Athens has quietly developed one of the most serious wine bar scenes in southern Europe. The combination of 300+ indigenous Greek grape varieties, a generation of young Greek sommeliers trained at top international restaurants, and a serious natural-wine revival has produced 30+ wine bars in central Athens that genuinely rival anything in Paris or London — at significantly lower prices. The headline bar, Heteroclito (founded 2012), pioneered the Greek wine renaissance and remains the reference point. This is the complete best wine bars in Athens Greece guide for 2026 with the World’s-best entries, the natural wine specialists, the Greek-focus bars, and a neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood breakdown.
The Athens Wine Scene in 2026
Greek wine has been continuously produced for 6,500+ years but only began international recognition in the 1990s. The 2010s-2020s wine bar boom in Athens has accelerated this: today the city has 30+ serious wine bars (vs ~5 in 2010), with the natural-wine subset particularly strong. Glasses €5-15 at most bars; bottles €25-150; the prices are 40-60% lower than equivalent western European wine bars.
For broader context, see our Athens Nightlife pillar, our Greek wine and spirits guide, and our cocktail bars guide.
The Reference Bars
1. Heteroclito
From €6-15 per glass; €30-80 per bottle. The bar that started the modern Athens wine scene. 200+ all-Greek labels; 20 by the glass; bistro-style setting on Plateia Agia Eirini. Particularly strong on rare and natural Greek wines. Founded by Sotiris Koplakidis and Stamatis Vasileiou. The most-recommended single Athens wine bar for first-time visitors. Address: 2 Fokionos Street.
2. By the Glass
From €8-18 per glass; €40-120 per bottle. The more upscale sister concept to Heteroclito (different ownership), focused on rare and aged Greek wines. Excellent for serious wine drinkers; deep cellar of older vintages. Address: 7 Souidias Street, Kolonaki.
3. Materia Prima
From €6-14 per glass; €30-90 per bottle. Athens’s leading natural-wine bar. Strong focus on Greek biodynamic and natural producers. Excellent food menu pairs perfectly with the wines. Address: 68 Falirou Street, Koukaki.
Top Natural Wine Specialists
4. Warehouse
From €5-12 per glass. Exarchia natural wine bar with a young, bohemian crowd. Interesting Greek-orange-wine selection (Malagouzia and Roditis). Address: 8 Gladstonos Street.
5. Junior Does Wine
From €6-14 per glass. Sommelier Vasiliki Galani’s bar in the Ilisia neighbourhood. 60+ indie labels focused on small alternative producers; 15 wines by the glass. Excellent food pairings. Address: 4 Doukissis Plakentias Avenue.
6. Vino Veritas
From €5-12 per glass. Smaller natural-wine focused bar with strong international selection alongside Greek labels. Address: 5 Iperidou Street.
7. Cinque Wine Bar
From €7-16 per glass. Modern wine bar in Psyri with strong Italian and Greek mix. Address: 15 Agatharchou Street.
Greek-Focus Wine Bars
8. Athenian Distillery / Brettos
From €5-7 per glass. The 1909 distillery on Kydathineon Street in Plaka. Famous backlit bottle wall; specialises in Greek liqueurs as well as wines. Atmospheric rather than serious-wine. Address: 41 Kydathineon Street.
9. Smoooth Wine Bar
From €6-13 per glass. Modern wine bar with strong Greek selection and excellent meze food menu. Address: 5 Sarri Street, Psirri.
10. Mosaiko Wine Restaurant
From €7-15 per glass. Wine restaurant on Mitropoleos with 150+ labels and a particular focus on Santorini Assyrtikos. Address: 27 Mitropoleos Street.
11. Ratka Wine Bar
From €6-14 per glass. Kolonaki wine bar specialising in northern Greek wines (Naoussa Xinomavro). Address: 11 Pindarou Street.
Wine Bars by Neighbourhood
Central Athens (Syntagma/Plateia Agia Eirini)
Heteroclito, Vino Veritas, Smoooth (in nearby Psirri).
Kolonaki
By the Glass, Ratka Wine Bar, Heteroclito Plus (a second location of Heteroclito).
Koukaki
Materia Prima, Bel Ray (cocktails + wine), several smaller bars near the Acropolis Museum.
Exarchia
Warehouse, several smaller bohemian wine bars in the back streets.
Psirri
Smoooth, Cinque, Six d.o.g.s. (music venue with serious wine selection).
Pangrati
Mavro Provato wine taverna, several neighbourhood spots with surprisingly good Greek-wine lists.
Wine Bar Etiquette in Athens
Athens wine bars are unusually welcoming to wine novices. Bartenders and sommeliers will happily explain Greek varieties and suggest tastings. The standard is to order one or two glasses with light food (charcuterie, cheese, olives), then perhaps move to a bottle if the table is committed. Tasting flights (3-5 wines for €15-25) are common at the serious bars.
What to Drink in Athens Wine Bars
If You Want a Classic Greek White
Santorini Assyrtiko — mineral, dry, citrus-driven. Available at every wine bar.
If You Want an Aromatic Greek White
Malagouzia (Macedonia) or Moschofilero (Mantineia) — tropical and floral.
If You Want a Friendly Greek Red
Agiorgitiko (Nemea) — soft, fruity, plum-driven. Easy entry-point Greek red.
If You Want a Serious Greek Red
Xinomavro (Naoussa) — tannic, age-worthy, complex.
If You Want a Greek Orange Wine
Skin-contact Malagouzia or Roditis from natural producers. Best at Warehouse, Materia Prima, Heteroclito.
If You Want a Greek Sweet Wine
Santorini Vinsanto — the world’s great dessert wine. Available at most serious wine bars.
Average Prices for 2026
Glass of house wine: €5-8. Glass of mid-range Greek wine: €7-12. Glass of premium Greek wine: €12-18. Bottle of Greek wine: €30-90 typical; €100-200 for top single-vineyard examples. Tasting flight: €15-25. Light food (charcuterie, cheese plate): €10-22.
Best Time to Visit Athens Wine Bars
Aperitivo hour (6-8 PM): the relaxed atmosphere; the best time for a serious conversation with the sommelier.
Pre-dinner (8-9 PM): wine bars fill but service remains relaxed.
Late evening (10 PM-midnight): peak hours; reservations recommended at Heteroclito and By the Glass.
Wine Tour Combinations
Several Athens operators run wine tours combining the wine bars with the Greek wine regions reachable from the city. Nemea (1.5 hours west) for Agiorgitiko reds; Attica wine region (30 minutes east) for Savatiano whites. Day tours from €80-150 per person; full-day with multiple tastings €120-200.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best wine bar in Athens?
Heteroclito on Plateia Agia Eirini is the reference Athens wine bar with 200 all-Greek labels and 20 by the glass. By the Glass in Kolonaki is the more upscale alternative for serious aged wines. Materia Prima in Koukaki is the leading natural-wine bar.
How much does a glass of wine cost in Athens?
€5-8 for house wine, €7-12 for mid-range Greek wine, €12-18 for premium Greek wine. Bottles typically €30-90 with top wines at €100-200+. Prices are 40-60% lower than equivalent western European wine bars.
What is the best Greek wine to try in Athens?
For whites, Santorini Assyrtiko (mineral and dry) is the international flagship; Malagouzia (Macedonia) and Moschofilero (Mantineia) are excellent aromatic alternatives. For reds, Agiorgitiko (Nemea) is the friendliest entry-point; Xinomavro (Naoussa) is the most serious. For dessert, Santorini Vinsanto.
Where can I drink natural wine in Athens?
Materia Prima in Koukaki, Warehouse in Exarchia, Heteroclito and By the Glass for the wider selection. Greek biodynamic and natural production has grown significantly since 2015 and most serious Athens wine bars now stock natural options.
Are Athens wine bars open early?
Most open 5-7 PM and close midnight-2 AM. The bistro-style wine bars (Heteroclito, By the Glass) often open at noon for lunch and continuous service through evening.
Do Athens wine bars serve food?
Most serve charcuterie, cheese plates, and light meze (€10-25). Some (Materia Prima, By the Glass, Junior Does Wine) have more substantial small-plate menus pairing with the wines.
Is Greek wine good?
Increasingly internationally respected. Greek wines have won growing recognition since the 1990s; the modern Athens wine bar scene is the best place to taste the breadth of 300+ indigenous Greek grape varieties at fair prices.
Greek Wine: The 6,500-Year Tradition
Greek wine has been continuously produced for 6,500+ years — the oldest continuous wine tradition in Europe. Archaeological evidence shows organised wine production on Crete from 4500 BC, on the Greek mainland by 2500 BC, and throughout the Aegean by 1500 BC. The ancient Greeks were the first systematic wine theorists: Theophrastus’s 4th-century-BC treatise on plants includes detailed vineyard cultivation; Aristotle wrote about the relationship between climate, soil, and wine character.
Despite this heritage, Greek wine spent most of the 20th century in relative obscurity internationally — partly due to the dominance of European (French, Italian, Spanish) wine on global markets; partly due to Greek wine’s domestic-consumption focus; partly due to the country’s slow recovery from WWII and the civil war. The international Greek wine renaissance began in the 1990s with a new generation of Greek winemakers (often trained at Bordeaux and Burgundy) returning to develop their family estates and the small island vineyards. By 2015, Greek wines were appearing on Michelin restaurant lists worldwide; by 2025, the international wine press routinely covers Greek wine as one of the most-exciting emerging wine regions.
The 300+ Indigenous Greek Grape Varieties
Greece has 300+ indigenous grape varieties — more than any other Mediterranean country. The most-important:
White Grapes
Assyrtiko (Santorini): the international flagship Greek white. Mineral, dry, citrus-driven; the volcanic-soil terroir of Santorini produces uniquely-characterful wines. €15-40 per bottle premium.
Malagouzia (Macedonia): aromatic with tropical-floral character; revived from near-extinction by Evangelos Gerovassiliou in the 1980s.
Moschofilero (Mantineia, Peloponnese): aromatic and floral; “the Greek Gewürztraminer.”
Roditis: widely-planted; mostly produces simple table wine but several premium examples exist.
Savatiano: the dominant Attica grape; the base for traditional retsina.
Vidiano (Crete): rich, oily, distinctive; the rising-star Cretan white.
Red Grapes
Xinomavro (Naoussa, Macedonia): the most-serious Greek red; tannic, age-worthy, complex; often compared to Nebbiolo from Italy. €20-100 per bottle.
Agiorgitiko (Nemea, Peloponnese): the most-widely-planted Greek red; soft, fruity, plum-driven; the friendliest entry-point Greek red.
Mavrodaphne: traditional sweet red wine from Patras region; some recent dry interpretations.
Limnio: ancient Aegean grape (mentioned by Aristotle); medium-bodied red with herbal character.
Mandilaria: Crete grape used in blends; dark, tannic.
Greek Wine Regions in Detail
Santorini
The most-famous Greek wine region. Volcanic-soil vineyards on the steep terraces; the unique “koulara” (basket-shaped) vine training developed to protect grapes from the meltemi wind. Producing exceptional Assyrtiko (dry) and Vinsanto (sweet dessert wine — the original “Vin Santo” before the Italian appropriation). Major estates: Estate Argyros, Santo Wines, Venetsanos, Domaine Sigalas, Hatzidakis.
Nemea (Peloponnese)
The largest Greek red-wine region; producing primarily Agiorgitiko. The “Nemea Triangle” between Athens-Corinth-Tripoli has hundreds of small wineries. Major estates: Driopi (Tselepos), Skouras, Lafkiotis, Gaia, Papaioannou, Mitravelas.
Naoussa (Macedonia)
The most-respected Greek red-wine region; producing Xinomavro. Often compared to Italy’s Piedmont (Nebbiolo). Major estates: Domaine Karydas, Kir-Yianni, Boutari, Markovitis, Foundis, Diamantakos.
Mantineia (Peloponnese)
The Moschofilero region; high-altitude vineyards producing aromatic dry whites. Major estates: Tselepos, Spyropoulos, Antonopoulos.
Attica
The Athens-area wine region; primarily Savatiano. The historic retsina region. Major estates: Domaine Costa Lazaridi (with the Oenotourismos winery for visits), Megapanos, Markou.
Crete
Diverse climate creates multiple styles. Notable for Vidiano white and Liatiko red. Major estates: Lyrarakis, Domaine Strataridakis, Boutari Crete.
Other Notable Regions
Patras (Mavrodaphne dessert wine), Cephalonia (Robola white), Limnos (Muscat of Alexandria), Samos (Muscat), Goumenissa (red blends), Drama (Bordeaux-style blends).
The Natural Wine Movement in Athens
Greek natural wine has grown significantly since 2015. Greek biodynamic and natural producers include Mikra Yia, Domaine Tatsis, Vinifera Project, Loukatos, and Estate Theopetra. The Athens natural-wine bar scene reflects this:
Materia Prima (Koukaki): the leading natural-wine bar; €6-14 per glass.
Warehouse (Exarchia): bohemian natural-wine focus; €5-12 per glass.
Heteroclito: conventional plus serious natural-wine selection.
Junior Does Wine: sommelier Vasiliki Galani’s specialist bar.
How to Order Wine at an Athens Wine Bar
The opener: “What Greek wine would you recommend for [my preferences]?” The Athens sommeliers love this question; expect a 5-10 minute conversation.
Tasting flights: €15-25 for 3-5 small pours; ideal for sampling multiple styles.
By-the-glass: €5-15; let the bar know if you want to try 2-3 different wines.
Bottle selection: €30-90 typical; €100-200 for top single-vineyard examples.
Food pairing: ask the bar for cheese plate recommendation; €15-25 for a comprehensive Greek cheese plate that pairs with multiple wines.
Athens Wine Bar Etiquette
Athens wine bars are unusually welcoming to wine novices. Bartenders and sommeliers genuinely enjoy explaining Greek varieties; ask questions freely. The standard pattern: order one or two glasses with light food (charcuterie, cheese, olives), then perhaps move to a bottle if committed. Bring up your home-country wine preferences; the sommelier will translate this to Greek-wine recommendations.
Smoking: many Athens wine bars permit smoking on outdoor terraces. Reservations: recommended at Heteroclito, By the Glass on weekend evenings.
Wine Country Day Trips from Athens
Nemea Wine Day Trip
1.5 hours west of Athens; the largest Greek red-wine region. Visit 2-3 wineries; lunch at a Nemea taverna. €120-200 per person organised; €60-100 self-drive plus winery tastings.
Attica Wine Day Trip
30-60 minutes east of Athens; the historic retsina region. Visit 2-3 small estates including Domaine Costa Lazaridi’s Oenotourismos winery. €80-150 per person.
Santorini Wine Day (when on Santorini)
The most-famous Greek wine experience; visit Estate Argyros, Santo Wines, Venetsanos; €60-150 per person for wine-tour packages.
The Greek Wine Glass Sizes
Greek standard wine glass pours are 125-150ml — slightly less than the 175ml standard in the UK or US. The smaller pour is partly tradition (the Greek drinking culture emphasises long evenings of social wine consumption rather than rapid intake) and partly practical (the smaller pour stays cooler longer in warm summer outdoor venues).
Greek Wine to Bring Home
The best Greek wines to bring home:
Premium Assyrtiko from Santorini (€20-50): the international flagship; ages well.
Single-vineyard Xinomavro from Naoussa (€25-80): ages 10-20+ years; the serious collector’s choice.
Premium Agiorgitiko from Nemea (€15-40): drinks well young; pairs widely.
Vinsanto from Santorini (€20-50): the sweet dessert wine; small bottles 375ml typical.
Limited-production natural wines (€20-50): distinctive and not exportable in any quantity.
Buy at Yoleni’s (Kolonaki gourmet shop) or the wine bar where you tasted (most will sell bottles to take home).
Greek Wine Online & International Availability
Increasing but still limited. Major Greek wine importers in the US: Athenee, Hellenic Wine Imports, Olive Connection. In the UK: Maltby & Greek, Greekwine Online. Visit the Athens wine bars to taste the wines you’re unlikely to find at home; bring back the bottles that aren’t exported.
Wine Bar Pricing: Detailed Reality
Athens wine bar pricing is significantly lower than equivalent venues in northern European capitals:
House Greek wine by glass: €5-8 (vs. €8-15 in Paris/London).
Mid-range Greek wine by glass: €7-12.
Premium single-estate Greek wine by glass: €12-18 (vs. €18-30 elsewhere).
Greek wine bottle: €30-90 standard; €100-200 for top examples.
Tasting flight (3-5 wines): €15-25.
Greek cheese plate: €12-22.
Charcuterie: €15-25.
Wine Bar Reservations
The reservation reality at top Athens wine bars:
Heteroclito: walk-in usually works weekdays; reservations recommended Thursday-Saturday evenings.
By the Glass: reservations recommended weekends.
Materia Prima: walk-in usually works; small venue limits capacity.
Warehouse: walk-in always; the casual Exarchia atmosphere.
Junior Does Wine: reservations recommended Friday-Saturday.
Greek Wine Pairing Quick Guide
Greek salad: Assyrtiko (the mineral character matches the feta).
Octopus carpaccio: Mantineia Moschofilero (aromatic; light).
Grilled fish: Santorini Assyrtiko or Naoussa Malagouzia (mineral or aromatic).
Lamb: Nemea Agiorgitiko or Naoussa Xinomavro (the body matches).
Greek cheese plate: Mantineia Moschofilero (versatile across multiple cheese styles).
Loukoumades dessert: Santorini Vinsanto (the sweet dessert wine).
Plan the Rest of Your Athens Trip
For more nightlife content, see our pillar guide to Athens Nightlife, our Greek wine and spirits guide, our cocktail bars guide, our rooftop bars guide, and our Athens at night guide.