September has arrived and the weather is a bit cooler. Athens has once again transformed from a heat-wave-stricken tourist destination into an inviting, lively metropolis. If you want to enjoy these breezy late summer/early fall nights, there’s no better place to do it then on one of Athens’ inviting rooftop bars.
Do you want an elegant cocktail bar or a casual space to hang out in with friends? Well, the good news is there are all kinds of bars to cater to your needs.
Since I spend half my life in Athens these days, I picked out six favorites for the list below. You can definitely find many more throughout the city, so this is far from a definitive guide. As always with Athens, I encourage you to discover places beyond this list as well. The city is one that definitely rewards a little walking and exploration.
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Athens Rooftop Guide
Most of the rooftops mentioned here are centrally located and best enjoyed around sunset. That’s because the attraction for most rooftop bars in Athens is their view of the Acropolis.
Not only do you escape the heat by dining outdoors at and after sunse; you also get to see the Acropolis in every possible light. During daytime hours, with the pinkish glow of dusk behind it, and then all lit up as it presides over the city at night.
The bars below are great places to hang out with friends, eat a wonderful dinner with family, or take a date in Athens. They’re mostly in the central areas of Syntagma, Monastiraki, Psirri, and Syggrou.
For most of these establishments, especially those that also serve a full dinner, call ahead to make reservations, as they tend to fill up quickly.
Couleur Locale
Many visitors miss the hidden entrance to this popular youthful spot near Monastiraki Square. The elevator to access the rooftop is somewhat hidden from the street.
Hold your breath in one of the city’s famously claustrophobic elevators until you reach the top. Then check out the absolutely stunning panorama ahead of you.
For some reason, though it is in the dead center of Athens’ tourist hotspots, Couleur Locale rarely feels overly crowded. It also remains a local favorite for people who live near the downtown area.
Customers get a decent Acropolis view, excellent and friendly service, and pretty well-made cocktails. I recommend going at night. Most of the terrace isn’t covered during the day, and the September sun can still be pretty strong.
Couleur Locale / Normanou 3, Athens / +30 2167004917
Zale
Even a lot of locals haven’t heard of this relatively new spot. Located on the top floor of the Heritage Hill Hotel, Zale just opened for the 2024 season.
The hotel owner decided to refurbish a top floor suite into an excellent restaurant and bar instead.
Many cocktail bars in Athens feel big, crowded, and somewhat scene-y. Zale provides a much more intimate space. People can hang out with their group or friends for hours. Enjoy delicious food and some of the establishment’s excellent signature cocktails in a plush room.
After sunset, Zale’s side windows and glass covering get rolled up to open the space to the sky. Enjoy the evening breeze on the rooftop terrace unencumbered by glass walls.
Since the restaurant only fits a limited number of people – thus creating the aforementioned cozy atmosphere – it’s probably best to call ahead for reservations.
Zale Athens / Leof. Siggrou 61, Athens / +30 21 6939 7789
Bios
A lot of rooftop bars are somewhat more upscale. If you don’t want to dress up to the nines and would rather be in a more casual atmosphere, Bios may be the best bet.
Unlike some other rooftop bars in Athens, operated by luxury hotels, Bios is located on top of an arts center. Catch a movie or live music downstairs! Then get a nightcap (or a drink while you’re waiting beforehand) on this Athens rooftop.
This is a great place to see a more fun, alternative side of Athens. Bios is located in the formerly grungy, now up-and-coming/hipstery neighborhood of Kerameikos.
Youthful, formerly rundown, and now partly renovated neighborhoods comprise a huge part of downtown Athens and Athenian nightlife. Tourists usually tend to skip these places in favor of classier haunts like Plaka. However, these are some of the most fun areas for locals.
Bios / Pireos 84, Athens / +30 2103425335
Ermou 18 Beyond the Horizon
Though Beyond the Horizon has all the markings of a rooftop bar that would get trampled by tourists seasonally – elegant, central, with a killer view – it has somehow maintained a mostly Greek clientele that appreciates the finer things.
This rooftop bar is located in the dead center of the city, right off the main shopping thoroughfare of Ermou. Yet it feels like an escape from the chaos of Athens as well.
This might be partly because of the decor, more reminiscent of an Aegean island lounge than an Athens rooftop bar. It creates a very relaxed, serene atmosphere that gives you a reprieve from the crowds and heat of Athens.
For those who have just returned from summer vacation, this is an excellent place to sit and reminisce about how much better life was on a beach, while enjoying the views that only Athens can provide.
Ermou 18 Beyond the Horizon / Ermou 18, Athens / +30 698 741 7390
A for Athens
Instagram made this spot very popular, and for good reason. A for Athens may just have one of the best views in the city.
I strongly recommend making reservations beforehand, as like many IG spots, this rooftop bar is quite sought after. The view of pedestrians walking along Monastiraki Square, below pastel-colored neoclassical Athenian houses, all crowned by the city’s historic jewel – the Parthenon – is a sight to behold.
Not to mention, the cocktails are pretty top-notch as well. If you’re hungry, the menu has a relatively small list of options, but everything tastes excellent.
Make sure you get a table on the top of the two available floors. You will get a much better view and open air atmosphere. Also, when calculating your arrival, leave enough time for a short wait at the elevator. Only one elevator makes it up to the roof, and there’s pretty much always a line, especially around sunset.
A for Athens / Miaouli 2, Athens / +30 21 0324 4244
Foundry Suites Rooftop Garden & Cocktail Bar
Lastly, I’m going to mention one of the lesser known and really beautiful rooftop spaces in Athens – the Foundry Suites Rooftop Garden & Cocktail Bar. As opposed to more boujie, upscale roof gardens, the rooftop here has a very laidback vibe. It looks more like the roof gardens of upscale Athenian apartment buildings rather than luxury hotels.
The menu also reflects the casual atmosphere of this bar. Featuring tons of fresh baked pizzas, the bar menu encourages a casual, communal kind of seating and dining. In addition to a whole list of signature cocktails, the bar also serves a selection of local Greek wines and beers. Try some varieties you’ve never heard of, or beer from microbreweries across the country.
Best (and most relaxing) of all, the Foundry Suites Rooftop Garden takes the “garden” part of its name quite seriously. They have planted a variety of small trees, herbs, and other plants all around their wooden tables and yard chairs. This means that you can enjoy a tranquil, green respite from the crowds of Athens (which you can do in nearby destinations like Parnitha as well) while enjoying a convivial dining and drinking experience with friends.
Foundry Suites Rooftop Garden / Sarri 40, Athens / +30 211 18 24 604
Rooftop Bars and Restaurants
I wanted to focus this list on places where either the drinks were one of the most notable offerings, or the food and drinks were equally well-known. However, I wanted to make honorable mentions of rooftop restaurants in Athens that deserve your attention as well, especially if your primary want is a tasty meal.
This includes places like Zillers Roof Garden. It’s one of the few restaurants in the city with a Michelin star, and is highly regarded by local and international foodies who flock here by the dozens. Like many other places on this list, it also gives you a great view of the city from above.
La Suite Lounge Rooftop in the famous St. George Lycabettus Hotel is another popular rooftop dining destination. The hotel is a popular meeting place for businessmen and old-money Athenians, so be sure to dress up. Also be prepared to spend a fair amount on dinner, but I promise, it’s worth it.
Lastly, the Metropolis Rooftop Garden, sitting on top of the Electra Metropolis Hotel, is another great destination for dinner with a view. As a bonus, it’s also located on top of one of my favorite hotels in Athens, where I had actually spent a three day staycation a couple of years ago.
What do people wear to rooftop bars in Athens?
Though some rooftop bars in the city are exceptions, people generally tend to dress up a little, especially if they’re going in the evening. Places like Couleur Locale and Bios attract a young crowd, so you don’t need to wear anything special – casual dress will do. However, the rest of the bars on the list, and many other rooftop bars in the city, tend to have a more smart casual dress code.
Of course, smart casual means different things in different cities. Generally, especially during the warmer months, the dress code in Athens is smart – no beach town attire – but never too formal. So don’t go full out with your clothing, as it’s likely you’ll be the only person showing up in a full suit at any of these places.
If you’re not going in the middle of summer, take a light jacket with you. Since these bars are a few floors up, and nights in the spring and fall tend to get chilly, it’s always good to have another layer with you, even if it feels relatively warm at street level.
Flights and hotels in Athens
One of the great things about spending autumn in Athens, besides the reduced size of tourist crowds, is the general price drop for flights and hotels. In addition, locals who tend to spend their August outside the city as much as possible have returned to restart work and school. This means there’s a general swell in the local population once again, and local Greek nightlife fully returns.
If you’re looking for affordable flights to Athens, try using one of my favorite tools, Kiwi.com, to search for them.
To check out some great hotels, including some of the ones mentioned in this list, use Booking.com:
What are your favorite rooftop bars in Athens? Let me know in the comments below!