Klimataria on Theatre Square in Athens runs until past midnight every night, the Psyrri institution since 1927 where rebetiko plays live and the wine comes from the barrels.
Must order: Gigandes plaki, slow-cooked lamb and a half-kilo of the house red from the barrel.
Tip: Live music runs most evenings from around 22:00; book a fortnight ahead for the weekend seatings.
Address: Theatrou Square 2, Athina 105 52 Greece, Athens
Atlantikos in Psyrri Athens is the late-night seafood pick on Avliton 7, the small dining room and annex where the daily catch goes on grill until 01:00 every night.
Try: Grilled octopus and the daily catch
Order: The grilled octopus, sea bream carpaccio and a chilled assyrtiko by the glass.
Tip: The annex across the lane opens at 18:00 weekdays; book the original room.
O Telis on Evripidou in central Athens grills pork chops over coals until 23:00, the king-of-Evripidou-Street counter with chips, salad, bread and the house red.
Try: Grilled pork chops with chips and salad
Order: The pork chops with chips, salad, bread and the carafe of the house red wine.
Tip: No menu; the order is pork chops with chips, salad, bread and red wine. Closed Sundays.
Lukumades on Aiolou and Agia Irini Square in Athens runs the loukoumades counter until 23:00, the post-dinner doughnut destination with cream fillings and espresso.
Try: Loukoumades with honey or fillings
Order: The injected loukoumades with cream and a double espresso to go.
Tip: Queue runs longest on summer Friday and Saturday evenings; doughnuts are made to order.
The Clumsies on Praxitelous in central Athens runs until 02:00 weeknights and 04:00 weekends, the World's 50 Best Bars regular for the after-dinner cocktail.
Try: Signature cocktails with bar snacks
Order: The bartender's signature pick with one of the bar snacks from the kitchen.
Tip: Late-night Friday and Saturday is queue-only; the back room takes bookings six weeks ahead.
Bairaktaris on Monastiraki Square in Athens runs until 02:00 every night, the long-running souvlaki counter that has fed the after-bar crowd since the late 19th century.
Try: Souvlaki and gyros pita
Order: A pork souvlaki pita with extra tzatziki and a glass of the house retsina.
Tip: The pita window faces the square; the sit-down room behind is a separate bill and longer wait.
Atlantikos in Psyrri Athens is the late-night seafood pick on Avliton 7, the small dining room and annex where the daily catch goes on grill until 01:00 every night.
Try: Grilled octopus and the daily catch
Order: The grilled octopus, sea bream carpaccio and a chilled assyrtiko by the glass.
Tip: The annex across the lane opens at 18:00 weekdays; book the original room.
O Telis on Evripidou in central Athens grills pork chops over coals until 23:00, the king-of-Evripidou-Street counter with chips, salad, bread and the house red.
Try: Grilled pork chops with chips and salad
Order: The pork chops with chips, salad, bread and the carafe of the house red wine.
Tip: No menu; the order is pork chops with chips, salad, bread and red wine. Closed Sundays.
Falafellas on Aiolou near Monastiraki in Athens runs the falafel pita counter until 23:30, the takeaway window built fresh with tahini, salad and chilli.
Try: Falafel pita with tahini and salad
Order: The classic falafel pita with extra tahini and a side of pickled chilli.
Tip: Queue runs longest at lunch; late-night orders move fast through the open kitchen.
