To say that my excitement was built up about this restaurant and then shattered would be an understatement. I had heard that the food was great and that there were lots of vegan options. Unfortunately, my experience at Masina was nothing short of disappointment. 

I will agree with those that think that the vibe at Masina is great. Because it is. The decor is lovely and speaks of Greek authenticity. As well, the staff at this restaurant do deserve credit for being lovely, inviting and attentive. However, that is where the positives end.

Upon entering Masina’s, I discovered that my options for food were extremely limited. Greek food has so many naturally vegan dishes that are extremely delicious, so I was very disappointed to find out that this restaurant did not have most of them. Dishes that I’ve grown to love over my last couple years spent in Greece, like Dolmades or Gigantes Plaki, were nowhere to be found. Instead, I settled on Greek salad without the feta, which can be found at (almost) any restaurant in Greece and it was pretty standard.

If you’re looking for a restaurant with ambience, you’ve got it in Sissifos. Located just under the Acropolis, Sissifos has a roof top patio overlooking the city of Athens. It’s magnificent. Picture this: the beautiful sun is setting over the city, the Acropolis lights up once it’s dark out and you are sitting enjoying your Greek delicacies in the midst of it all. 

The vegan food at Sissifos is delicious. It is as authentic as it gets with the menu boasting many vegan options. While most of them are side dishes, I recommend ordering a few sides and you will not leave hungry. The Greek salad is great (sans feta), the dolmades are heavenly (make sure you ask for the vegetarian version as they have a version with meat!), the Greek baked potatoes are to die for and their over giant beans are my absolute favorite! You must order the oven giant beans.