Love Thess: Post-Holiday Thessaloniki’s Cosy Corners and Multisensory Delights

The path that winds through green alleys, trees and vegetation, crossing an impressive waterfall and open grassy areas, follows all international standards. Moreover, it is part of the hotel’s “green” policy and the philosophy of the Social Cooperative Enterprise “Paths of Greece” that supervised the planning and realization of the route.

Regency Casino Thessaloniki

12^th km Thessaloniki – Airport, +30 2310 491234

After the festive excitement, the most spectacular casino destination in Greece continues to deliver multi-sensory experiences around the fun of gambling. This time, for the first two months of the year, it launches a journey through the cuisine of Istanbul. Cinnamon, allspice, cumin, red pepper, all those little secrets that hide the greatest delights in the authentic traditional recipes of Istanbul cooked with love and passion.

The cuisine of Istanbul will be served at the restaurant of the Regency Casino Thessaloniki, “La Terrasse”. Enjoy mouth-watering Smyrna meatballs and also lamb golbasi (meat wrapped and baked in parchment), Caesarea pies (cheese and pastirma pie), pork or shish kebab yogurtlu, lahanodolmades (Greek stuffed cabbage rolls) with egg lemon sauce, hunkar begendi (stew served over an eggplant-bechamel sauce), fried cod, artichokes ala polita (lemony artichoke stew), ajem pilaf, piyaz white bean salad and other traditional Izmir dishes. For dessert, enjoy delicious baklava, kataifi, kazandibi and a variety of seasonal fruits.

Enfant Gâté at the Teloglion Fine Arts Foundation

159A, Agiou Dimitriou, +30 2310 247307 & +30 2310 991610

Nikos Nifoudis, creator of “The Life Goddess”, which since 2012 offers the experience of Greek cuisine in London, where he is also preparing a new restaurant dedicated to Cretan gastronomy, utilizes the imposing atrium of the iconic Teloglion Foundation and takes us on a journey to high-level culinary delights. Quality ingredients – vegetables and meats sourced from small Greek farms and producers – are cooked with skill and passion in the pots and pans of chef Prodromos Asimakis.

Every Saturday and Sunday the whole city is brunching. If you are visiting Enfant Gâté with children, next to the restaurant there is a creative activity playground that they will definitely enjoy.

And while you are at the Teloglion Foundation, take the opportunity to combine gastronomy, recreation, entertainment and culture and visit the exhibition of the Greek artist Antonis Tzoumas entitled “Ships, legends of the seas during the National Uprising of 1821”, which will remain open until Sunday 16/01.

Ano (Old) Town

It is one of the busiest places worth exploring; get lost among the narrow picturesque alleys, which transport visitors to other times. Visit churches and monasteries – UNESCO monuments, admire the mansions of Macedonian architecture. Looking at these old houses with tiled roofs and flowering courtyards, let a sweet sense of nostalgia take over. Climb up and down stairs, pass through gates – Portara, Anna Paleologina’s Gate- take some photos with the historic walls in the background, gaze at the magnificent view of the city at your feet, as well as the Thermaikos Gulf and the snow-covered Olympus just behind you. Stroll around the small squares, enjoy a nice cup of coffee and have a snack. Besides, the city is famous for its gastronomy.

Ano Polis or the Old Town of Thessaloniki, which survived the great fire of 1917, is located within walking distance from the centre, but uphill. In clear weather, we can see almost every detail, from the YMCA and the Thessaloniki International Exhibition Centre to the Eptapyrgion – the Gedi Kulé- the Byzantine fortress at the north-eastern end of the Acropolis walls. There is a bus to this point, but the experience is even better on foot.

Dacristo

13-15, Palaion Patron Germanou, +30 2310 235900

The arrival of Dacristo in the heart of Thessaloniki (it has been operating in Thermi for two years now) comes to “shake up” the gastronomic habits of Thessaloniki residents and not only. The sophisticated deli, grocery and café welcomes us from early morning with aromatic coffee and authentic French baguette, with a variety of pastries and freshly baked bread, butter tart with Matcha green tea, Poke Bowl – the famous Hawaiian dish- but also bowls of cereal, vegetable juices and sandwiches such as the top Philly Cheese Steak with thinly sliced beef or the Pastrami Sandwich.

Dacristo’s windows are impressive – this modern artisan, an ambassador of flavours who shares his valuable experience and knowledge with sophisticated consumers- with high quality meats from Greek and subversive producers worldwide, from fine breeds of cattle such as Black Angus and Wagyu, a wide variety of steaks – T-Bone, Tomahawk, Entrecôte, Rib Eye steak- and alternative cuts, which can be enjoyed in the hall of the brand new store.

The corner with fish from the seven seas of the world, with tuna fillets, wild Scottish salmon and Amvrakikos shrimps, the grocery store with exotic fruits and fresh vegetables, the keto diet products (Keto Friendly Store) etc., the rich wine cellar with Greek and foreign wine labels, single malt whisky, milk vodka etc. complete the premium list of Dacristo, which is open from 8 am to midnight and is an ideal meeting point to enjoy every moment of the day.

Polis Hammam – Polis Loutron

40A, Konstantinou Karamanli, 55132, Kalamaria, +30 2310 488216

The flavours, aromas and philosophy of the East are strongly present in Thessaloniki, a city famous for its multiculturalism. We dream of an authentic Turkish bath in Istanbul or in Izmir, where certain places, such as the waterfront, are so reminiscent of Thessaloniki’s Old Beach. And yet, Polis Hammam – Polis Loutron is here, giving us the opportunity to experience a traditional bath, detoxify and temporarily leave our worries behind, through a wide variety of hammam rituals, ritual baths and massages, as well as face and body treatments.

Regarding our access to Polis Hammam – Polis Loutron, Mrs Alexandra Loutsou, the owner, has recently entered into a new partnership with Taxi Way, offering our transportation to and from the wellness area for free or at preferential-low prices. Polis Hammam – Polis Loutron has been awarded for two consecutive years by Luxury Travel Guide as the best traditional hammam in Europe.

Corda Antiques

10 Mitropolitou Iosif, +30 2310 235279

In the heart of Thessaloniki stands the antique shop Corda Antiques & Maison, which has been open since 1989. French crystal chandeliers, sconces, gilded mirrors, old furniture, engravings and books, silverware, lamps and much more are included in the shop’s collection, which is constantly renewed by owner Maria Corda during her travels to the markets of England and France. Many of the items come from houses such as Baccarat, St. Louis Val St. Lambert, Christofle, Ercuis and the shop is a member of the Association of Antique Dealers & Art Dealers of Greece.