Miami Food Machine
Come experience delicious food in a funky setting with some of the city’s friendliest staff!
The Garden Bar boasts historical architecture with modern and tropical vibes.
For those who are fascinated with history, they might find it interesting to know that the street in which The Garden Bar is located, is one of the most historical streets in all of Thessaloniki.
And while the exterior may be old, everything inside is quite the contrary. With everything newly renovated, the interior design was copied from modern street art. From the moment I walked into The Garden Bar, I felt like I was in Miami or Cuba. So many colors! And that could have a lot to do with the hotel of course, but no one here is complaining. The ambiance is fun, comfortable and enjoyable.
Perfect for families, couples, friends or someone like me dining solo, you will feel at ease at every stage of your brunch. And the music? I love The Garden Bar if for no other reason than for their music. They play my favorite genre all day and night: 80’s. And yes, 80’s music is the best. So, if you’re like me, then you will be jamming along, lip syncing along and maybe even dancing along to the best tunes in American history.
Locals Love It
The bar has a large influx of locals and tourists as guests. But what may surprise you is that 70% of their clients are locals. And while they’re welcoming of anyone and everyone, the fact that so many locals visit the restaurant should clue you in to how good the place is. Considering that Thessaloniki is not just Greece’s youth capital, it’s also the capital of food in the country. This means that there is a plethora of choices at your disposal while in Thessaloniki. If that many locals are coming in with all those other choices to pick from, then you know The Garden Bar is doing something right.
Try Everything
While The Garden Bar’s menu is relatively small, their portions are not. Their most popular dish? The cheddar pancakes. The manager’s favorite dish? The Croque Madam. And if the gooey Oreo pancakes didn’t exist then the Croque Madam would be my favorite too. But those pancakes do exist, which is more proof that God loves us.
And their specialty? Kanaya eggs. A traditional Greek dish, it is made with fresh tomato sauce, fresh eggs, feta cheese and spring onions. The dish has been forgotten about in Greece for many years, but The Garden Bar has brought it back and to many a local Thessalonians’ delight.
Though they had several things that are worth mentioning, by the time this article is published, it’s very likely that they will have even more fantastic items to choose from. Including a new vegan menu that they were working on while I was visiting. Good news for vegans! And…they will also have some specialty ice cream. Wait for it…
The basis for these ice creams sound delicious, but they have come up with some very unique toppings. I’m sure you’re dying to know what they are. For example, dark chocolate with chili pepper. Mk. That sounds fine. Then they will have caramelized bacon…with maple syrup. Wait. Bacon? On ice cream? Alrighty. Ice cream and olive oil is another one that they’re introducing. Okay. They’ve lost me there. But while I protested that this couldn’t be human approved, the manager insisted that it is quite delicious. I guess I’ll just have to go back one day and try it for myself.
The Garden Bar’s Philosophy
Prices are average to the city, but you should bear in mind that all ingredients are local from around Thessaloniki.
The Garden Bar also has many signature cocktails – all of which I tried, thank you very much. It wasn’t me. The manager insisted! I love a man who brings me cocktails nonstop. Even without me having to ask him…
So what sets The Garden Bar apart from other restaurants in Thessaloniki? Their food, of course, but so much more. The manager is proud to tell me all the charitable things that their hotel does in order to give back to the community. For example, for those who are down on their luck and can’t afford coffee, they welcome them in and it’s on the house now and then. For the homeless, they take the leftover food from the night before and bring it to them in person so that they have a meal in their stomachs.
The Garden Bar also recycles everything. They offer free water to all of their guests, providing everyone with a glass bottle which they can fill up with filtered water themselves. All staff have been trained to communicate with deaf customers. They don’t use sign language, but they have prepared the team on how to help their hearing-impaired guests in case of an emergency. If for example there was ever a fire, they have designed certain lighting to flash in the restaurant so that the deaf guests can take appropriate action in order to exit the building safely.
Respect & Acceptance
Something else that The Garden Bar pride themselves on is that they insist their staff be comfortable and feel at home. Tips are split equally among all staff, the manager’s reasoning being that they are a team and work hard all together, not just as individuals. The restaurant is also pet-friendly and sell treats for dogs! For children they offer books for reading and coloring, and even have toys for them.
But the main objective at The Garden Bar, and at COLORS in general, is having respect for everyone. And I think that’s something we can all appreciate.
So the next time you’re at The Garden Bar, make sure to tell them Lisa sent you!
Need a massage before and/or after your meal? Head upstairs to the hotels spa, Massage. Me, and let them know Lisa sent you!
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