with 200 labels and 20 by the glass, specializing in rare, limited production, and natural wines.
• Junior Does Wine (Maiandrou 5, Ilisia): Known for its wine and food pairings, Junior offers over 60 indie labels from small, alternative producers, with about 15 wines by the glass and seasonal snacks.
• To Koperti (Trion Ierarchon 188, Petralona): A celebrated wine restaurant known for its exquisite selection of wines and starters, with a seasonal menu designed to complement the wines.
• Kiki de Grece (Ippitou 4, Syntagma): Combining a wine-centric ambiance with culinary delights, Kiki de Grece presents 50 Greek wines, 80% available by the glass, alongside a concise menu of meze and snacks.
• Manouka (Ermou 46, Monastiraki): Perched atop the Athens Utopia hotel, Manouka offers expansive views of Athens’ skyline and over 100 Greek wines, each available by the glass.
• Materia Prima (Mesologgiou Sq 3, Pangrati): A sophisticated wine bar near the Museum of Contemporary Art, showcasing over 20 rotating wines by the glass, focusing on rare Greek winemakers and minimum intervention wines.
• MONK Grapes & Spirits (Karori 4, Monastiraki): In central Athens, MONK offers an eclectic wine experience with 180 wines by the glass, curated to complement Greek-Mediterranean cuisine, in an industrial-artistic setting.
• Oinoscent (45 Voulis, Syntagma): A pioneer since 2008, Oinoscent boasts a vast selection of over 700 wines from around the world, offering tastings from a dynamic list of Greek and international wines.
• Pharaoh (Solomou 54, Exarcheia): This hot spot combines a unique culinary atmosphere with a vibrant wine scene, offering a curated selection of 400 natural wines and wood-fired cuisine, doubling as a Japanese jazz bar.
• Wine is Fine (Vissis 6, Psyrri): A recent addition, Wine is Fine is dedicated to gently vinified wines, primarily Greek and French, with around eighty options to explore and a nostalgic 90s aesthetic.
• Wine Point (Porinou 2, Makryianni): Steps from the Acropolis Museum, Wine Point is renowned for its exclusive commitment to Greek wines, offering a rotating selection with cheese and charcuterie platters.
• Mellem (Faidriadon 76, Kypseli): This small corner space transitions from coffee in the morning to a wine bar later, offering a select list of gently processed wines and local cheeses and deli meats.
• Iouda (Karori 5, Monastiraki): Opened in early 2025, Iouda is a primarily Greek-label wine bar that pairs a tight, local-facing list with DJ sessions and late-night energy.
• Terroirist (Embedokleous 28-30, Pangrati): The Athens branch of the established wine retailer, now operating as a dedicated wine bar focusing on organic, biodynamic, and low-intervention producers.
• Philip Glass (Louka Bellou 3, Ambelokipi): Clearly presenting as a wine bar, it features a program structured around labels from small producers and a rotating by-the-glass list, with a short, bar-centric food menu.
• Lost Roots (Irakleidon 30, Thisseio): With shelving filled with bottles, Lost Roots offers Greek and international organic and biodynamic wines, with a rotating by-the-glass section and Mediterranean small plates.
• Drunky Goat (Navarchou Nikodimou 5, Exarcheia): Tasting flights are central here, highlighting Greek vineyards with curated samplings across grape varieties and regions, complemented by pairing-oriented food.
• Bouchon (Tzort 24, Exarcheia): Offering a wine list spanning Greek and European labels with regularly changing by-the-glass options, Bouchon’s staff are knowledgeable and guide guests through tasting choices.
• Girafe (Kallidromiou 17, Exarcheia): The wine list is the central statement here, with 135 labels spanning the Greek and international vineyard, curated by sommelier Vasilis Papadopoulos, alongside a Mediterranean-inspired kitchen.
• Feelin’ Tipsy (Charitos 43, Kolonaki): Around 100 labels shape the list, with an emphasis on New World producers and selected Greek bottles, with seventeen wines available by the glass and a Mediterranean food menu.
• Alfiere Caffe (Sekeri 5, Kolonaki): An intimate and debonair Italian/wine bar, Alfiere has become a neighborhood institution, known for its exceptional staff, loyal following, and a short, excellent wine list.
• Faos (Φăoς) (Varnava Square, Pangrati): With blue and white interiors reflecting the owners’ Naxos origins, Faos focuses exclusively on Greek indigenous grape varieties, offering 20 Greek labels and light bites.
• Fellos (Vasilikis & Kolokotroni, Syntagma): This spot runs on a wine-first program with spritzes as a parallel lane, and a small-plates menu conceived for sharing, leaning strongly Greek for its wine list.
• Tanini Agapi Mou (Ippokratous 91 & Methonis, Exarcheia): Showcasing over a hundred biodynamic, natural, organic, and terroir-driven wines, Tanini offers personalized service, bi-monthly tasting seminars, and a weekend brunch menu.
• Mr. Vertigo (Pl. Filikis Eterias 15, Kolonaki): Nominally a wine shop, Mr. Vertigo offers the added pleasure of a perfectly poured glass enjoyed just outside, with a thoughtful curation and refined mood.

These establishments collectively illustrate Athens’ dynamic evolution into a must-visit destination for wine enthusiasts, blending ancient tradition with modern sophistication.

Source: https://www.travel.gr/en/best-of-en/best-wine-bars-in-athens-2026/