athens pubs: best pubs in athens

Welcome to the Drink in the Sights guide to the best pubs in Athens. Here you'll find everything you need to know about where to drink beer in Athens. We went to Athens expecting cheap beers and only a scarce selection of bars due to the economic situation in the city. What we found though was a decent selection of pubs in Athens, at almost Scandinavian prices. Most places you go will have quite a touristy feel, except at happy hour when the locals suddenly appear.  There's still a good variety of pubs to choose from though, and some of them have really good beer selections.  As you'll know if you've read my guide to the best sights in Athens the best place to drink in the whole city isn't a bar at all, don't worry though we will get to the best pubs in Athens straight after. I promise.

Areopagus Hill

Don't worry there are good bars to go to in Athens, but they are more expensive than you'd think, and part of the deal with a great bar is that the locals drink there. Well in Athens the locals drink on Areopagus, and so should you. Sure you have to bring your own beer, but there's plenty of shops you can visit on the way. This hill is situated close to the Acropolis, and has stunning views over the whole city. It is comfortably the best place to drink in the sights, as long as it's not raining!! Areopagus Hill really is where to drink in Athens.

Best Pubs in Athens

Barley Cargo

When it comes to beer selections in Athens Barley Cargo is second to none. Between the 20 taps, and at least 200 bottles from around the world, you're going to find something you like. In fact you're going to find at least a dozen. They also have the biggest selection of local beers, so keep an eye out for Noctua brewery beers in particular. They are a proper local Athenian brewery, the Night Vision black IPA was my personal favourite, but then I always choose the dark beers. This was one of the liveliest bars we went to, and the staff were kept pretty busy, but were always on hand for the next round. This is certainly one of the best pubs in Athens.

Beer Time

Isn't it always beer time? I hear you ask. Well yea pretty much, but with happy hour 6-8 every evening, that's 2 for 1 beer time, which is twice as good as regular beer time. Not only that but if you take a seat they'll bring over a beer menu. This tells you what they are, and where they're from, and these guys go out their way to promote the local stuff, which I like. Sure you can tuck into one of the international beers they'll have, but why would you? When in Athens and all that.

Pulp

So maybe, just maybe I only came here because Pulp are my favourite band and the name enticed me. Don't let that put you off though. It's a small bar, with 6 taps, and a barmaid who knows her beers, which is always useful. There's also a decent bottle selection, and the prices, by Athenian standards, were pretty reasonable. Alas Common People was never played no matter how long we stayed. regardless of the music selection this is still one of the best pubs in Athens.

Brettos

This is the oldest bar in Athens, and the second oldest in Europe, so regardless of it been primarily a wine and spirit bar, it has to make the list. There's two lagers to choose from, but really you're here because it's a beautiful old distillery. The bar is lit up with bottles covering the walls, creating a really great ambience. Every now and again it's about where to drink in Athens, not what you drink.

Beer Bock 

Serving lots of meat and lots of beer, this is primarily a restaurant. But don't worry the prices are still very reasonable, and the beer selection is one of the best in Athens. We went a couple of times, just for drinks, and they didn't mind, plus between 5 and 8 at night it's happy hour, so you can have twice the beer you usually would. This is certainly one of the best pubs in Athens

Please also check out my guide to the best Athens Sights