Athens has pulled off a stunning coup in the cocktail world, sweeping the top two spots in the inaugural Europe's 50 Best Bars ranking — a result that confirms the Greek capital's arrival as one of the continent's premier destinations for serious drinking.
At a ceremony in Amsterdam on 30 June, sustainability-focused "Line," in Athens' Kato Petralona district, was crowned the Best Bar in Europe.
Housed in a former art gallery, Line operates as a fermentation laboratory and zero-waste pioneer, producing its own fruit wines, beers and sourdough bread.
The concept, driven by bartenders Vasilis Kyritsis and Nikos Bakoulis, weaves circular economy principles through every drink and dish — byproducts from one process become ingredients in another.
Second place went to "The Bar in Front of the Bar," a dual-concept venue that evolved from a pandemic-era pop-up into a permanent fixture in central Athens.
A refined speakeasy interior sits alongside a street-facing window bar serving cocktails made from upcycled ingredients — the kind of setup that keeps industry insiders and neighbourhood regulars equally devoted.
Faye Huggett, Director of Community for Europe's 50 Best Bars, said Athens had demonstrated an exceptional level of hospitality and creativity, placing it firmly alongside London and Paris in the global mixology conversation.
Greece's footprint across the full list is striking. Beyond the top two, Athens contributed Barro Negro (13th), Baba au Rum (14th) and The Clumsies (30th), with Thessaloniki's Gorilla landing at 33rd — six entries in total from a country that, not long ago, barely registered on the international bar circuit.
By Sofia Paftounou