Brettos

Great for photos.

In my wanderings around Athens, I came across a cool little bar called Brettos. From the street my eyes were immediately drawn inside by the colourful wall of brightly lit bottles. Once inside Brettos, I perched myself on one of the old timber bar stools and marvelled at wall to wall displays. The bar itself is very old world, with a rustic fit out and interesting objects scattered about the place. The bar has been in this spot since , making it just over a century old and apparently not much has changed inside this building since then. At this point the barman comes over to say hello and hands me the extensive drinks menu. Narrowing the choice down is not going to be an easy feat!

Brettos

With its walls of colorful glass bottles, this charming little bar can be elusive—nestled deep in downtown Athens, in the warren of streets that make up the Plaka. Day or night, Brettos pronounced Vrettos in Greek is frequented by locals and tourists alike—the oldest distillery in Athens. Who knows where that first sip might lead? Ouzo was something I wanted to try, as it is for many first-time visitors to Greece , but stumbling upon Brettos was definitely a surprise treat. This is the oldest distillery in Athens, where both locals and travelers stop in to drink homemade ouzo, brandy, and liqueurs. We sat at the bar and drank ouzo, then moved on to sampling liqueurs in a variety of flavors. I will always remember the banana liqueur as being my favorite that day. There were so many colorful liqueurs, more than 36 flavors waiting to come down off the wall and each poured in a glass to try. It was hard to stop at only a few to leave and continue on our way to the Acropolis. Enjoying some drinks at the Brettos distillery and bar was not a planned stop on our trip. But should I ever return to Athens a second time, it definitely will be, and is a memorable spot to have your own first glass of ouzo. With countless options, it is impossible to go wrong. We swung by around 3 pm on a Wednesday and enjoyed the always unbeatable Greek hospitality. The shop has a wall of century-old whiskey and brandy barrels alongside shelves clad with multi-colored liquors. I recommend their coffee liquor, but they also specialize in citrus flavors.

Great atmosphere. Red or white - extremely worth it.

Michail Brettos started the business in the early 20th century; he produced ouzo , as well as brandy and a selection of liqueurs, by using old recipes from the ancient Greek city of Smyrna, in modern-day Turkey. Brettos operated the distillery for 60 years in two locations in Athens before selling it; today, the current owner is Ioannis Papadonikolakis, who decided to maintain the authentic charm of the place. And he has clearly succeeded. As soon as you step inside Brettos , you will be amazed by the wall adorned with colorful glass liqueur bottles and impressive original wooden barrels Michail Brettos used for ouzo keep your eyes open to spot the original cauldron used for the distillation. But besides the picture-perfect interior, Brettos is also where you can enjoy some authentic ouzo or over 50 different types of liqueur. The most popular flavors chosen by locals and visitors alike include mastiha definitely not surprising , limoncello, watermelon, peppermint, orange, mango, coffee, and coconut. Those into harder drinks can opt for the original brandy produced by Brettos or one of the original cocktails made from the liqueurs available in the store, as well as over labels of Greek wines.

Michail Brettos started the business in the early 20th century; he produced ouzo , as well as brandy and a selection of liqueurs, by using old recipes from the ancient Greek city of Smyrna, in modern-day Turkey. Brettos operated the distillery for 60 years in two locations in Athens before selling it; today, the current owner is Ioannis Papadonikolakis, who decided to maintain the authentic charm of the place. And he has clearly succeeded. As soon as you step inside Brettos , you will be amazed by the wall adorned with colorful glass liqueur bottles and impressive original wooden barrels Michail Brettos used for ouzo keep your eyes open to spot the original cauldron used for the distillation. But besides the picture-perfect interior, Brettos is also where you can enjoy some authentic ouzo or over 50 different types of liqueur. The most popular flavors chosen by locals and visitors alike include mastiha definitely not surprising , limoncello, watermelon, peppermint, orange, mango, coffee, and coconut. Those into harder drinks can opt for the original brandy produced by Brettos or one of the original cocktails made from the liqueurs available in the store, as well as over labels of Greek wines. Since all the liqueur and brandy recipes are original and date back to the 19th century, you are drinking history at Brettos, though on a sadder note, given the current low demand, production has been relocated elsewhere.

Brettos

Its founder, Michail Brettos, produced ouzo -- Greece's most popular drink -- in the distillery, as well as brandy, sherry, peppermint, mastic and citron liqueur, faithfully following ancestral recipes from the ancient Greek city of Smyrna. After running Brettos -- in two different locations in the heart of Athens -- for 60 years, its original owner sold it to Aggelos Anastasiadis and Dimitris Zorotiades, who then sold it to its current owner, Ioannis Papadonikolakis. The wooden barrels that Michail Brettos used to store his ouzo and brandy still line the wall -- Papadonikolakis was keen on maintaining the original character of the store. Saraidari says that the Brettos distillery produces ouzo, tsipouro, raki, rakomelo and brandy.

Maple motors

Batida de Coco Liqueur. TRY " parfait d'amour"! The best place to taste homemade liqueurs. If you find yourself wandering around the Plaka area, then make sure you pop into Brettos for a unique Greek drinking experience. Huge variety of wines and spirits. Katerina Komninou January 12, Literally the best place to be and try all these different liquers! They have so many different liqueurs and they are so tasty. Coconut Liqueur. Kumquat Liqueur. Great for photos.. They have their own produce of liquors. We swung by around 3 pm on a Wednesday and enjoyed the always unbeatable Greek hospitality. Those into harder drinks can opt for the original brandy produced by Brettos or one of the original cocktails made from the liqueurs available in the store, as well as over labels of Greek wines. No View Payload.

Our world famous ouzo in 5 different labels.

Thanks for sharing! Went on a Saturday night, place was packed. Batida de Coco Liqueur. Filter: liqueurs trendy good for dates rakomelo casual good for singles bar restaurants great value wifi roses mezzes cute homemade food liquor crowded coffee tropical drinks music friendly staff 15 more. Colourful and cosy, Brettos was established in and is known for its friendly welcome. Limoncello Liqueur. Who knows where that first sip might lead? Great cocktails and service. Trending News. All that home made liqueurs should be tried. Grab a drink after a long afternoon of sightseeing I read about Brettos in highlights on AFAR and just happened upon it while wandering the Plaka, the neighborhood at the foot of the Acropolis with its twisting, intricate streets. They also serve wine , beer and cigars Smoking is allowed TRY " parfait d'amour"! Your cart is empty Continue shopping.