Category Archives: Eat & Drink

Get Ready to Love Ypsilon!

YPSILON

Say hello to Ypsilon, the newest hotspot that’s more than just a place to grab a coffee or a drink – it’s an experience, and trust me, you’re going to want to check it out.

Tucked away at Edessis 5 in the charming Ano Ladadika, Ypsilon flung its doors open in late August 2017, and it’s already buzzing with energy. What makes it so special? Well, for starters, it’s housed in the gorgeous, historic Kyrtsi Mansion, a neoclassical beauty that’s been standing proud for about 150 years. Imagine sipping your coffee in a building that’s seen generations of Thessaloniki life – pretty cool, right?

The masterminds behind Ypsilon wanted “something different,” and they absolutely nailed it. This isn’t just your average cafe or bar; it’s a dynamic space where art, culture, and good times collide.

What’s inside this historical gem?

  • The Ground Floor: This is where the magic truly unfolds for us visitors! Step in for some seriously good specialty coffee, refreshing drinks, and a soon-to-be-unveiled food menu that we’re all eagerly anticipating. The vibe is effortlessly cool, with unique design touches that you’ll just have to see for yourself. Plus, there’s even a little retail corner if you’re looking for something pretty to take home.
  • The First Floor: If you’re a digital nomad, a creative soul, or just need a quiet spot to get things done, the upper level is designed as a co-working space for open collaboration. How amazing is that?
  • More Than Just a Spot: Ypsilon is set to be a hub for artistic events and diverse happenings. So keep an eye on their Facebook page and Instagram for upcoming cool stuff!

One of the things I truly love about Thessaloniki is how it blends the old with the new, and Ypsilon is a perfect example of that. It respects its rich history while bringing a fresh, modern twist to our city’s scene. Plus, kudos to them for making it accessible for everyone!

Ypsilon just gave us a great start of new season! It is definitely my new favorite office break & after work drinks spot, as it is super close to my office. So, next time you’re wandering through Ladadika, make sure to pop into Ypsilon. Whether you’re looking for a chill coffee spot, a vibrant evening drink, or just want to soak in some fantastic local atmosphere, Ypsilon is ready to welcome you. I’ve got a feeling this place is going to be a new Thessaloniki favorite!

  • ypsilon.com.gr
  • EDESSIS 5, THESSALONÍKI, GREECE
  • INFO@YPSILON.COM.GR
  • 231 053 0480

Marea

unnamed-6New seafood restaurant in town, and it is called Marea ! My friends and I visited it last month during the cold weather to prepare ourselves mentally for summer.

It is owned by the team of Glykanissos, a well known restaurant for its top quality, so we had high expectations for this one ! Marea managed to exceed our expectations as the food and service were simply excellent.

You will find a big selection of fish as well as risotto, linguini with shrimps, gnocchi with crawfish and many excellent starters, as well as a massive wine list.

I saved the best for last, the dessert ! As a chocolate lover myself, the chocolate soufflé is a reason on its own for me to get back ! I have a video also but some people hated me after posting it so I ‘ll just share the photo with you !

Where : Lori Margariti 13

Kourbeti

As we prepare to say goodbye to summer, we try to enjoy the last summer nights as much as possible.

A friend was visiting from London for the weekend and we wanted to eat somewhere old style + trendy ! What a combination is this, you are probably wondering, does it even exist ?

Yes it does exist, in Kourbeti, a cool new tavern in Ladadika. It opened exactly one year ago, I know because I was there, and we had a lot of fun! The food is typical greek with a twist. I particularly love their fried potatoes and smashed cheese (chtypiti), but everything else I tried was also delicious!

The environment is very relaxed and super friendly. If you go at night I suggest you go before 9 otherwise it might be difficult to find a table as it is quite small !

Where : Vaiou & Lycourgou

Chilai

chAugust in the city, is only good if you have already taken at least a short break to the beach. It is also good if you discover places that make you forget you are in the city.

I think Chilai does this, despite being just steps away from the Tsimiski buzz. It opened last May and was a sure hit. It literally transformed the quiet till then street of Agiou Mina, into an island alley.

It is a nice place for a cool coffee during the day but also great choice for long cocktail nights ! It also has a very elegant interior so I am sure it will be a winter hit as well !

Where : Agiou Mina 4

Tattooligans

Although I am not much of a tattoo person myself, I know many of you are and Tattooligans might be one of the reasons you visit Thessaloniki.

“Tattooligans Tattoo Studio” was founded in 1999. Its initial name was “Magic Needles” which remained until 2004, when it was finally changed to “Tattooligans”.
In the last 5 years, the “Tattooligans” have been traveling around the world and participating in the biggest and most important Tattoo conventions and contests. They have won over 80 international awards, among the most ” powerful ” and recognized artists of the Tattooing world scene.

gmEach artist of “Tattooligans” draws specific designs, and each one of them “hits” only those designs that belong to his specific kind.
These are the Design Categories of each artist:
George Mavridis: Realistic
Agios: Realistic, Japanese, Fonts, Cover up
Bogatinis: Fonts, Tribals, Maori
Nast2: New Traditional, New School, Realistic
Dovas: New Traditional, Old School & New School
Peros: Fonts, New School

The owner, George Mavridis has become widely known to non-tattoo fanatics as well thanks to the adventurous tv show “World Party”. The local community really loves him for his authentic character and his love for animals, especially his (also famous) dog, Molly.

The studio recently moved to this new address on the hip Valaoritou area, where you can also go to just have a drink or coffee at the cafe in the ground floor.

The info on the studio + artists was taken from their Facebook page.

Where : Siggrou 9

Akadimia

ακWhy oh why did I not discover this sooner ?  You know how sometimes you just ignore things or places just in front of your nose ? This is what happened with me and Akadimia restaurant.

It is located in one of the most beautiful streets of the city – Agiou Mina. In the spring and summer the bitter orange trees smell everywhere around. I knew that at the back side of the restaurant was a small yard and was planning to visit at some point. Well the time was right when a friend was visiting and we wanted to go somewhere special that none of us had been before.

Akadimia is a fantastic experience overall, with exquisite food and very friendly but impeccable service. I highly recommend it for a relaxed and high quality dinner.

Where : Agiou Mina 3

ΙΓΓΛΙΣ ( english )

Yigges, that is correct the greek name of this place means english. This is one of (if not THE) most historical taverns of the city. It first opened in 1914 and moved to its current location in Ano Poli in the 60’s. It has a very long history as you can imagine, as it changed owners and chefs.

It is also a nice place to celebrate spring, since the yard and flowers make this a hidden city gem.

It is popular for the food, wine and fairytale atmosphere. The food is a successful mix of old and new recipes and flavours. The location is simply amazing. If you want to escape the city buzz, you can loose yourself here in a different era. It might be a bit hard to find, so follow your map.  It is also very hard to park, so I suggest you go by foot.

Where : Irodotou 32, Ano Poli

 

The Dubliner

dubl

This place describes itself as the only 100% Genuine Irish Bar and Restaurant in Thessaloniki and it is actually true !

It is owned by Irish people, and the style and feeling is totally Irish. Ok, I’ve never been to Ireland but it reminds me a lot of a classic English pub so I am sure it is pretty close to the real thing. I also have the impression, correct me if I am wrong, that Irish people have a similar mentality to greek people so this is a combination destined to succeed.

I know that many international groups such as meetup and Internations select it for their events as it is quite spacious and also in a very central location in Ladadika.

It is also conveniently located very close to my office, so it is ideal for a midday sun break or an after work beer for me!

It will be nice to visit for St. Patrick’s this month !

Where : Katouni 16-18, Ladadika

Pax Burgers

New Burger places appear in the city all the time. To get you into our city food history, Thessaloniki is the birthplace of the iconic burger chain Goody’s back in the late 70’s. The famous burger and fast food chain has gone through various stages and there was a time period where many of the restaurants in the city closed.  This is when the new burger places started to emerge.

I like the fact that we have a lot of new places with different style and taste. Although I do not eat beaf burgers anymore, I like to join my friends and select the veggie or chicken version in the menu.

Pax burgers just launched an iconic chicken burger and went straight to my top chicken burger list: The chicken marsala.  I am sure if you are a beaf lover you will find many more to love.

Tip: They have 1+1 Tuesdays and Student discount Monday’s so you can plan your first visit on one of these days and I am sure you will be back !

pax

Where: Kalapothaki & Venizelou (close to the port )

Rover Bar

roverRover is one of my favourite after work chill out destinations as it is located on the sunny side of Ladadika, and has a small very cute yard to enjoy.

Since it is winter and a sunny yard is a dream at the moment, let me tell you that it is also worth visiting for the unique wooden interior with many floor levels.

Rover is a classic nightlife bar,  hosting a lot of live bands and dj sets on a regular basis. It also hosts some vintage markets and is a well know film festival hot spot !

Where : Salaminos 6, Ladadika