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

Yasemi

γ“YASEMI” means Jasmine and this is a place made in heaven.  So small and so cute, it feels like home.

Everything is handmade including some of the homemade liqueurs. The food menu is limited but everything is cooked with love and care.

It is literally hidden in a small street very close to the White Tower and few steps away from buzzing Tsimiski street, so if you are in the area I suggest you take a relaxing break there.

Where : Tsopela 4

Toms

tomsYour probably already know Toms shoes, but maybe you do not know that Thessaloniki has one of the first Toms coffee spots that opened last April. The location is fantastic very central and yet a bit off the crowds and also close enough for me to enjoy a quick coffee break.

You can easily walk right in front of it and miss it as you need to walk through an old door in Tsimiski to get inside this cool indoor yard type of place. The style is urban Berlin style, very relaxed and offers great coffee. Shopping shoes and bags is optional !

Where : Tsimiski 22

Oval

ovOctober offers us the last days of summer living, sitting outside and enjoying sunshine. As you probably know if you have spent more than a week in Thessaloniki, the waterfront or Paralia offers a lot of options for coffee & drinks.

However what happens if you get there around noon or later on a weekend ? Or if you are a group of 4+ ? You will have a hard time to find a place to sit because everyone has the same idea as you. Coffee places in the waterfront are easier to enjoy on a weekday. But there is a nice alternative in front of the White Tower and it is called Oval.

It is not a place for the young and trendy, but it is a place where you can relax during all seasons and times. It offers great view of the White Tower and the little park just in front of you and has excellent quality drinks & food. It also holds great live music nights on the winer weekends so it is a great idea for winter also !

Where : Filikis Etaireias 1

Bord de l’eau

boI so love this place ! I was really amazed when I first came here. It is so smart and modern and urban and relaxed at the same time.

It is really a multi space, with a bar space + an artistic space for events and exhibitions. It holds guest dj events and is very popular for student crowds but also older urban people.

If somebody does not take you there, it will be very difficult to find. It is completely out of sight from the main street – Egnatia – hidden behind a curtain.

Where : Egnatia 45

Aigli Geni Hamam

aig.jpgThis is the #1 destination for anyone who is stuck in the city or just returned from vacations and want to feel like they did not. If you are in town for a few days only this is a must visit as it combines the historical visit with a relaxed drink or dinner.

This is a 16th century building that was originally build as a Hamam during the Otoman era. It later became an open air cinema, then a place for cultural events and after that remained closed for several years.

It is now more beautiful than ever, functioning as a relaxed coffee bar restaurant.  It is located just behind the church of Saint Demetrios so you can go for a coffee right after your visit to the church. As dusk falls, the place completely transforms to an exotic back yard with the big screen showing chill out videos transferring your mind to far away places !

Where :  Ag. Nikolaou & Kassandrou

Extravaganza

exIt took me a while to visit this fantastic restaurant that the whole city is talking about and I have to say I am sorry. It is literally a hidden gem and well worth the effort you will make to find it.

The food is excellent, the atmosphere friendly and relaxed. Although we went on a day with a heat wave it was fully packed and had to wait a lot for our food to arrive. So if you want sth fast don’t go, but if you want to experience the famous chill out mindset of our city combined with excellent food and drinks you should not miss it !

Where : Amvrosiou str ( close to Antigonidon )

The Loco Bus

locoWhat a place ! This is a restaurant that was surely missing from our “loco” city ! It opened about 6 months ago and became an instant hit for young crowds mainly.

The look is 50’s American Diner but the surprise is that there is a whole vintage bus inside where you can sit and eat !! Super crazy and super fun !!

The food offers options like pizza, burgers and more. You can also go for a drink as the cocktails list is quite good !

Where : Komninon 3