Athens Wine Bars and Mezedopolia

Greek wine deserves more attention than it receives internationally, and Athens’ growing wine bar scene is where to engage with it seriously. Alongside the bars, the mezedopoleio tradition — small plates designed for sharing, eaten slowly alongside wine or ouzo — provides the perfect framework for an evening.

Greek wine worth knowing

Assyrtiko from Santorini is the most internationally recognized Greek white — mineral, citrusy, and excellent with seafood. Moschofilero from the Peloponnese is a more aromatic alternative. For reds, Xinomavro from Naoussa in northern Greece is Greece’s answer to Nebbiolo — tannic, complex, age-worthy. Agiorgitiko from Nemea produces more approachable reds. Natural wine has become a significant strand in Athens’ wine culture, with several bars specializing in small-production, minimal-intervention wines.

The mezedopoleio format

The word means a place where meze is sold — small plates designed for sharing and intended to accompany drinks rather than constitute a formal meal. A good evening at a mezedopoleio involves ordering several rounds of dishes gradually, drinking moderately, and spending 2–3 hours at the table. Psiri’s Iroon Square has the highest concentration; Monastiraki and Exarchia also have reliable options.