Beer Time Athens, Greece

It was not only time for a beer when we headed to Beer Time our first night in Athens but also time for dinner. We arrived around 7pm and there were only a few people inside drinking. We were quickly seated upstairs and given beer and food menus. The restaurant was spread across three floors with plenty of outside seating as well. I didn't peek my head into the basement, but there were stairs leading down there to additional seating. The ground floor and upstairs were both small, and it seemed most patrons preferred to sit outside. I'm sure when the weather is better sitting outside is great, but while we were in Athens it was frequently rainy and chilly.

The beer menu featured six drafts, five of which are Greek micros, and the last one being Paulaner Hefeweizen. The bottle list fills in the gaps of the who's who of Greek craft beer, and this is possibly the best place in Greece, let alone Athens, to sample their growing beer scene. The food menu consists mainly of traditional Greek food for reasonable prices. I was able to quickly decide on the Septem 8th Day and the pork souvlaki. Our orders were placed, and I sat back and tried to make the best out of the terribly hard and not so comfortable wooden chair.

Classic pop music hits from the 50s to 90s danced through the air and pumped an upbeat atmosphere into the bar. People seemed to having a good time, and despite it getting busier, it wasn't loud. We quickly received our beer and not long after our food came. The service was extremely attentive and some of the best I've experienced in Europe. My food was great and while my souvlaki went okay with my IPA, I probably should have went with a less flavorful beer. As I reached the end of my food I took advantage of their happy hour special which runs from 6-8pm which is a buy one get one draft beer of equal or lesser price. I wasn't too interested in most of the drafts but figured I should try something new, so I went with the Zeos Pilsner.

I rarely go back somewhere while on vacation, but the last night we were in Athens our dinner plans fell through. We walked by the restaurant we were planning on eating at and after looking inside decided it just wasn't what we wanted. I graciously suggested we go back to Beer Time, because I had such a fun time there. The second trip on Saturday night was similar to the first. This time we sat downstairs, and while it was slightly less comfortable their due to the foot traffic and cooler temperatures from the open front of the restaurant, I still had a great time.

If you want to enjoy Greek craft beer in Athens then Beer Time is where you need to go. Prices are very reasonable for the drafts as they all cost between 4.40 and 5.50 for 33cl. Combine this with their buy one get one happy hour deal from 6-8pm and you could quickly try all five of their Greek draft beers. The service was exceptional and a pleasant departure from the generally laid back and aloof service I receive so often in Europe. The food was also quite tasty and made a good addition to my time there. I don't think Athens will be on to many people's beer vacation radar, but if you happen to go don't miss out on the opportunity to go to Beer Time.

Overall: 9/10

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About averageguysguidetobeer

Hi, I'm Colin, I love a good hoppy IPA, but I can find immense enjoyment in a solid session beer, imperial stout, quadrupel or a nostalgic beer from my past.