The Bahamas locals know all about Acropolis Cafe & Bakery, an authentic Greek cafe in Nassau. If you’re looking for a highly recommended breakfast or lunch spot on the island, this is THE place. This popular breakfast joint recently expanded to offer a whole lot more. I discovered this restaurant/bakery last Spring, thanks to good friends Christopher and Christian who took me there.
It’s easy to find. If coming from Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island, just cross the Sir Sidney Poitier bridge, drive straight up Mackey Street, then turn right on Madeira Street. The white and blue building with the distinctive “A” logo is hard to miss.
When I visited for the first time, the porch dining area was buzzing with both late breakfast and early lunch diners. Inside, it’s spacious with a mural depicting a blended Greek and Bahamian scene dominating one wall. If it weren’t for the pandemic, I’m sure the main space would have been filled with restaurant tables. Instead, it’s occupied by a long counter. Behind it were multiple staff busy preparing and expediting both dine in and to-go orders, cheerfully delivering on the promise of satisfying meals.
The main room flows right into a bakery and coffee shoppe. Delicious goodies were on display: freshly baked breads, cakes, pastries, and desserts. At the time, it was still taking shape but the soon-to-open coffee lounge was already showing hints of cuteness. Now with Greek chef Kosta on their team, they offer even more exclusive bread and pastries baked on site.
I had the pleasure of meeting George Dimopoulos and his wife Athena Adderley, the owners and creative genius behind Acropolis Cafe. They explained how they have operationally adapted to COVID-19 protocols. But pandemic or not, they use Aquapure water (purified drinking water) to cook everything and they perform a once-a-month deep clean. This place is spotless.
They led me upstairs where they showed me stunning tables with custom-built tops. Each tabletop was laden with thoughtfully selected art (again a mix of Bahamian and Greek scenery), printed and sealed with epoxy. Every beautiful frame was proudly built by George himself. The tailor-made tables definitely highlight the second floor's dining set-up.
The outdoor patio, perfect for dining al fresco, is shaded by a white pergola and brightly embroidered by magenta bougainvillea. Santorini white and blue colors add a touch of Greece. George and Athena envision this patio to someday become a lovely dinner locale, under the glow of a string of lights. But for now, the restaurant is open only until 5pm, Monday through Saturday.
I went back downstairs to examine the extensive menu. They have everything! For breakfast, they serve traditional fare like omelettes, breakfast sandwiches, pancakes and waffles. The Bahamian breakfast specialty called Chicken Souse, served with Johnny cakes or grits, is available only on Saturdays.
For lunch, they feature all kinds of gyros-- lamb, chicken, pork, veggie, shrimp, salmon, or conch-- name it! They offer Souvlaki or skewers, grilled chicken or pork chops, and seafood. They also have a variety of salads, sandwiches, and burgers.
Their burgers are made from quality meat like the Certified Angus Beef Burgers as well as Premium Lamb Burgers, which are also made by hand, not from frozen patties. Now they have homemade pizzas available on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. The best part is that with each order, you get a generous serving for a reasonable price. And the food is really yummy!
I’ve been back to Acropolis Cafe for lunch several times, even taking my hubby and friends with me. They all agree that the food is really good.
“I can have these everyday,” my husband gushed over the French fries that came with his gyro. “They’re crispy and tasty.”
My favorite is the shrimp souvlaki— about a half dozen grilled jumbo shrimp jampacked on a skewer. You get two (two!) skewers of succulent shrimp plus tzatziki sauce and pita bread. So much food and oh, so good!
I also tried their popular Grilled Chicken. A half order gave me a big portion, with five pieces of chicken piled high on the plate. For sides, I picked the steamed veggies. I thought was a lot but it was so good, I cleaned my plate.
Before leaving, I typically browse the bakery display, looking for sweets to take home. The first time I bought bakery items here, my pastry box was sealed with a sticker that said, “Pretty Things Inside.” How can you not go home happy?
But more than pretty and yummy things inside this place, you’ll recognize that everything here is done graciously and with care. You’ll find truth in their claim that the special ingredient in their every dish… is love.