NiDo

They say “never change a winning team” and the NiDo team’s credentials speak for themselves. After several years of successfully running Simul, one of my favourite restaurants in Athens, they have gone on to create a grastro-bar where one can relax after work with funky bites, good wines and fun music.

Nido in Spanish means “nest”, “a place to hide”, and the whole layout of the space does convey that feeling. It’s intimate yet funky and playful, with a nice mix of industrial and vintage details, including an imposing neon light wall fixture that sets the tone as soon as you step in. We had a seat at the table by the window that overlooks the street and enjoyed a couple of cocktails while enjoying the music and browsing the menu.

The dishes here are meant to be shared and their flavours have influences from around the world. I wouldn’t necessarily call them tapas; they are rather small bites to accompany your wine (there are over 100 different labels on offer) or cocktail. We started with the oysters which were fantastic, especially the one with chicken skin and dashi. From the cold dishes, we also loved the beef tartare with bonito mayo, caramelised onions and porcini powder. The milk bread was delightful too – warm, moist and accompanied by beurre noisette and kimchi butter. We were less excited by the yakitory-style skewers: both the cauliflower with wasabi-kombu vinaigrette and the one with mussels and snails sounded interesting but could use with a bit more seasoning. The menu changes depending on the season and what’s available on the market, so I’m curious to see what the chefs come up with.

If you’re looking for a cool place for after-work drinks, a light dinner between friends or a date spot in the area of Kolonaki, NiDo is a good choice. It’s not the cheapest option but the dishes and overall vibe make up for it. Give it a go and let me know here or on Instagram how you liked it!

INFO

Address: Leventi 5, 106 73 Athens, Greece

Telephone: +30 210 7250226

Website