Updated October 2026
For a first date in Athens, try Acropolis Museum, Cine Paris, or A for Athens. Weekday evenings are calmer; on Friday and Saturday, book ahead where you can.
A first date in Athens is usually simple: a long coffee, a drink on a rooftop with the Acropolis in view, or a walk that ends at a taverna. Nobody rushes, and lingering at the table is part of the charm.
Here are ten real places for every budget, from free walks in the National Garden and on Lycabettus Hill to a night at a jazz club, plus three unusual ideas at the end.
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MuseumMakrygianni€€All ages
Open until 22:00 every Friday all year, with the glass-floored galleries and the Parthenon views at their best after dark. The restaurant upstairs stays open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, so dinner with a view can follow the visit. Tickets are €20.
Dionysiou Areopagitou 15, 117 42 Athens · Takes bookings
Open-air cinemaPlaka€All ages
A classic rooftop summer cinema in Plaka with the Acropolis lit up behind the screen, open from late April into autumn. Most films are shown in the original language with Greek subtitles, which makes it a lovely, low-pressure date.
Kydathineon 22, 105 58 Athens · Takes bookings
Rooftop barMonastiraki€€30s
A rooftop cocktail bar above Monastiraki Square with a straight view of the Acropolis, busiest around sunset. Go early for a spot at the railing; it is an easy, impressive first drink.
Miaouli 2-4, 105 54 Athens · Takes bookings
Wine barHistoric centre (near Syntagma)€€30s
A small wine bar with more than 200 Greek labels, many natural, and plenty by the glass, plus cheese and small plates. Open until 01:30 on Fridays and Saturdays, it is relaxed enough for a first date and the staff love to suggest something new.
Fokionos 2 & Petraki, 105 63 Athens · Takes bookings
Jazz clubMets€€€40+
An intimate jazz club that has hosted Greek and international musicians for decades, with seated tables close to the stage. Book a table for a special-occasion night out with live music.
Trivonianou 17, 116 36 Athens · Takes bookings
Hill and viewpointKolonaki€All ages
The highest point in central Athens, with a view over the whole city to the sea. Walk up the path through the pines or take the funicular from Kolonaki, which runs about every half hour, and time it for sunset.
Lycabettus Hill, 114 71 Athens (funicular from Aristippou Street, Kolonaki) · Walk-in
Historic stadiumPangrati€All ages
The marble stadium of the first modern Olympics, open every day from 8:00 to 19:00. Climb the marble seats together, then walk on through the National Garden or into Pangrati for coffee.
Vasileos Konstantinou Avenue, 116 35 Athens · Takes bookings
Cocktail barKoukaki€€30s
The city's original tiki bar, open since 2007 near the Acropolis Museum, with tropical cocktails, food and the occasional live gig in winter. Playful and unpretentious, it suits a fun second date.
Falirou 15, 117 42 Athens · Takes bookings
Cocktail barHistoric centre€€30s
One of the world's best-known cocktail bars, open all day across several rooms, with inventive drinks created in its own lab. Lively but comfortable, it is a reliable choice when you want to impress.
Praxitelous 30, 105 61 Athens · Takes bookings
ParkSyntagma€All ages
A 38-hectare former royal garden right behind Parliament, with shaded paths, ponds, a small lake and wild green parakeets in the palms. Free, central and calm, it is perfect for a walk-and-talk date, and it leads straight on to the Panathenaic Stadium and Pangrati.
Vasilissis Amalias Avenue 1, 105 57 Athens · Walk-in
Unusual places worth a special trip when you want a date nobody forgets.
Themed caféPsyrri€€All ages
A fairytale café whose whole street front and interior change with the seasons, from Halloween pumpkins to Christmas scenes, with over-the-top cakes to match. Silly, photogenic and a guaranteed conversation starter.
Karaiskaki 17, 105 54 Athens · Walk-in
Natural lake spaVouliagmeni (Athens Riviera)€€All ages
A brackish lake under a limestone cliff on the Athens Riviera, warm enough to swim in most of the year, with loungers and a café, open from 08:30 to 18:00. A daytime escape from the city that feels like a small holiday.
Lake Vouliagmeni, 166 71 Vouliagmeni · Takes bookings
Themed cocktail barHistoric centre€€All ages
A cocktail bar and café in an old arcade where it is Christmas all year, with fairy lights, ornaments and three linked rooms. Kitsch in the best way and a fun place for a drink when you want something different.
Kolokotroni 59B (Kourtaki Arcade), 105 60 Athens · Takes bookings
Popular places to meet people in Athens include Athens International Friends Game Night at Yellow Square (board game night), Nomad Hub Greece Saturday Social at 21 Grams (social meetup), and Athens Greek-English Exchange (language exchange). All of them are easy to visit alone or with friends.
Pick an indoor spot such as Acropolis Museum or Heteroclito. Both work well for a first date in any weather.
Open YesTonite and see who in Athens is going out tonight. Say hi, agree on a time and meet at one of the places on this page.
Checked October 2026. Opening hours and prices change, so call or check the website before you go.
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