Four Rooftop Restaurants and Bars to Visit in Athens This Season

Spring may have got off on a bumpy start in Athens with cloudy days, but sunnier times are on their way as we head into May. And with the arrival of blue skies and warmer weather comes the reawakening of the city’s rooftop bars and eateries. Below are four rooftop restaurants and bars to visit in Athens this season.

An artsy hangout on Avissinias Square, Loukoumi Bar (Plateia Avissinias 3; 2103234814) hosts live music, theatrical shows, and art exhibitions. They serve up an interesting and select array of drinks, from boutique Greek wines to fruit lassi to double chocolate coffee with caramel and hazelnuts. For munching, try the mini corndogs, meatballs with spicy tomato sauce, or wok-fried rice noodles with pineapple, chicken, tuna, and coconut milk sauce.

Another downtown favorite is the well-hidden Couleur Locale (Normanou 3; 2167004917) in Monastiraki. This bar hides a rooftop with breathtaking Acropolis views and a dazzling array of drinks. There’s a hearty collection of whiskeys and rums, as well as an array of signature cocktails, such as the Irish Cream Punch with whiskey, sherry, almond milk, honey, and cinnamon. Highlights from the menu include fried cheese sticks with smoked paprika, ginger, and citrus marmalade and nachos with sour cream, bacon, cheddar, and tomato.

For those nights when you want a dose of fine cuisine and Parisienne chic, head to Chocolat Royal (Apostolou Pavlou 27; 2103469077). This two-floor restaurant has views of the Acropolis and Lycabettus Hill and a classy interior with suede seats and mint-green window-doors. Stars of the menu include the sea bass on bread crust with baby squid and mushrooms and the chocolate cake with mango sorbet and passionfruit. Bonus: The ground floor is a wine bar stocked with 140 wines.

And finally, a secret hideout that none of your pals will know about: the V 1935 rooftop restaurant (Voulis 29; 2111821935). V 1935 Luxury Apartments is a boutique hotel with nine elegant apartments and a rooftop restaurant with curling-wire chairs and a convenient glass-covered section for colder nights. They serve up handmade pizzas, delicate Greek pies, and other light bites alongside drinks and desserts. When night falls, they play classic movies on their outdoor cinema screen.

Stay tuned for more cool restaurants, fun bars, and other interesting outings to spice up your summer!