Where to drink well in Athens by the glass and the bottle: natural, classical, and worth the cab fare.
Wine bars in Athens. natural, classical, and the grower-focused rooms worth the cab fare.
Heteroclito on Fokionos in Athens has poured Greek wines since 2012, a 200-label list focused on native varieties with around 20 by-the-glass picks per service.
Signature pour: A by-the-glass flight of Aegean island wines
Wine focus: Greek-only list, native varieties, natural wines
Food: Cheese boards and small plates
Tip: The hard-to-find natural-wine flights are the bartender's pick; ask for the seasonal selection.
By the Glass in Athens is the Ralli Gallery wine bar a short walk from Syntagma, with a Greek wine focus, a wide by-the-glass list and a small Mediterranean carte.
Signature pour: A glass of malagouzia from Epanomi
Wine focus: Greek wines with a wide by-the-glass programme
Food: Mediterranean bistro
Tip: Dine inside the arcade in winter; the courtyard tables open from April through October.
Warehouse on Valtetsiou in Exarchia, Athens is the corner all-day wine room of the quarter, with morning coffee, an all-day menu and a deep cellar of Greek growers.
Signature pour: A glass of orange wine from Santorini
Wine focus: Natural Greek growers, Exarchia wine room
Food: Charcuterie and small plates
Tip: Open daily from morning coffee through late-night wine; the Valtetsiou pavement tables fill first.
Oinoscent on Voulis in central Athens is the long-running wine bar near Syntagma, a deep Greek and international cellar with a cheese-and-small-plate carte.
Signature pour: A by-the-glass cellar of growers' Greek whites
Wine focus: Greek classics with international growers on the side
Food: Cheese boards and small plates
Tip: The kitchen runs until 23:00; book a fortnight ahead for Friday and Saturday evenings.
Materia Prima in Koukaki is the original Athens wine bistro from the team, a cava and wine cellar focused on growers whose wines reflect place of origin.
Signature pour: A glass of skin-contact white from a Greek grower
Wine focus: Place-of-origin wines, natural growers
Food: Charcuterie and small plates
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday; the wine eshop sells across the bar on the way out.
Ta Karamanlidika tou Fani on Sokratous in Athens pours Greek growers and tsipouro alongside the Asia Minor cured-meat boards from the deli counter at the front.
Signature pour: Tsipouro from Tyrnavos by the small carafe
Wine focus: Greek growers with Asia Minor cured-meat pairings
Food: Cured-meat boards
Tip: Pair the Karamanli pastourma with a glass of assyrtiko; ask the deli for cheese to go.
Peak food season in Athens is year-round.
Local dining hours: lunch around 12:30, dinner from 19:30.
service is typically included; small extra is welcome but not expected.
Ask the next local you meet what they would order. Athens rewards trust.