REMBETIKA
MUSIC CLUBS
 These
are my favorite type of clubs. Most serve food and some of the
acts are top-notch. Call for
programs.
For more
information on Greek Music go to my
Rembetika
page
REMBETIKI ISTORIA
:
181
Ippokratous Street, Excarchia, Athens - tel:
210 6424937 Authentic rembetika by Pavlos
Vasileiou and his band. Closed on
Mondays.
Mimi
Rekkas says this is the best!
The photo
on the left is taken there.
PERIVOLI
T' OYRANOU
Lisikratous 19,
Plaka. Six Rembetika singers, cozy
atmosphere. Closed Sunday and
Monday. Babis Tsertos has played here in the past. (Click
here for info on Babis Tsertos.)( tel. 210
3235517, 210 3222048 )
STOA
ATHANATON
Sofokleos
19 in the Athens Central Meat Market. Old time Rembetika singers including
some heroes of the past. Food & drinks .
Open 3:30 p.m- 7:30 p.m. and at
night. Closed Sunday.
DIPLOCHORDON
13 Ag. Lavras &
Galatsiou Ano Patissia. Two Rembetika singers,
one Rembetist violin in musical scheme. Closed
Mon. & Tue. tel.210 2283867.
PONTIKI: 9 Eptanisou and Androu, near Platia Agios Giorgiou in Kypseli has live rembetika and laika and traditional food Thurs-Sun. (Tel 210 8232971 or 210 822 6995)
Taxidi Stin Anatoli: Kypselis 31 and Sporadon in Kypseli has live laika and rembetika Thurs-Sat and a Sunday matinee. (Tel 210 8254779)
ASTROFEGGIA
294
Patission, Agios Loukas. Seven singers,
traditional violin. Closed Mon. Tue. Wed.
Thurs: Tel.210 2210160.
Read Claire Bostock's review of Rembetiko Club Astrofeggia
MISIKLEOUS
22 Mnisikleous ,Plaka. It
burned down during the winter of 2005 but is probably up and
running again. Open Thu.
through Sun. (210 3225558 ).
STATHMOS
22 Mavromateon,
Pedio tou Areos (Green Park) Four
singers. Thu. through Sun. Tel.210 8832393
& 210 8220883.
KAVOURAS
64 Themistoklous, Exarchia. Three
member laiko and Rembetoko group. Closed Sun.
Tel.210 3810202.
Many places close in Athens when the weather gets warm but Stoa Athanaton in the Central Market of Athens (in the meat section) is one of the best places to hear authentic rembetika. In the daytime go to Kapni Karea Cafe which is between Metropolis and Ermou Streets in this little alley a block down from the small church of Kapni Karea in the
middle of Ermou street. There is usually good music going on there in the afternoon.
 One gem of a rembetika club that few people know about is in the neighborhood of Kypseli, right off Fokionos Negri, a pedestrianized avenue that is like a long narrow park that starts down by Patission street about a half mile beyond the National Museum. The club is called Karabani and features musicians like Giannis
Lempesis and his excellent group or Babis Golis. Lempesis and Golis are old style rembetika singers and bouzouki players, of the same generation as Babis Tsertos, in fact they used to play together, with a dozen or so albums to their credit. Musicians in Athens change clubs from season to season so you never know who is playing where unless you check the weekly Athinorama magazine. The club is open on Friday and Saturday nights with the music beginning around 11pm and they have a Sunday Matinee starting at about 1pm with a special price of 20 euros for food, wine and
entertainment. Its easy to find if you walk up Fokionos Negri from Patission, its the street after the old market on the right. Or if you take the 2, 4 or 9 trolley and get off at Platia Kypseli you can walk down it is on the left on the corner of Zakynthou Street. For reservations call 210 8251896 or 210 822-1264. Friendly place and great music. Prices for food are at normal taverna levels so you don't have to go broke eating, drinking and listening to good music.
TAVERNAS WITH LIVE GREEK MUSIC
AMBELOFILO 3
Karagiani & Samothrakis, Kypseli. Light
Greek Island music. Traditional Greek food.
Call for days and hours. Tel.210 8678862.
(recommended by Michaelis)
ELAFOKINIGOS
5 Stavrou
street ,Girokomeio. Specializing in all types
of game
( fowl,deer, etc )
closed Monday.( tel.210 8252767
).
Karabani Restaurant (see above too)is next to the old Kypseli Laiki market on the corner of Fokionos Negri and Zakynthos street in a basement where you can eat, drink and listen to rembetika-laika singers and bouzouki players like Giannis Lempesis on Friday-Saturday nights and all day Sunday. Call 210 8251896 or 210 8221264 for reservations, though you can probably just show up and find a table.
ETHNIC LATIN and
Other Clubs
PALENQUE
41 Farantatou,Goudi.Open every
night.Live bands.Latin party every
Sat.Every Sunday live tango with famous Latin
bands.Every Monday Cuban Salsa
party.
Tue: live
flamingo.Wed: live Cuban ,Latin
dancing.Lessons every Sun
throughThu.early.
( highly
recammended by Michaeli ) TEL: 210 7487548.
AISOPOU
MYTHOS
Aisopou 11, Psyrri,
Plaka.Wine bar, live jazz &
ethnic with
alternating
bands. No music on mondays.(210 3310884
)
KSEXASMENO
PIGADI
Ag.
Lauras 87, ANO
PATISIA. Rock, Latin, Blues, Jazz,
Wednesday- Sunday. (highly recommended by
Michaelis ). TEL:210 22283063
Asante
: Damareos 78. Pangrati. Tel. 210 756-2102
Caraho
: A Soutsou 15. Kolonaki. Tel.210 363-5031
Folie
: Eslin 2. Ambelokipi. Tel. 210 646-9852
Cubanita Havana Club
28 Kariaskaki
in Psiri. Live latin band and latin DJ, food
and dancing all night long. Just around the
corner from Iroon Square. This place can get pretty
wild at night and lots of fun. Great band. Tel. 210 331
4605
LIVE
ROCK CLUBS
AN
13
Solomou, Exarchia. Well known Greek bands and
touring bands from the UK and USA. 10pm.to the
wee morning hours. Indoors. (recommended by
Dorian and Michaeli) Matt Barrett used to play
here. When you go ask when he is playing
again. Tel. 210 3305056
CAMEL
CLUB
268 Vouliagmenis . Wed. to Sat.,the band
"Anikti Thalasa". (recommended by
Michaeli) Tel. 210 9716145
ROCKLAND
2 Frantzi & Sygrou 55.
House band with guest stars every
Sat.
STAVROS
TOU NOTO
Frantzy &
Tharipou 37, Neo Kosmos. Greek &
American rock, changes of bands every
day. Mon. through Fri. Panos
Katsimichas from the famous Katsimichas
brothers sings his top 10 Greek folk rock
songs. Panos and I (Dorian) started the band
"Agapanthos" which brought us notoriety.
Needless to say I highly recommend this
club. Tel. 210 9226975, 210
9239031.
Kittaro: This is one of the first and best rock clubs in Athens starting back in the early seventies when it hosted season long shows by both Socrates and Savopoulos among others. Now the shows change nightly with big shows on the weekends. If you look for posters you can see who is playing. They host a Beatles night on Mondays with a solid Beatles tribute band and famous guest performers. Its near Platia Victoria.
RODON:
24 Marni near Platia Vathi. This club is in a class of its own
with major artists appearing here like Robert Plant, Peter Green,
Yngwie
Malmsteen, Uriah Heep, and not to mention almost every touring punk, hardcore
and heavy metal band that makes it to Greece. Tel. 210 5247427.
Gagarin
Live Music Space: Liosion
205 near the Attikis Metro station. This club is a little out
of the way but may be one of the best places in the world to
see your favorite bands. Besides the usual touring young acts,
last summer brought Vanilla Fudge and Mark Lindsay of Paul Revere
and the Raiders to Gagarin. They usually advertise their bands
with well designed and beautiful posters that you will see around
town and in the record shops and cafes. Tel. 210 8547600.
Also keep your eyes and ears open
for concerts by well-known artists in the theater on Mount Lycavettos.
Fantastic setting for a show. I have seen James Brown, Roy Harper,
the Byrds, Nikos Papazoglou and a few others there. Other acts
who have played Lycavettos are Leonard Cohen, Ray Davies, Deep
Purple, Motorhead and others. Look for posters around Athens
or check the Athens News.
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ROCK JAZZ HIP HOP
PARAFONO
is a live-music club dedicated to
jazz and blues - located near the center of Athens. For almost 25
years it has attracted a devoted following of music lovers that come to hear the most respected names in jazz and blues. Its cabaret setting, superb sound system and
lively audience are what make Parafono the ideal venue in which to experience
some of the very best JAZZ and BLUES entertainment offered in Greece. Sunday
night is Dan & Katey's HOOTENANNY Country, Rock, Acoustic Jam so
if you are a musician bring the tools of your trade. Parafono
is on 1 S. Kirinis str & 130a Asklipiou str which is on
the back side of Lykavettos. You can phone 210 644-6512 for
directions or e-mail them at mail@parafono.gr
7-Times Club at 13 Maiouli Street right by the Monastiraki Metro Station in Psiri plays international music, a mix of live and DJ. Their house band plays everything from Elvis to Depeche Mode and you can hear anything from rock and roll, to swing, different varieties of jazz, pop, funk, bozza-nova, sixties and even Irish music on St Patrick's day.
BOSSA
NOSTRA
22 Aristophanous, Psyrri. Red decor. Some
Latin. Tel. 210 3244891
ALSOS
Pedio tou
Areos (Green Park) Greek laika and
rock alternative. Tel.210 8212271.
GRAFFITI
192 Sygrou,
Kallithea. Wed. classical rock;
Thu. & Sat. trip hop, drums
and bass,
Fri. reggae; Sun. live jazz.
Tel. 210 9597995.
LOOP
3 Ag.
Asomatou, Thisio. Alternate bands.
Tel.210 3247666
Euro Jazz Festival Technopolis Athens: Let’s get… jazz
The 12th edition of the festival will take place from May 23 to 27,
2012 - For twelve consecutive years,
the European Jazz Festival in "Technopolis", Athens welcomes some of
the most creative European musicians. Artists of the European Jazz scene
and many promising young musicians will perform for the biggest jazz
event of Athens. See their website
 Jazz-Online is a Greek site that will tell you everything there is to know about Jazz in Greece including concerts, festivals and the clubs that play jazz. There is also a page that introduces you to Greek jazz musicians, articles, interviews and everything you need to know about jazz in Greece. Of yes, I forgot to mention that it is in English.
60'S AND 70'S
POP AND ROCK
 Matt Barrett's favorite hangout is the James Joyce Pub at Astiggos 12 in Monastiraki. With an extensive bar menu, lots of imported beers, great music and lots
of energetic X-pats who seem to be mostly Irish and Greek-Irish. They open at noon daily and stay open late. Their bigscreen TVs show sports from all over the world including NFL Football, Major
League Baseball and NBA Basketball as well as Cricket, European Football and whatever else happens to be on. In my opinion this is the best bar in Athens and over the Christmas holidays I ended most nights here. But I could easily begin my nights there too because they have great food. Introduce yourself to Diedra and Tom (the tall guy) and settle in for a night of beer and conversation with whoever happens to be sitting next to you since they will most likely speak English. Some nights they have live music.
To find it from Monastiraki just walk down Hepheston or Iphestos (next to the old metro station) to the end. Turn right and then left and it is half way down the block across from the big hole the American School of Archaeology left.
Mikes Irish
Bar: On Sinopis street in the Athens tower, this
college style bar plays live music on most
nights, serves great draft beer and has an
atmosphere that will make you think you are in
Austin Texas, Boston, Mass or
Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Go on a night
when Johnny Vavoura and his band (photo) are
playing and treat yourself to a night of
traditional rock and roll. Call 210 7776797.
Recommended by Matt Barrett because he happened to go on a night when Vavoura was playing. But keep in mind that if you are over 21 and not into heavy metal and really don't like trying to order a beer while standing 6 people deep at the bar you might want to avoid Saturday nights and probably Friday nights too. Especially if you don't smoke. Don't expect a typical Irish Pub full of interesting working-class Irishmen in animated conversation either. The name is pretty deceptive because
generally it can be so loud that you can't hear anybody and know if they are Irish, Greek or from Katmandu.
SIXTIES
Posiedonos Ave. 62,P Faliro.(by the sea).Live sixties band, many alternating guest stars. Perhaps the best sixties music in Greece.(highly recommended by Dorian and Michaelis ) Closed Sunday and Monday Tel. 9819355, 9812741.
TOP
STADIUM
Hotel Stadio, Bas. Kostantinou 38.
Alternative singers, Closed Sun. and Mon. Tel.
210 7226054.
MEMORIES
M. Mousourou 1,
Mets. 4 singers alternate; warm, cozy,
full menu. Open Wed., Fri., Sat. Tel. 210
9225712, 210 9226672. (recommended)
WILD
ROSE
10 Panepistimiou, Center of Athens. Pop,
sixties, rock party on tuesdays, blue gray
decor. Open every day. Tel. 210
3642160.
FOLIE
FOLIE
2 Elsin,
Ambelokipi. Mon. reggae, Tue.Latin,
Wed.Samba, Thu.hip hop, Fri.funk, Sat.mix,
Sun. sixties. Open 'till late.
(recommended) Tel. 210
6469852.
The legendary Greek
rock group Socrates
is playing in our around Athens so check the Athenorama
weekly events magazine.
Peter Abanoudis is the owner and host
at the legendary
Red Lion
Pub
which opened in Athens as the first
authentic English Pub in 1972 and has
been a popular meeting place for
members of the foreign community and
travelers. For those who are looking
for a little familiarity or can't
afford to visit both Greece and the UK
on one holiday the Red Lion is a great
place to meet people. You can sit at
the bar and order from his selection
of imported and Greek beers in bottles
and on tap. English is spoken widely
in this pub and in fact you can even
forget you are in Greece. They have
dart tournaments and a DJ who plays
Rock & Roll tunes from the 60s,
70s and 80s. To get to the Red Lion
just find the Hilton and the Caravelle
Hotels and it is in the small park
between them at 16 Nidiron. It's a 15
minute walk from Syntagma or you can
take the Blue Line of the Metro
towards Ethniki Amyna and get off at
the stop called Evangelismos.
Recommended highly by Tom
Mazarakis.
Open Mondays through Saturdays
(Sundays it is closed)
Hours of Operation: 8:00 PM until the
last customer leaves.. . . . .
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JAZZ BLUES FUNK
Cafe Boheme at 36 Omirou Street in Kolonaki is a bistro-style restaurant (maybe the best in Athens) with a great little bar, interesting patrons and a DJ with terrific taste in music. Listen to cool traditional jazz and blues as well as stuff like Frank Sinatra, big band and music that your parents might have listened to if you don't. Cassandra Wagstaffe is the owner and host and is the daughter of the drummer
of Wishbone Ash. Wonderful ambience and attentive and beautiful bartenders make this a place to go anytime. If you are looking for a small, intimate bar to make your home this is it. Walk up Omirou from Stadiou street across from Kolokotronis Statue and it is just past Akadamias Street. Tel. 210 3608018.
BE BOP
Orminou 4, Hilton Hotel. Live Greek rock, plus
jazz, funk, soul. Open all evenings.
(recommended by Michaeli) Tel. 210
7221708.
BLUES
20 Panormou,
Ambelokipi. Only blues in old neo-classical
house. Open all evenings. Not live. Tel.
210 6433372.
EMPLEON
20 Laskaratou, Ano
Patissia. Funk, soul, rock. Every Thu.
Latin and Caribian fiesta
HALF
NOTE
17
Tribonianou, Mets. Opens at 11 pm. Live
jazz, blues, R&B, American and
International name
acts. (recommended by
Michaeli)
KIBUBU
9
Galatsiou, Patissia. The owner is
a very good friend of ours. Mexican, Latin
decor. Caters to all age groups. Indoors and
out. (recommended by Dorian and Michaeli)
.
Action
Folie:
Akti Dilaveri 9-11. Mikrolimano. Tel. 210
417-4325
Astrolavos
: M. Antipa 62-66. N Iraklia. Tel. 210
271-8205
Blues
People:
Kelsou 5-7 and Bouliagmenis 63. Tel.210
924-6978
Poikili Stoa at 14 Agiou Filippou Street is an ouzeri-mezedopoulion-snack bar with a spectacular view of the Acropolis and ancient Athens, and an owner and staff who love American Blues and Jazz and are eager to play it and talk about it. Tel: 210 321-0431.
Allotivo is for those who like to listen to sophisticated jazz in a small classy bar while drinking fine scotch and whiskies, high-end tequila and hard to find imported beers on tap. A hangout for the actors and actresses who live in Kypseli, its an intimate place, hard to find but once you do you will probably come back. Its at Eptanisou 16 in Platia Georgiou, Kypseli. If you walk down Patission past the Archaeology museum and turn right on Tinou you will come to it. Tel 210 8215331.
GAY CLUBS
Athens gay scene is becoming as popular as Mykonos, not surprising since the fun in Athens lasts all year and not just a few summer months. Here are some of the more popular clubs in Gazi:
Mayo, 33 Persefonis, Gazi
(tel. 210/342-3066)
Sodade, 10 Triptopolemou,
Gazi (tel. 210/346-8657
S'Cape, Iera Odos and 139 Meg. Alexandrou, Gazi (tel.
210/345-2751
Blue Train, 84
Konstantinoupoleos, Gazi (tel. 210/346-0677
Eyeland, 24 Ikarion, Gazi -
Lesbian
Moe, 1-5 Keleou, Gazi
Alternative
Bar
Code: 34
Syntagmatos Pezikou 6. Tel. 210 422-2829
Berlin
: Herakleidon 8: Tel. 341-0239
Decadence
: Boularotounou 69. Lofos Strefi. Tel.210
882-3544
MAD
: 14 Syngrou. Makriyanni. Tel. 210
922-6694
Mo
Better:
Themotokleos and Koletti. Tel. 210
381-2981
Plan
B:
Lempesi 19. Arches Syngrou. Tel. 210
942-2737
Xorostasio
: Skouleniou 2. Klathmonos Square. Tel. 210
331-4330
Free-Style
122
: Doukisis Plakentias 122 and Panormou.
Ambelokipi.
Animal
: Kerameikou 51. Tel. 210 522-7870
Astron
: Taki 3. Psiri. Tel. 0977 469-356
Cafe
Folie:
156 Kiffisias. N Psihico. Tel.210 674-0264
Delight
: Ermou 116. Tel. 210 323-5330
Fidelio
: Ogigou 2 and Nauarachou Apostoli. Psiri.
Tel. 210 321-2977
Groovin
: Pratinou 80. Pangrati. Tel. 210 725-1738
Light
Love
Life:
Boutsadon 50. Gazi. Tel.210 342-4779
Loop
: Ag Asomaton Square. Thission. Tel. 210
324-6446
Muller
: Benaki 62. Exarchia. Tel. 210 383-0550
Nipiagogio
: Elasidon and Kleanthos 8. Gazi. Tel. 210
345-8534
Whisper
: Sina 19 and Skoufa. Tel. 210 364-1130
Zoo
: Michalokopoulou and Sebastias. Illissia.
Tel. 210 778-6672
House
Techno
Block
: Pigis 3 and Akadamias. Tel. 210 384-0205
Bossa
Nostra:
Aristophanous 22, Platia Iroon. Psiri. Tel.
0977 126417
City
Grove:
Bourbaki and Korizi 4. Makrianni. Tel. 210
924-0740
Garage
: Sygrou 115a. Fix. Tel. 210 924-8211
Macamba
: 22 Vouliagmenis. Tel. 210 924-9430
+Soda
: 161 Ermou. Thission. Tel. 210 345-6187
Playroom
: Akadamias 43. Tel. 210 364-5027
Venue(
The
Uptown):
Kiffisias and Sina 7. Marousi. Tel. 210
610-6869
U-Matic
(Future
Club):
Vouliagmenis 268. Tel. 210 971-6145
Mainstream
Clubs
Bareladiko Next
Generation
: Tefthidos 7. Peristeri. Tel. 210
578-2222
Camel
Club:
Iraklidon 74 and Peraios. Thissio. Tel. 210
347-6847
EXO
: Marko Mousouri 1. Mets. Tel. 210
923-5818
Hook
Planet:
Akti kondili 40. Ag Dinoysious. Pireaus. Tel.
210 461-9924
Kalua
: Amerikis 6. Syntagma. Tel. 210 360-8304
Loft
Loft
(Tonight)
: 215 Kiffisias. Marousi. Tel. 806-6802
Prime
Vision:
22 Vouliagmenis. N. Kosmos. Tel. 210
924-6688
Privilege
: Peraios 130 and Alkesonios. Gazi. Tel. 210
347-7311
Sabbia
Downtown:
Ermou 18. Tel. 210 324-3741
Sex
: Gravias 10. Pireaus. Tel. 210 412-6755
Space of
Sound:
Amerikis 2. Tel. 210 321-0900
Wild
Rose:
Panepistimiou 10. Tel. 210 364-2160
Questions?
Are you a club that wants to be listed or do you
want a link to your website Any of these clubs closed? In these difficult times it happens a lot and I would love to keep this page up to date. E-mail
me
For
Concerts and other performances see Summer
Events
See
also Alexia
Amvrazi's Nightlife Guide to Psiri
 Athens Bar Crawl
is a new service for up to date entertainment and fun opportunities
in the city sort of an educational meze-platter of bars and entertainment and a great way to visit the best bars of Athens while bringing your own friends along for the ride. The party goes on a daily basis, all year round currently, visiting more than 20 bars and clubs in the city - most of them located in the historical centre of Athens. Every night of the week they cover a different itinerary depending on the clients desires and current events. Visit unique Bars, authentic Pubs, cosy Coctail Lounges and finish the night
in some of Athens most happening clubs (a different one each
night!).Your entertaining guides will tell you about Athens nightlife,
interesting stories about the History of the place, and much more! For more information see www.athensbarcrawl.com
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