Athens has one of the best night-out scenes in Europe, and the city's bars and cafés are central to its social life. Athenians eat dinner late — 9pm at the earliest — and then drink into the small hours, particularly Thursday through Saturday.
For coffee by day, the cluster of cafés around Kolonaki Square and along the streets of Plaka are the social hubs. For drinks at sunset, the rooftop bars around Monastiraki — particularly A for Athens — give head-on views of the Acropolis. For serious nights out, the bar-and-music scene concentrates in Psiri, Exarchia, and Gazi. Six d.o.g.s. in Monastiraki is the standout venue for live music in a garden setting.
Greek beer is mostly average lager (Mythos, Alfa); the better choices are the local craft producers, like Septem. Wine by the glass has improved enormously since the 2010s — Greek varieties like Agiorgitiko and Assyrtiko are worth ordering. Ouzo and tsipouro are the classic local spirits, traditionally drunk with small mezedes during long evenings.