Naif — Restaurant in Athens

We made the mistake of trying to have dinner at this place yesterday (Sat 15May21). We had to wait at the bar for a table to become available which was fine. When we were shown the menu, I noticed there were no vegan options (when you go into the Google Menu Highlights, they have a vegan moussaka) so I asked the bartender what vegan options they had. He disingenuously pointed me to the salads (because that is all we eat) and after being a few days in Greece, there are only so many salads you can have. So I told him I would like something else as everyone threw salads at me and he just said No. I asked him if they couldn’t make a pizza vegan to which he replied again, no, there is no pizza without cheese (he clearly has never heard of pizza rossa). He was so rude and so unhelpful we just left. We told the waitress about what the bartender had told us and she just shrugged. Not sure if he was the owner, manager or whatever but he is clearly the ultimate authority in the world for pizzas and vegan food. So if someone has a food allergy, women breastfeeding babies with allergies, vegans and anyone else who may need to remove some ingredient from the food they serve, be prepared to be treated rudely by His Majesty The All Knowing Food Expert and That Will Make Sure The Last Cube of Feta Cheese is Added to Your Greek Salad as He Will Not Tolerate Otherwise. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise because we went to Mother Vegan Cafe and the neighbourhood is full of other bars, cafes and restaurants and the vibe and options are far higher than where Naïf is located. Busy, cool, trendy streets packed with all the options of food you could ask for. Do yourself a favour and walk 10 minutes towards city centre and you will have tons of options where the...

Good food overall. I did enjoy my meal, but the carrot cake I didn’t really like. The cream cheese tasted like something else. I think whoever spread the cream cheese between the bread, use the same knife that they were using to prepare another meal.

I came a couple weeks ago on a Monday night. The only negative thing I have to say is if you are visiting from the US, just be mindful of what you are getting billed for. As I went to pay with my card, the waitress asked me to pay an additional amount to cover the cost of paying with a credit card. The additional amount ended up being 15%. I found that to be odd, but it was late and I was tired so I figured I would think about it later. I noticed she did not ask anyone else around me to pay an additional amount. Also, when I visited the restaurant again a few days ago and paid with my card, the server behind the bar did not request I pay an additional amount to cover the cost of paying with a credit card. It seems like the waitress from Monday night asked me to pay an additional amount to cover the cost of paying with a credit card, but really, it was a tip for her.

I’ve gone to several restaurants around the Athens area, and not once was I asked to pay extra to cover the cost of paying with a credit card. I even called my credit card company and they confirmed that I shouldn’t be charged extra just to pay with a credit card. If I’m correct, in Athens, businesses are required to have the capabilities for their customers to pay with a credit card. There are no additional fees for the consumer for doing that. Any additional fees would be with your credit card company. That’s it. This was...

Outstanding Breakfast – 100x Better Than the Grand Hyatt’s Overpriced Burger

I stumbled upon Naif Bistro just a 2-minute walk from the Grand Hyatt Athens, and I’m so glad I did. After an incredibly disappointing and overpriced meal at the hotel’s pool bar, Naif felt like a breath of fresh air — warm service, fantastic food, and prices that actually make sense.

I ordered their panini sandwich and French toast for breakfast, and honestly, both were incredible. The panini was made with fresh, high-quality ingredients — crispy on the outside, full of flavor on the inside — a true example of how simple food done right can be unforgettable. The French toast was equally impressive: rich, fluffy, and perfectly balanced in sweetness, with just the right amount of syrup and fruit.

And the best part? The entire meal cost less than a third of what I paid for a bland €32.50 burger at the Hyatt — and the quality here was 100 times better. Naif proves that you don’t need to break the bank for great food. This place has mastered the art of offering value, flavor, and authenticity all in one.

If you’re staying nearby — especially at the Hyatt — do yourself a favor and skip the pool bar. Come to Naif Bistro instead. You’ll get a better meal, better atmosphere, and you’ll walk away feeling like you actually got your money’s worth. Easily the best breakfast I...