Baba Au Rum is one of the longest standing cocktail joints in Athens, under the ever watchful eye of owner Thanos Prunarus. The bar was built by hand, to his exacting specifications and embodies a tropical, Polynesian vibe with mid century design references throughout. From the wood panelled walls to the retro wallpaper, this well-considered space is warmly lit – perfect for spending an evening with friends. Whether sat at the bar, nestled into the sofas or standing on the street outside – this home-from-home atmosphere is a rare treat.

The cocktail list takes a full year to put together, with ideas and input from the entire team layering into each and every drink – before they are individually soft launched for a week of service to evaluate their suitability to the menu overall. This is obviously a very beneficial process, as the cocktails here were cited by our Anonymous Reviewers as a real highlight, with drinks so impressive that they would return to order them again.

The same care is also extended to their other drinks offerings – alongside their incredible rum selection, their small but perfectly formed wine list features bottles from local Greek producers and their Tropical Ale is a pale ale filled with tropical aromas specially created with local Athenian craft beer company. It’s also worth noting they pour Guinness on draft.

Behind the scenes, they have a state of the art laboratory with equipment to make many of their homemade ingredients – from sous vide to centrifuge as well as oak barrels for aging certain spirits themselves. This lab and the bar are often open for hands-on training for young people in order to promote the hospitality industry and attract new talent. 

The bar team here are incredibly passionate and spend much time together – both in and out of the bar. This starts with a coffee and pastry together before work but they also travel extensively, hosting guest shifts and masterclasses with other like-minded bars around the world and ensure that the distinctive aesthetic of Baba Au Rum is showcased globally. In fact, if you’re looking to take a slice of Baba home with you – you can, with their glassware, artwork and even socks available to buy.

The sound track is carefully curated to elevate the mood – with an eclectic list of old school funk and soul, 50s jazz, rock and roll or tropical vibes from the Caribbean. The music never overpowers, allowing easy conversations – though this bar is often reassuringly busy, regardless of the day of the week or the time of the evening.