Eleftherios Venizelos International (ATH) is Athens's only commercial airport and operates a single main terminal with extra-Schengen and Schengen wings. The drinking story revolves around Aegean Airlines, the country's flag carrier and a Star Alliance member — the Aegean Lounge in the extra-Schengen wing runs the best Greek wine programme available at any airport on earth, with Assyrtiko from Santorini, Xinomavro from Naoussa, and the local Athenian retsina if you're brave. The lounge also pours proper ouzo (Tsipouro Tirnavou, Plomari) by the glass and a small mastiha programme.
The cheat code at ATH is the Sofitel Athens Airport, directly attached to the terminal by walkway — its bar pours proper Greek wines and runs a small but credible cocktail programme. The Goldair Lounge near gate B is the Priority Pass option for non-Star Alliance pax. If you've got 90 minutes pre-airport, the metro from the airport to Syntagma takes 38 minutes; A for Athens rooftop bar is twelve minutes' walk from there for sunset views over the Acropolis.
By terminal, ranked
Plays for Athens Airport: post-security, pre-security, lounges, and the airport-hotel cheat code.
Better drinking in Athens proper
Skip the airport entirely. These rooms are worth the cab, even with luggage.
The Friday Pour
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