The beauty of Thessaloniki is not only hidden in its city centre, but also in its beautiful nearby beaches with the picturesque fish taverns, in the elegant wineries with their endless vineyards, as well as in the various gastronomic outings, since every neighbourhood and every village has its own delightful attractions.
Staying at Hyatt Regency Hotel Thessaloniki, we had the opportunity to explore the outskirts and discover a different side of the region. Moreover, we put on our sportswear and went running along the magical route that starts from the hotel’s entrance and leads to a path lined with pine trees, cypresses, firs and all kinds of flora, and got in touch with nature.
Back in our 45sqm room, overlooking the waterfalls, we enjoyed one of pastry chef Alexandros Alexiou’s sweet creations accompanied by a fine rosé on the room’s comfortable sofa, in a place where, as Truman Capote said of New York’s Tiffany’s, nothing bad can happen – only good. The word “pampering” thus takes on a different meaning here since time in Thessaloniki maintains the qualitative rhythms that Athens often ignores. However, it’s worth saving your appetite to sample the flavours of the hotel’s inexhaustible breakfast buffet at the Amvrosia restaurant, an area where many premium five-star hotels fall short. We finally sampled well-cooked scrambled eggs and just-right dry omelettes, a huge selection of desserts with extra Christmas coffee and delectable filter coffee (a rarity!).
Besides, where else can you have trahana and all kinds of halva (desert made either with semolina or with sesame paste) for breakfast? And all this under the care of executive chef Apostolos Altanis, who is responsible for the culinary creations of Amvrosia restaurant in the heart of Hyatt hotel. A nice idea, too, for a Sunday morning visit or for a Christmas brunch.
Strolling around the city centre
During the Christmas holidays, Thessaloniki is a totally different city, transformed and glamorous. Musicians set up impromptu concerts on every corner and Aristotelous Square sets the tone for the celebration. Walk along Tsimiski, visit the Agora in Kapani to buy or smell all the herbs from every corner of Greece and the East (only here can I find dried citron), pass by the flower shops or stand in the centre of Stock Exchange Square and gaze at the imposing buildings, and have your photo taken in front of the illuminated fountains (eat your heart out Rockefeller Centre!). We also hit the various perfume shops around the square and took a whiff of the rose body creams and the cedar scented home fragrances. After all, in Thessaloniki, scents and senses always work differently.
Iliopetra
5, Aeschylus Street, +30 2314 055553
There in the “student” areas, as the locals call them, above Kamara, there is a small restaurant with excellent cuisine, whose reputation has already made it to the centre of Athens. Huge black and white photographs against colourful walls, an open kitchen and a warm welcome, all predispose positively customers to what is to come. The cuttlefish risotto deserves many awards and the grilled octopus with smoked pancetta on a brioche bun, I think, is worthy of all the Michelin stars a dish can get. Here, each dish creates a new memory that stays etched in one’s mind for a long, long time.
Nama
1, Olympus Street, +30 2313 088241
In line with alternative gastronomic bistros, cafés and meze taverns, Nama was created to make a difference: minimal aesthetics, creative dishes with a twist and alternative rock tunes from the 90s set the tone for a multi-sensory experience. Amazing calf’s liver with apple puree, buckwheat and rosemary, but also great trahana with prawns, dried king oysters and black truffle.
Choureal
7, Palaion Patron Germanou Street, +30 2310 252766
In Thessaloniki, the gastronomic pleasure never ends. Stop by Choureal for an amazing, made to order profiterole. The dessert – be it profiterole or éclair- is prepared in front of you, exactly as you want it and in the quantity that suits you, for you alone or to share with your friends (or so you say and then you simply eat it all by yourself). The choux are perfectly crunchy, filled with luscious home-made crème pâtisserie or ice-cream, flavoured with natural fresh Madagascar vanilla and topped with luscious Valrhona chocolate. A delectable poem.
Christmas theme Park in Mylos Area
Andreou Georgiou, +30 2310 510081
Mylos Area organises a series of Christmas events with the theme “Unlock Christmas 2021” around the festive market that features an ice rink, restaurant and café. Here one can enjoy hot chocolate in one of the specially designed wooden houses and support financially the non-profit child welfare organisation “The smile of the child”. Until 9 January.
Regency Casino Thessaloniki
12th km National Road, EO Thessaloniki Airport, Thessaloniki
thessaloniki.regencycasinos.gr
If you’ve watched Casino with Sharon Stone or George Clooney’s version of Ocean’s Company, then this is the place for you. The aesthetics are immediately reminiscent of Las Vegas with its equally imposing fountains with fancy lighting, the huge room that doesn’t separate the players and gives them a sense of companionship. Here we met all kinds of visitors – older women and young men who see the casino as an outlet – in a colourful feast of lights and various surprises. Every day, moreover, different events, surprises and raffles are organised at the Casino, especially for the holidays, turning the place into an inexhaustible source of entertainment for all tastes. There are also the private rooms for VIP members and a restaurant for all those who want to recharge their batteries for the rest of the evening. A nice outing for a Saturday night or for the holidays.
Vergina Theatro
Two enterprising performers share the stage of Vergina Theatro, a spectacular show featuring beloved Greek songs by performer Melina Aslanidou and the caustic humour of actress Sofia Moutidou.
Friday 17 December (until January 8), 22:00
12th km Thessaloniki – Airport, next to Regency Casino Thessaloniki
+30 2310 491291
Entering this iconic venue with the atmosphere of a New York club and the luxury of an entertainment space that immediately refers to a cabaret, you cannot imagine that here you can enjoy high quality stand up comedy by Sophia Moutidou and at the same time have fun with Melina Aslanidou’s favourite songs -but not only, since her program includes songs from Socrates Malamas to Dionysis Savvopoulos. A fiery collaboration of two passionate women who join forces and present an unforgettable performance. No wonder that Vergina Theatro was packed with locals laughing their hearts out with Moutidou’s jokes and singing along with Melina. As we left, I had a delicious cocktail at the neighbouring – new, as we were told – Ian’s bar with a mid-war atmosphere, modern luxurious decoration and a direct reference to the speak-easy bars of New York.
Tribute to Ennio Morricone (22/12/21)
Friends of Music Hall at 21:00
Thessaloniki Concert Hall
25th Martiou, +30 2310 895800
A festive concert dedicated to a great artist and composer of the most famous film soundtracks. Under the musical direction of Thodoris Papadimitriou, the Thessaloniki Concert Hall, together with the Thessaloniki Youth Symphony Orchestra (MOYSA) and the Mixed Choir of Thessaloniki, are organising a concert in honour of the man who wrote some of the most enchanting film scores that have made history.
Panos Mouzourakis (29/12/21)
In formal attire
Thessaloniki Concert Hall
Friends of Music Hall at 21:00
25th Martiou, +30 2310 895800
The well-known Greek singer-songwriter gives the necessary sparkle just before the arrival of the New Year by singing festive and memorable songs in a different evening “in formal attire”. Together with the Municipal Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sarifa Antzoura Ramos and directed by Athanasios Kolalas, with iconic sounds from Robbie Williams to Dionysis Savvopoulos and from Frank Sinatra to Phoebus Delivorias.
