A Nightlife Guide to Athens, According to the Experts

Black Hole has been labelled “the chicest underground club in Athens”. Featuring deep, dark and melodic techno and progressive house, it boasts an impressive list of resident and guest DJs. The underground space is divided into a main stage, a VIP area and a seated section decked out with sofas and tables. Of the music, DJ Lefty D comments, “It’s as dark as it gets.”

It’s midnight, but no clock is chiming. Slide open the gold curtains, walk down the staircase, and you’ll understand why – time stopped moving here, sometime in the late ’70s or early ’80s. It’s all disco balls, mirrored walls and beat-synchronised disco lights. Order your drink from one of the gold-clad mermaids walking around, and just dance! “It’s retro, it’s kitsch, but it’s bona fide good fun!” says Pitsilis, laughing.

Some 32 years on and still rocking strong. Walk in and its grand chandelier and palatial wooden spiral staircase still wow you just as they did back in the day. “Rock n Roll had a reputation for hosting the most insane parties during the ’90s and early ’00s,” says Pitsilis. Times have changed slightly, but Rock n Roll still guarantees an unforgettable night out. Resident and guest DJs keep you dancing ’til the wee hours with timeless rock, as does the live band on Tuesday nights.

As you sip on a signature cocktail named after one of 14 “gentlemen thieves” – try the Paul Batsios with Greek mastiha, Aperol and mango tea – you should know that you are doing so atop quite a bit of history. The premises were once where the Greek military kept its gold reserves, and before that, where the first king of Greece (King Otto) kept his horses. “I love this place. It’s classy with an overall great vibe and cutting-edge cocktails,” says Lefty D, who also rates the funk, house and hip-hop soundtrack.

Lefty D tells us the story of Juan Rodriquez: urban legend has it that he was a slave from Panama who somehow escaped to Athens to fulfil his lifelong dream of opening a bar. “Totally made- up story by the owners of this exquisitely decorated bar/restaurant,” Lefty D laughs. Chandeliers, gold-framed paintings and velvet seats are some of the refined details of this bar, where the cocktail list is equally nuanced. Try a classic negroni or the El Diablo tequila punch.

Retiré (with the stress on the last é) means ‘penthouse’ in Greek. This rooftop bar, close to Syntagma Square, made its entrance onto the Athens bar scene in the summer of 2019 and was an instant hit. With a fabulous view of a lit-up Acropolis and cocktails curated by an award-winning cocktail bar, The Clumsies, how could it not be? Featuring lounge chairs and a bar set within a caravan, Retiré is the ideal spot for a laid-back drink.

Upon spotting the neon pizza slice sign of Crust in downtown Athens, you could be forgiven for thinking you were approaching a standard takeaway pizza joint. The loud music tells a different story: in the basement of this (highly recommended) pizza shop is a minuscule dance club, which makes up for in energy what it lacks in size. This underground venue hosts well-known DJs who spin techno, house and disco grooves, along with live-jazz performances.

Finding this venue is half the fun. Though the address is not a secret, first-timers are in for a bit of confusion as they are confronted by a regular-looking Athenian apartment building. No sign of a bar, no people holding cocktails outside; you question whether you’re at the right place. You spot a few more wanderers looking just as confused as you. You’re very close, so you go to the door and wonder which button to press. Luckily, neighbours have stuck Post-it notes telling you not to press their doorbells as they are not The Speakeasy. If you’ve pressed the right doorbell, someone will eventually open the door and you’ll be led through a corridor and down a spiral staircase to another era. The space is minimal with quirky nuances, offers both classic drinks and signature cocktails and regularly hosts live jazz.

Just 10 years ago, this multifaceted venue changed the face of Athenian nightlife for good. It’s not exactly a club, bar or gallery, but a mix of all three. This is the go-to venue for live gigs, great parties and temporary exhibitions. Visit in the summer to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of the secret garden.

This ancient open-air theatre has been sitting beneath the Acropolis since the second century AD. In antiquity, odeons hosted singing performances and poetry recitals, and for the past 60 years this architectural masterpiece has again staged the very best in theatre and music. It can seat close to 5,000 people, and a diverse range of artists have performed here, from Frank Sinatra and Luciano Pavarotti to Florence and the Machine. Be sure to snap up tickets as soon as possible – they go quickly.

One of the most picturesque neighbourhoods in Athens is home to legendary rooftop cinema Cine Paris. “Watching a film with a view of the Acropolis is definitely a unique experience, even for an Athenian,” says Lefty D. “And the good thing is, unlike other European countries, films are not dubbed in Greece,” he explains, noting that this makes the cinema more accessible to international audiences. The cinema is open from May to October.