NIGHT LIFE IN ATHENS: Clubs, Bars, Pubs, Discos, Live Music, DJs, Rembetika, Jazz, Latin and Gay

They say the nightlife of Athens rivals that of New York, London and Paris and maybe surpasses those cities. One thing is for certain. You won't find more restaurants, bars, discos and clubs in a smaller area than you will in Athens with the majority of the nightlife being in central areas like Psiri, Plaka, and Thission and everything else being accessable by the metro. This is a listing of some of the different clubs.

Thanks to Dorian Kokas and Michalis Orphanides, two famous musicians and friends who helped compile this list and told me their favorite places. These clubs come and go so call first to make sure they still exist and if they don't, or if you know one that should be listed please let me know. You can also find club info in the Athenorama Magazine which comes out every week. It is in Greek though. Check also Athens version of Time-Out and the Athens News for special events like touring musical groups. Many of these clubs are closed in the summer so call first. See also my page for going out late in Athens

REMBETIKA MUSIC CLUBS

These are my favorite type of clubs. Most serve food and some of the acts are top-notch. Call for programs. For more information on Greek Music go to my Rembetika page

REMBETIKI ISTORIA : 181 Ippokratous Street, Excarchia, Athens - tel: 210 6424937 Authentic rembetika by Pavlos Vasileiou and his band. Closed on Mondays. Mimi Rekkas says this is the best! The photo on the left is taken there.

NTOYZENI 8 Makroyianni near the Acropolis. Open Thursday through Sunday with four Rembetika singers. ( tel.210 9227597, 210 9219427) Matt likes this place or did when Poli Panou was playing there..

PERIVOLI T' OYRANOU Lisikratous 19, Plaka. Six Rembetika singers, cozy atmosphere. Closed Sunday and Monday. Babis Tsertos plays here. (Click here for info on Babis Tsertos.)( tel. 210 3235517, 210 3222048 )

STOA ATHANATON Sofokleos 19. Six Rembetika singers including Takis Benes. Food & drinks . Open 3:30 p.m- 7:30 p.m. and at night. Closed Sunday.

DIPLOCHORDON 13 Ag. Lavras & Galatsiou Ano Patissia. Two Rembetika singers, one Rembetist violin in musical scheme. Closed Mon. & Tue. tel.210 2283867.

PONTIKI 9 Eptanisou, Kypseli. New & Old "laika" music. Closed Mon. & Tue.

ASTROFEGGIA 294 Patission, Agios Loukas. Seven singers, traditional violin. Closed Mon. Tue. wed. Tel.210 2210160.

MATTS PICK! MISIKLEOUS 22 Mnisikleous ,Plaka. It burned down during the winter of 2005 but is probably up and running again. Open Thu. through Sun. (210 3225558 ).

STATHMOS 22 Mavromateon, Pedio tou Areos (Green Park) Four singers. Thu. through Sun. Tel.210 8832393 & 210 8220883.

KAVOURAS 64 Themistoklous, Exarchia. Three member laiko and Rembetoko group. Closed Sun. Tel.210 3810202.

TAVERNAS WITH LIVE GREEK MUSIC

AMBELOFILO 3 Karagiani & Samothrakis, Kypseli. Light Greek Island music. Traditional Greek food. Call for days and hours. Tel.210 8678862. (recommended by Michaelis)

ELAFOKINIGOS 5 Stavrou street ,Girokomeio. Specializing in all types of game

( fowl,deer, etc ) closed Monday.( tel.210 8252767 ).

ETHNIC LATIN and Other Clubs

PALENQUE 41 Farantatou,Goudi.Open every night.Live bands.Latin party every Sat.Every Sunday live tango with famous Latin bands.Every Monday Cuban Salsa party.

Tue: live flamingo.Wed: live Cuban ,Latin dancing.Lessons every Sun throughThu.early.

( highly recammended by Michaeli ) TEL: 210 7487548.

AISOPOU MYTHOS Aisopou 11, Psyrri, Plaka.Wine bar, live jazz & ethnic with

alternating bands. No music on mondays.(210 3310884 )

KSEXASMENO PIGADI Ag. Lauras 87, ANO PATISIA. Rock, Latin, Blues, Jazz, Wednesday- Sunday. (highly recommended by Michaelis ). TEL:210 22283063

Asante : Damareos 78. Pangrati. Tel. 210 756-2102

Caraho : A Soutsou 15. Kolonaki. Tel.210 363-5031

Folie : Eslin 2. Ambelokipi. Tel. 210 646-9852

Cubanita Havana Club 28 Kariaskaki in Psiri. Live latin band and latin DJ, food and dancing all night long. Just around the corner from Iroon Square. This place can get pretty wild at night and lots of fun. Great band. Tel. 210 331 4605

LIVE ROCK CLUBS

AN 13 Solomou, Exarchia. Well known Greek bands and touring bands from the UK and USA. 10pm.to the wee morning hours. Indoors. (recommended by Dorian and Michaeli) Matt Barrett used to play here. When you go ask when he is playing again. Tel. 210 3305056

CAMEL CLUB 268 Vouliagmenis . Wed. to Sat.,the band "Anikti Thalasa". (recommended by Michaeli) Tel. 210 9716145

ROCKLAND 2 Frantzi & Sygrou 55. House band with guest stars every Sat.

STAVROS TOU NOTO Frantzy & Tharipou 37, Neo Kosmos. Greek & American rock, changes of bands every day. Mon. through Fri. Panos Katsimichas from the famous Katsimichas brothers sings his top 10 Greek folk rock songs. Panos and I (Dorian) started the band "Agapanthos" which brought us notoriety. Needless to say I highly recommend this club. Tel. 210 9226975, 210 9239031.

House of Art 4 Saktouri in Psiri, Live rock acts like Papaconstantinou and occasionally surprise international singers like Donovan for instance. Matt likes this place. Tel 210 321 7678

Keramikos 59 Kerameikou and Marathonas. Live Greek stars. Big ones like Haris Alexiou. Tel. 210 522 2222

RODON: 24 Marni near Platia Vathi. This club is in a class of its own with major artists appearing here like Robert Plant, Peter Green, Yngwie Malmsteen, Uriah Heep, and not to mention almost every touring punk, hardcore and heavy metal band that makes it to Greece. Tel. 210 5247427.

Gagarin Live Music Space: Liosion 205 near the Attikis Metro station. This club is a little out of the way but may be one of the best places in the world to see your favorite bands. Besides the usual touring young acts, last summer brought Vanilla Fudge and Mark Lindsay of Paul Revere and the Raiders to Gagarin. They usually advertise their bands with well designed and beautiful posters that you will see around town and in the record shops and cafes. Tel. 210 8547600.

Also keep your eyes and ears open for concerts by well-known artists in the theater on Mount Lycavettos. Fantastic setting for a show. I have seen James Brown, Roy Harper, the Byrds, Nikos Papazoglou and a few others there. Other acts who have played Lycavettos are Leonard Cohen, Ray Davies, Deep Purple, Motorhead and others. Look for posters around Athens or check the Athens News.

ROCK JAZZ HIP HOP

Matt and Dorian's Pick: PARAFONO is a live-music club dedicated to jazz and blues - located near the center of Athens. For almost 25 years it has attracted a devoted following of music lovers that come to hear the most respected names in jazz and blues. Its cabaret setting, superb sound system and lively audience are what make Parafono the ideal venue in which to experience some of the very best JAZZ and BLUES entertainment offered in Greece. Sunday night is Dan & Katey's HOOTENANNY Country, Rock, Acoustic Jam so if you are a musician bring the tools of your trade. Parafono is on 1 S. Kirinis str & 130a Asklipiou str which is on the back side of Lykavettos. You can phone 210 644-6512 for directions or e-mail them at mail@parafono.gr

BOSSA NOSTRA 22 Aristophanous, Psyrri. Red decor. Some Latin. Tel. 210 3244891

ALSOS Pedio tou Areos (Green Park) Greek laika and rock alternative. Tel.210 8212271.

GRAFFITI 192 Sygrou, Kallithea. Wed. classical rock; Thu. & Sat. trip hop, drums

and bass, Fri. reggae; Sun. live jazz. Tel. 210 9597995.

LOOP 3 Ag. Asomatou, Thisio. Alternate bands. Tel.210 3247666

60'S AND 70'S POP AND ROCK

Mikes Irish Bar:On Sinopis street in the Athens tower, this college style bar plays live music on most nights, serves great draft beer and has an atmosphere that will make you think you are in Dublin Ireland, Austin Texas, Boston, Mass or Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Go on a night when Johnny Vavoura and his band (photo) are playing and treat yourself to a night of traditional rock and roll. Call 210 7776797. Recommended by Matt Barrett.

SIXTIES Posiedonos Ave. 62 , P Faliro.( by the sea ) . Live sixties band, many alternating guest stars . Perhaps the best sixties music in Greece.( highly recomended by Dorian and Michaelis ) Closed Sunday & Monday Tel. 9819355, 9812741.

TOP STADIUM Hotel Stadio, Bas. Kostantinou 38. Alternative singers, Closed Sun. and Mon. Tel. 210 7226054.

MEMORIES M. Mousourou 1, Mets. 4 singers alternate; warm, cozy, full menu. Open Wed., Fri., Sat. Tel. 210 9225712, 210 9226672. (recommended)

WILD ROSE 10 Panepistimiou, Center of Athens. Pop, sixties, rock party on tuesdays, blue gray decor. Open every day. Tel. 210 3642160.

FOLIE FOLIE 2 Elsin, Ambelokipi. Mon. reggae, Tue.Latin, Wed.Samba, Thu.hip hop, Fri.funk, Sat.mix, Sun. sixties. Open 'till late. (recommended) Tel. 210 6469852.

House of Art 4 Saktouri in Psiri, Live rock acts like Papaconstantinou and occasionally surprise international singers like Donovan for instance. Matt likes this place which is also mentioned above under Greek Rock. They have a Beatles Tribute night on Mondays. Tel 210 321 7678

The legendary Greek rock group Socrates may be playing in our around Athens so check the Athenorama weekly events magazine.

Peter Abanoudis is the owner and host at the legendary Red Lion Pub which opened in Athens as the first authentic English Pub in 1972 and has been a popular meeting place for members of the foreign community and travelers. For those who are looking for a little familiarity or can't afford to visit both Greece and the UK on one holiday the Red Lion is a great place to meet people. You can sit at the bar and order from his selection of imported and Greek beers in bottles and on tap. English is spoken widely in this pub and in fact you can even forget you are in Greece. They have dart tournaments and a DJ who plays Rock & Roll tunes from the 60s, 70s and 80s. To get to the Red Lion just find the Hilton and the Caravelle Hotels and it is in the small park between them at 16 Nidiron. It's a 15 minute walk from Syntagma or you can take the Blue Line of the Metro towards Ethniki Amyna and get off at the stop called Evangelismos. Recommended highly by Tom Mazarakis.

Open Mondays through Saturdays (Sundays it is closed)

Hours of Operation: 8:00 PM until the last customer leaves.. . . . . .

JAZZ BLUES FUNK

BE BOP Orminou 4, Hilton Hotel. Live Greek rock, plus jazz, funk, soul. Open all evenings. (recommended by Michaeli) Tel. 210 7221708.

BLUES 20 Panormou, Ambelokipi. Only blues in old neo-classical house. Open all evenings. Not live. Tel. 210 6433372.

EMPLEON 20 Laskaratou, Ano Patissia. Funk, soul, rock. Every Thu. Latin and Caribian fiesta

HALF NOTE 17 Tribonianou, Mets. Opens at 11 pm. Live jazz, blues, R&B, American and International name acts. (recommended by Michaeli)

KIBUBU 9 Galatsiou, Patissia. The owner is a very good friend of ours. Mexican, Latin decor. Caters to all age groups. Indoors and out. (recommended by Dorian and Michaeli) .

Action Folie: Akti Dilaveri 9-11. Mikrolimano. Tel. 210 417-4325

Astrolavos : M. Antipa 62-66. N Iraklia. Tel. 210 271-8205

Blues People: Kelsou 5-7 and Bouliagmenis 63. Tel.210 924-6978

GAY CLUBS

ALEXANDER'S Anagnostopoulou 44, Kolonaki. Glamorous dancing in one of the most chic ares in Athens. Tel. 3646664

Alekos Island: Anagostopoulou 44. Kolonaki. Tel. 210 364-6660

GRANAZI 20 Lembesi, Makroyianni. Friendly and unpretentious environment. Tel. 210 9244185.

DIAMONDS AND PEARLS 35 Poseidonos, Kalamaki. On the seaside. Striptease.

DOLLS 5 Varis Ave., Vari. Tel. 210 9658698.

E......KAI 12 Iosif Ton Ragon, Makroyiani. Tel. 210 9221742.

Guys : Lembesi 8. Makrianni. Tel. 210 921-4244

Lambda : Lembesi 15 and 9 Syngrou. Makrianni. Tel. 210 922-4202

TESSERA 117 Pireus, Gazi. Tel. 210 9424986.

Alternative

Bar Code: 34 Syntagmatos Pezikou 6. Tel. 210 422-2829

Berlin : Herakleidon 8: Tel. 341-0239

Decadence : Boularotounou 69. Lofos Strefi. Tel.210 882-3544

MAD : 14 Syngrou. Makriyanni. Tel. 210 922-6694

Mo Better: Themotokleos and Koletti. Tel. 210 381-2981

Plan B: Lempesi 19. Arches Syngrou. Tel. 210 942-2737

Xorostasio : Skouleniou 2. Klathmonos Square. Tel. 210 331-4330

Free-Style

122 : Doukisis Plakentias 122 and Panormou. Ambelokipi.

Animal : Kerameikou 51. Tel. 210 522-7870

Astron : Taki 3. Psiri. Tel. 0977 469-356

Cafe Folie: 156 Kiffisias. N Psihico. Tel.210 674-0264

Delight : Ermou 116. Tel. 210 323-5330

Fidelio : Ogigou 2 and Nauarachou Apostoli. Psiri. Tel. 210 321-2977

Groovin : Pratinou 80. Pangrati. Tel. 210 725-1738

Light Love Life: Boutsadon 50. Gazi. Tel.210 342-4779

Loop : Ag Asomaton Square. Thission. Tel. 210 324-6446

Muller : Benaki 62. Exarchia. Tel. 210 383-0550

Nipiagogio : Elasidon and Kleanthos 8. Gazi. Tel. 210 345-8534

Whisper : Sina 19 and Skoufa. Tel. 210 364-1130

Zoo : Michalokopoulou and Sebastias. Illissia. Tel. 210 778-6672

House Techno

Block : Pigis 3 and Akadamias. Tel. 210 384-0205

Bossa Nostra: Aristophanous 22, Platia Iroon. Psiri. Tel. 0977 126417

City Grove: Bourbaki and Korizi 4. Makrianni. Tel. 210 924-0740

Garage : Sygrou 115a. Fix. Tel. 210 924-8211

Macamba : 22 Vouliagmenis. Tel. 210 924-9430

+Soda : 161 Ermou. Thission. Tel. 210 345-6187

Playroom : Akadamias 43. Tel. 210 364-5027

Venue( The Uptown): Kiffisias and Sina 7. Marousi. Tel. 210 610-6869

U-Matic (Future Club): Vouliagmenis 268. Tel. 210 971-6145

Mainstream Clubs

Bareladiko Next Generation : Tefthidos 7. Peristeri. Tel. 210 578-2222

Camel Club: Iraklidon 74 and Peraios. Thissio. Tel. 210 347-6847

EXO : Marko Mousouri 1. Mets. Tel. 210 923-5818

Hook Planet: Akti kondili 40. Ag Dinoysious. Pireaus. Tel. 210 461-9924

Kalua : Amerikis 6. Syntagma. Tel. 210 360-8304

Loft Loft (Tonight) : 215 Kiffisias. Marousi. Tel. 806-6802

Prime Vision: 22 Vouliagmenis. N. Kosmos. Tel. 210 924-6688

Privilege : Peraios 130 and Alkesonios. Gazi. Tel. 210 347-7311

Sabbia Downtown: Ermou 18. Tel. 210 324-3741

Sex : Gravias 10. Pireaus. Tel. 210 412-6755

Space of Sound: Amerikis 2. Tel. 210 321-0900

Wild Rose: Panepistimiou 10. Tel. 210 364-2160

Questions? Are you a club that wants to be listed or do you want a link to your website E-mail me

OZON Magazine is a guide to athens' events/clubs/art/shops etc. It is distributed freely round trendy cafes and bars and galleries and it is bilingual. Look for it. You can also find information in the excellent TimeOut Athens Visitors Guide available all over Athens.