NKD: The Story Behind One of Athens’ Most Daring Bars

In the heart of Athens, NKD is allowing us to simply enjoy the moment.
Born from a dream, rebuilt more than once, and driven by a bold philosophy that blends sustainability, creativity, and hospitality, this hybrid space is redefining a quality bar expericnce. Behind its crystal-clear cocktails, reinvented Greek dishes, and electrifying atmosphere lies a radical vision of connection and reinvention.
Welcome to a bar that dares to do things differently.

A look inside the journey of Naked Bar (NKD)

For over a decade, Thanos and Christina have been partners in both life and business. Their journey began in the trenches of the hospitality industry—bartending, waiting tables, washing dishes—gaining hands-on experience in bars across Athens and Mykonos.

From dream to (harsh) reality

Each winter, after the summer season in Mykonos, the couple travelled the world in search of inspiration. Upon returning to Athens, they would walk the city, scouting for the perfect location to bring their dream bar to life. Eventually, they stumbled upon a neglected space that would become the foundation of their vision.

The transformation was radical. They gutted the interior, moved the bar, rewired the entire venue, and rebuilt it from scratch. In just 53 days, Naked Bar opened its doors—two days before Christmas—and was packed from day one. The original concept was bold and vibrant, with red neon lights, a DJ booth inside the bar, and a festive, high-energy atmosphere.

Despite early success, challenges soon followed. A conflict with a business partner who held 50% of the shares led to a nine-month legal and financial struggle. Once resolved, another obstacle emerged: the city of Athens began renovating the square outside the bar, forcing a 25-day closure and nine months of disruption.

Rather than give up, Thanos and Christina saw an opportunity to start fresh. They rebranded the bar as NKD, redesigned the space, and built a creative lab—a second home where they could experiment, host masterclasses, and prepare everything in-house.

From Harvest to Highball: A Barter-Based Partnership

As part of its commitment to sustainability and local collaboration, NKD partners with Eumelia (means harmony in Greek), a pioneering biodynamic farm located in the Peloponnese. Known for its regenerative agricultural practices and off-grid philosophy, Eumelia supplies NKD with seasonal, organic ingredients. In return, the NKD team supports the farm through hands-on harvesting and community events, creating a unique exchange of services rooted in shared values of ecology, creativity, and authenticity.

NKD also created Greece’s first microgreens lab, growing their own greens for use in dishes and cocktails. Sustainability is a core value, supported by a detailed back-office system that tracks every ingredient, ensuring minimal waste and maximum efficiency.

Cultivating Connections

At NKD, the guiding ethos blends artistic expression with a conscious, purpose-driven approach to hospitality.

Inspired by the idea of being “naked,” the bar embraces transparency, authenticity, and bold self-expression.
Every element—from the drinks to the design—is crafted to strip away the unnecessary and highlight what truly matters: flavour, experience, and connection.

NKD champions sustainability not as a trend, but as a way of life. Through partnerships like the one with Eumelia Farm, and innovations like their microgreens lab, the team redefines what it means to be a modern bar—local, circular, and collaborative.

Their cocktail menu reflects this ethos: minimalist in appearance, maximalist in technique and intention. Whether it’s a clarified Bloody Mary or a carob-infused Old Fashioned, each drink is a canvas for storytelling, rooted in Greek culture and global inspiration.

Above all, NKD is a welcoming space—a “white canvas” for guests, staff, and collaborators to explore, celebrate, and create without filters.

The Cocktail Menu: Discover & Uncover

NKD’s cocktail menu, titled Discover & Uncover, is divided into two categories:

Discover: Crystal-clear drinks that appear like water but surprise with complex flavours.
Uncover: Colourful, expressive cocktails where the main ingredient is used both in the drink and the garnish.

The menu is designed like a fashion magazine, reflecting NKD’s philosophy of raw creativity and sensory exploration.

The menu is organised by spirits: agave, vodka, gin, rum, whiskey.

🥃 1. Mandarine Tequila Sunrise (Uncover)

Base: Mezcal / tequila + Luxardo aperitivo

Twist: Replaces orange juice with kumquat liqueur and a citrus soda

Highlight: Uses house-made pomegranate molasses from 200 kg of hand-harvested fruit

Inspiration: A reinterpretation of the classic Tequila Sunrise with a Greek seasonal touch

🍹 2. Spicy Mango Paloma (Discover)

Base: Mezcal / tequila

Twist: House-made soda from mango, chili, and Florina peppers

Sustainability: Leftover peppers are dehydrated and used as a salted rim

Visual: Transparent drink with smoky, spicy notes

🍸 3. Pornstar Maracuja (Uncover)

Base: Vodka

Twist: Uses maracuja (passionfruit cousin) and a traditional Greek vanilla sweet called “vanilla submarine”

Presentation: Served with sparkling wine, mimicking the classic Pornstar Martini but with Greek nostalgia

🍓 4. Strawberry Bloody Mary (Discover)

Base: Vodka distilled with Campari and Bloody Mary ingredients (celery, cucumber, tomato, Tabasco, etc.) and Luxardo bitter

Twist: Clarified with fresh strawberries

Garnish: A fake cherry tomato made from leftover pulp

Visual: Clear drink with a savory, spicy profile

🥝 5. Kiwi G&T (Uncover)

Base: Gin and tonic with Neroli

Twist: Clarified kiwi juice and bitter orange leaves harvested from trees in front of the bar

Sustainability: Leftover kiwi pulp turned into sour chips

Balance: Bitter, sweet, and sour elements in harmony

🍏 6. Apple (not) Martini (Discover)

Base: Gin and roots mastiha

Twist: Clarified green apple and verbena syrup

Surprise Element: Served transparent, with green apple liqueur frozen into the ice cube

Inspiration: A playful take on the classic Appletini

🍍 7. Pineapple Tai (Mai Tai Twist) (Uncover)

Base: Rum
Twist: Pineapple ketchup and granola for nutty notes
Technique: Ketchup made from pineapple and mushrooms
Sustainability: Juice used in the drink, solids used for garnish

🍌 8. N K D-aiquiri (Frozen Style) (Discover)

Base: White rum

Twist: Distilled cacao, banana, tonka, and cascara (coffee cherry)

Garnish: Banana-lime powder and an edible banana-straw hybrid

Inspiration: A tropical, dessert-like experience

🥃 9. Scotch (& not) soda (Greek Buzuki Night Tribute) (Uncover)

Base: Whiskey

Twist: House-made clarified cola with lime

Inspiration: A nod to Greek nightlife where whiskey and cola were staples

Visual: Served in a classic Coca-Cola glass with a red hue

🍯 10. Carob Old Fashioned (Uncover) (my personal favourite)

Base: Whiskey
Twist: Carob “honey” made from bread waste and toasted corn
Inspiration: A Greek-Irish fusion with deep, earthy sweetness
Sustainability: Uses kitchen byproducts to create a rich, molasses-like syrup

The cocktail menu, while technically sophisticated, also caters to local tastes: Athenians are known for their sweet tooth, and many of NKD’s creations lean toward the sweeter side—playful, approachable, and indulgent without being overwhelming.

In a city like Athens—where music is a vital part of social life—bars are expected to deliver not only great drinks but also a strong musical identity.

NKD embraces this fully, with a custom-built DJ booth and a high-quality sound system that reflects the Athenian passion for rhythm, nightlife, and connection.

A Greek Table, Reimagined

NKD’s food philosophy mirrors its approach to cocktails: rooted in tradition, elevated with creativity, and guided by sustainability. The menu is a modern take on Greek comfort food, reinterpreted in the form of tapas-style dishes designed for sharing. Classic recipes like spanakopita, moussaka, and souvlaki are deconstructed and rebuilt with playful twists—think spinach pie nachos with burnt feta, or pork gyros served taco-style in mini pitas.

The ingredients are seasonal and often sourced through NKD’s partnership with the biodynamic Eumelia farm, while the bar’s own microgreens lab supplies fresh garnishes and salad bases. The result is a menu that feels both familiar and surprising—deeply Greek, yet globally inspired.

The food at NKD is designed to complement the drinks, the music, and the mood—flavourful, fun, and always a little unexpected. Must try the Moussaka croquettes!

The bar has also earned a strong reputation for its coffee, importing 1.5 tons of Arabica beans each year—a commitment that’s easy to appreciate once you’ve tasted a cup.

NKD is more than a bar—it’s a living, breathing expression of Athens’ evolving cultural scene. With its bold cocktails, reimagined Greek cuisine, deep commitment to sustainability, and a soundtrack that keeps the city dancing, it captures the spirit of a generation that values both tradition and transformation. Whether you’re there for a morning coffee, a midday brunch, or a late-night cocktail, NKD invites you to slow down, savour the moment, and experience hospitality in its most creative form. In a city that never stops moving, NKD is a place that dares to pause, reflect, and reinvent—again and again.