The gay and lesbian scene in Athens is fairly low-key. In Greece, the weekly publications Athinorama and Time Out often list gay bars, discos, and special events in the nightlife section. Get-togethers are sometimes advertised in the English-language press, such as the weekly Athens News. Information is also available from the Greek national gay and lesbian organization (EOK; tel. 210/253-7333; www.eok.gr). You can also look for the Greek publication Deon Magazine (tel. 210/953-6479; www.deon.gr) or surf the Web at www.gaygreece.gr. Gay Travel Greece, at 377 Syngrou Ave. in central Athens (tel. 210/948-4385), specializes, as its name proclaims, in travel for gay and lesbian visitors.
Gay and lesbian travelers will not encounter difficulties at any Athenian hotel, but one with a largely gay and lesbian clientele is 41-room Hotel Rio Athens (www.hotel-rio.gr), at 13 Odysseos off Karaiskaki Square. The owners list themselves in gay guides as "bisexual"; the hotel is in a nicely restored neoclassical building.
Similarly, almost all Athenian bars, dance joints, and restaurants are user-friendly for gay and lesbian travelers. We list phone numbers at places where the phone is sometimes answered. Alekos Island, 41 Sarri, and Bee, 6 Miaouli (tel. 210/321-2624), are both popular gay bars in Psirri. Fou Club, 8 Keleou near Omonia Square (tel. 210/346-6800), is a good place to dance. Cafes popular with many gay and lesbian Greeks are Café de Capo, 1 Tsakalof in Kolonaki (tel. 210/243-3902), daily from 9am to 1am; and Kirki Café, 31 Apostolou Pavlou near Thission, open Wednesday to Sunday 11am to 2am.
Porta, 10 Phalirou (tel. 210/924-3858), and Fairytale, 25 Kolleti (tel. 210/330-1763), are well-established lesbian bars.
Koukles, 2 Zan Moreas, Koukaki (tel. 210/924-8989) is closed Monday and Tuesday. Lambda, 15 Lembesi near Syntagma Square (tel. 210/922-4202), is perhaps the best known gay hangout in Athens. Both places sometimes have drag shows.
