Bar restaurants
•  Bee (Miaouli & Themidos Sts., Monastiraki; 321.2624)
• Also recommended:
•  Island (Limanakia, Vouliagmenis; 965.3563/4) A stunning seaside setting makes this a choice romantic getaway.
•  Privilege (Akrotiri, Aghios Kosmas; 985.2995/6) Open-top BMWs and Cherokee Jeeps jammed with tanned blondes queue to see and be seen at this ritzy club.

Cheap dives
•  Brettos (Kydathinaion St., Plaka)
•  Flower (2 Dorylaiou St., Plateia Mavili; 643.2111)
•  Loras (7 Dim.Soutsou St., Plateia Mavili; 642.8473)
• Also recommended:
•  Galaxy (10 Stadiou St., 322.7733) For serious drinkers and surreal bar-stool encounters.
•  To Amerikaniko (Akti Themistokleous, Pireaus; 451.5742) Unpretentious, old-fashioned, Piraeus local.

Trendy Bars
•  Inoteka (3 Plateia Avyssinias, Monastiraki; 324.6446)
•  Astron (3 Taki St., Psirri; 0932 956013)
•  Stavlos (10 Irakleidon St., Thisseion; 346.7206, 345.2502)
•  Briki (6 Dorylaiou St., Plateia Mavili; 645.2380)
•  Cafe Folie (156 Kifissias Ave., Neo Psychico; 674.0264)
•  City (43 Haritos St., Kolonaki; 722.8910)
• Also recommended:
•  Banana Moon (1 Vas. Olgas St., Zappeion; 321.5414) Garden bar where well heeled Athenians and minor celebrities rub designer shoulders.
•  Kallidromio (Kallidromiou & Zossimadon Sts.; 883.6895) Students, rockers, and bohemians in a mellow Exarhia scene.

Rooftop bars
•  Galaxy (Hilton Hotel, 46 Vas. Sofias St.; 725.0201)
• Also recommended:
•  Exo (1 Markou Moussorou St., Metz; 923.7109) Favoured by posh spice for its spectacular views and bizarre early eighties soundtrack.

Gay Bars
•  Alexander's (44 Anagnostopoulou St., Kolonaki; 364.6660) Disco queens and saucy divas.
•  Aleko's Island (42 Tsakalof St., Kolonaki) The first gay bar in Athens, still going strong.

Beer Houses & Wine Bars
•  Vyni (10 Drakou St., Koukaki; 922.6225) Relaxed neighbourhood beer parlour.
•  Alpen Stube (18 Kyprou St., Glyfada; 894.5045) German-style beer house for pricey pints.
•  Aspro (4 Aristophanous St., Plateia Psirri; 331.3218) Chill at this cool, wine bar.
•  Aisopou Mythos (11 Aisopou St., Psirri; 331.0884) Inventive mezedes, traditional Greek music, and fine Greek wines.

Nightclubs
•  + Soda (2 Evryalis St., Glyfada; 894.0205)
• Also recommended:
•  King Size Arena (5 Posidonos Ave., Hellenikon; 894.4138-9) Mega-club for techno teenyboppers.
•  Kalua (Aghios Kosmas, Alimos; 985.0178-9) Glamorous, amorous, beautiful people.
•  Tango (4 Alkyonidon Ave., EOT Beach, Voula; 895.6577) Waterfront club where Daddy's girls and Mommy's boys flash their cash.

Live Greek Music
•  Neraida, Gorgones & Manges (3 Posidonos Ave., Kalamaki; 983.9560)
• Also recommended:
•  Bio Bio (Nea Deilina, Posidonos Ave., Glyfada; 894.1300) Some of the biggest names in Greek pop - Sakis Rouvas, Stelios Rokkos, and Peggy Zina¯provide trashy entertainment on a grand scale. Booking essential.
•  Asteria (Asteria Glyfadas; 894.4558, 894.6898). Yet another outsize doghouse for tabletop tummy-baring. Booking essential.
•  Romeo (1 Ellinikou St., Glyfada; 894.5345) Down-market version of the above.

Breakfast
•  Papandreou (1 Aristogeitonos St., Meat Market, off Athinas Street, Ommonia; 321.4970)
•  Koulouri bakery (Karaiskaki St., Psirri) Freshly baked sesame pretzels, donuts, and raisin buns for hungry nighthawks who cannot stomach tripe soup.
•  Roadside Cantina meals on wheels for worse-for-wear clubbers situated in lay-bys all over Athens. The most popular hot dog canteen is behind the Hilton on Mihalakopoulou St.
•  Folia tis Soupas (Tourkolimano St.; 417 2804) 24-hour patsas and pig trotter soup - Greeks swear it averts hangovers.
•  Everest (Ommonia & Syntagma Sqs./Tsakalof St., Kolonaki) The incorrigible vice of every Athenian, junk food heaven 24 hours from feta pie to ice cream sundaes.
•  Savvas (86 Mitropoleos St., Monastiraki) Satisfy late-night munchies with succulent souvlakia - but remember to go easy on the tzatziki.

Source: Odyssey Magazine