Athens' oldest distillery (1909) in the heart of Plaka, with floor-to-ceiling coloured bottles creating a magical amber glow. Sample ouzo, mastiha liqueur, and herb spirits straight from the barrel in a historic setting unchanged for over a century.
Brettos on Kydathinaion Street in the Plaka district of Athens is the city's oldest working distillery and one of the oldest bars in Greece, trading continuously since 1909. The interior has changed little in atmosphere over more than a century: floor-to-ceiling shelves and ceiling-height displays hold hundreds of bottles of coloured spirits and liqueurs — amber, crimson, green, and gold — lit from behind to produce a warm, stained-glass effect that transforms the narrow room into something approaching a cathedral of Greek spirits. Photographs of Greek politicians, artists, and cultural figures line every available wall surface, mapping over a hundred years of patronage. The crowd at Brettos is genuinely mixed: tourists who have sought it out as an Athens institution, local drinkers stopping in after dinner in the surrounding Plaka tavernas, and curious first-timers who find it by chance. Age spans widely; the no-pretension atmosphere and low price point make it welcoming to students and older visitors in equal measure. Dress code is entirely relaxed — this is a working distillery that happens to have bar stools, not a cocktail bar. The drinks programme is the defining purpose. Brettos produces its own ouzo, brandy, mastiha liqueur, kumquat liqueur, and several herbal spirits on-site; tasting shots of the house range are available for around €3–5 each, making it practical to sample several varieties across a single visit. Wine by the glass from Greek labels is also poured. Cocktail mixing is not offered; the experience is Greek spirits in their most direct form. Opening hours extend from the afternoon into the late evening, typically noon to midnight, with later hours through high summer. No cover charge applies and no minimum spend is required. The space accommodates perhaps thirty people, and queues form on warm weekend evenings when Plaka's post-dinner crowd gravitates here. Weekday afternoons are unhurried and ideal for a serious tasting session. Reservations are not taken; entry is walk-in only.
Good to know
- Signature
- Greek spirits and ouzo
Highlights
- Trading continuously since 1909 — Athens' oldest distillery and one of Greece's oldest bars
- Floor-to-ceiling backlit coloured spirit bottles create a warm amber-and-crimson interior unique in Plaka
- House-produced ouzo, mastiha, kumquat, and herbal spirits available to taste from around €3 per shot
- One of the most affordable nightlife stops in Plaka — accessible to all budgets without a minimum spend
- Historic photographs of Greek cultural and political figures covering every wall surface across more than a century
Tips for visiting
- Visit on a weekday afternoon for an unhurried tasting session with attentive service and no queue
- Ask to compare the house mastiha liqueur alongside the standard ouzo — two distinct pillars of Greek spirits culture
- Brettos is walk-in only; no reservations are taken, so arrive early on warm weekend evenings to avoid a queue
- Bring cash — card acceptance has historically been inconsistent at this traditional distillery bar
- The bar is on Kydathinaion Street in Plaka, a five-minute walk from Syntagma Square metro station
Frequently asked questions
What spirits does Brettos produce on-site?
Brettos produces its own ouzo, brandy, mastiha liqueur, kumquat liqueur, and a range of herbal spirits. Tasting shots are available from around €3–5 each, making it easy to sample several in a single visit.
Is Brettos primarily a tourist bar?
It draws both tourists and locals. The low price point and no-pretension atmosphere attract a genuinely mixed crowd, ranging from university students to older visitors and neighbourhood regulars.
Can reservations be made at Brettos?
No. Brettos is walk-in only. Weekday afternoons are the most relaxed time to visit; weekend evenings can see a short queue forming outside.
Does Brettos serve cocktails?
No. Brettos is a distillery bar focused on tasting Greek spirits neat or in simple serves. Mixed cocktails are not part of the offering.
What are the typical opening hours?
Brettos is generally open from noon to midnight, with the possibility of later closing in summer. Arriving in the early evening is a reliable window across the year.