Earlier this year, the cream of the bar industry crop flocked to London for the much-anticipated announcement of the World's 50 Best Bars list 2017. Of the illustrious list of 50, the top 5 bars unsurprisingly all came from the renowned cocktail meccas of London and New York. What may have come as more of a surprise was the fact that Athens was the third-highest ranked city on the list and home to the 6th best bar in the world.
Nestled in an unassuming street in the vibrant centre of Athens, The Clumsies is an all-day cocktail bar that has steadily climbed its way up the World's Best list since its inception in 2012. Don't let the name fool you, there is nothing clumsy about the quality of cocktails, food or service offered at this slick Athens hip-spot.
Co-Owners and bartenders Vasilis Kyritsis and Nikos Bakoulis had an idea to create an all-day cocktail bar that would not only appeal to the high-volume style that Athenians are accustomed to, but would also provide quality and a sense of quirk that would also appeal to a discerning International audience.
Their philosophy is not only centred around creating a unique cocktail and food experience, but promoting interaction between the customer and bartender to encourage the exploration new tastes and flavours. Kyritsis shares "It was a risk starting out, but we believed in our concept and passion for quality. We knew we had something different to offer. We dreamed big and we opened a big space with something special. From day 1, we could see people enjoying their time at The Clumsies."
At The Clumsies, the motto is There is no elevator to success, you have to take the stairs. Indeed, the young and dynamic duo (and their team of bartenders, chefs and staff) have worked hard to etch their own spot on the world stage. The Clumsies has been recognised by the bar industry internationally, been invited to host pop-ups around the world, and in 2017 they hosted their own American Dream pop-up where bartenders from 5 of the top American cocktail bars served up world-class cocktails in the heart of Athens. The top bartenders from around the world have all come to agree, Athens has something very special to offer.
Kyritsis comments, "A lot of people in the industry are saying that Athens is one of the top 5 cities in the world. I think because not only can you now find amazing bars that are serving quality drinks, but also because Greek hospitality is not something that you can find easily in other countries. People say that when they come to Athens, it feels like home.”
When asked about their 2017 ranking on the list and what it means for The Clumsies, Kyritsis shares, "We are thrilled about this year's ranking, but for us the most important thing is not 6th place, it’s to keep our customers happy when they walk into The Clumsies. For us, this award represents something else - it means we made people happy, and that is the most important thing for us."
To learn more about The Clumsies, visit their website or Facebook page
The Clumsies
Praxitelous 30, Athina 105 61, Greece
