Thessaloniki is a truly romantic city, that’s for sure. Cosmopolitan and multicultural, this city is in itself a wonderful amalgam of cultures, diverse cuisines, expansive horizons, a distinct atmosphere, beautiful neighbourhoods and a picturesque historic centre, intertwined with famous streets and cobbled alleys.
So, in this city, we never stop discovering new places and dreaming.
Hyatt Regency Thessaloniki
13th km Thessaloniki – Peraia, +30 2310 401234
There are certainly many interesting options for your stay in Thessaloniki. However, by choosing the Hyatt Regency Thessaloniki, you will feel like home. Value for money is key because it is probably impossible to find equally spacious and comfortable rooms with one-of-a-kind bathrooms, quality food and moments of pure relaxation in a part of the city that may not be central, but is so close and yet so far away. In fact, for those who want an extra sense of privacy, here they can lose themselves in walks, enjoying the peace and quiet and the chatter of birds. Combine your stay with a yoga program for two, a body and/or facial treatment at Harmonia Spa & Wellness under the care of specialized therapists using Kos-Paris organic and herbal skincare products, or a relaxing bath with rose petals with a refreshing floral fragrance combined with the unique Jardin D’Orient aromatic bath oil. As for the Valentine’s Day menu, Hyatt Regency Thessaloniki’s award-winning Executive Chef Apostolos Altanis is said to be working his magic again.
Regency Casino Thessaloniki
12th km Thessaloniki – Airport, +30 2310 491234
The most distinctive feature of Regency Casino Thessaloniki is that it is a meticulously clean place where rules and attention to detail play a primary role. Thus, for example, all security measures against Covid-19 are followed to the letter, which is very important for large entertainment venues. During our visit, the formality of observing security measures against coronavirus, checking vaccination certificates and constant – often strict – recommendations to wear a mask was a reassuring process that allowed us to navigate the casino premises with confidence.
Enjoy the Casino experience with your partner or a friend. It is one of the most exciting attractions in Thessaloniki, unique in Greece. That’s why it attracts visitors from every region of the country, turning every day into a very interesting multidimensional experience.
As for the game play, the impressive slot machines are currently paired with the world’s most popular poker game, Poker Texas Hold’Em, in a dedicated area with dedicated staff, daily (19.00 – 04.00) with Blind/Ante 2/5. As for the cash draws, they reach up to €5,000 per draw, with cash draws every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in the form of jackpots and every Friday, Saturday and Sunday with Up & Go.
Oval Bistronomy
1, Filikis Etairias Street, +30 2310 254533
In one of the most privileged spots of Thessaloniki, with an unobstructed view of the symbol of the city – the White Tower- on the ground floor of the iconic oval building, Oval Bistronomy has been writing its own history since 2003. Oval is a cosmopolitan, timeless meeting point with sophisticated décor and a quality menu; the brainchild of Anatoli Tsantalis and Eleni Konstantinou, who come from the world of business and media respectively.
The Oval is open daily from early morning, serving hot beverages, as befits cold winter days, and delicious brunch dishes, until late at night serving renowned cocktails and Japanese cuisine based on raw cuts and the creative simplicity of sushi. The mix and match philosophy of the revamped menu is enriched with pasta dishes and risotti, fresh salads, tasty appetizers and pizzas, best-selling perek, homemade meatballs, cheese/cold cuts platters and vegan dishes.
Zannas
Desserts like in the old days
29, Charles Diehl Street, +30 2314 054727
Delicious touloumbes (fried dough pastries) stuffed with patisserie cream, ekmek kataifi, galaktoboureko, profiteroles, baklava, cariocas are just some of the delicacies that the Zannas family prepares every day with love in their workshop in a Thessaloniki suburb, Paleokastro. “Patisserie is more tricky than cooking, one small mistake can ruin the whole thing”, says young Konstantinos Zannas to travel.gr, adding that his family has been engaged in patisserie since 2015, when both his parents lost their jobs amid the economic crisis. The secret of their success lies in their quality ingredients, technique and of course their passion and love for their work. The family’s new pastry shop hasn’t even been open for a month in the centre of Thessaloniki, on Charles Diehl Street, but already word of mouth is spreading.
Froutomagia Refanidis – The fresh bar
5, Aristotelous Square, +30 2310 240489
Is there anything healthier than starting your day with a freshly squeezed orange or pomegranate juice or a richer one (with orange, apple, pear and pineapple) or perhaps a greener one (with kale, spinach, chard, cucumber, parsley and mint)?
A colourful oasis, a paradise of fresh fruits and vegetables from all over the world, located in the city’s largest and most beautiful square, Aristotelous Square, in an elegant space, a fresh, modern grocery store that has been “writing” history since 1930. Since then, the Refanidis family has been trading fruits and vegetables. From the old lemon grocers and Modiano to the new vegetable market; from the overnight grocery store on Markos Botsaris Street to the largest fruit and vegetable store in Northern Greece in the airport area (18th km Thessaloniki – Pereaia) and the new store where the fourth generation brings “fresh” ideas to the city centre, including a delicious Fresh Bar.
The Fresh Bar’s menu is tempting featuring vegetable salads (quinoa, kale, tuna salad, mesclun or the classic Greek salad), yogurt energy meals such as chia chia (low-fat yogurt with green and red apple, pear, pineapple, pineapple, chia seeds, crunchy oat flakes with chocolate flakes) or berry passion with crunchy whole grain oat flakes, dark chocolate, forest fruits and passion fruit. Open daily from 08.00 – 22.00, offering delivery service from 11.00 – 19.00 (except Sundays).
Olive Tree – The Wooden World
89, Tsimiski Street, +30 2311 293875
They are all handmade, wooden, made in the workshop on a beautiful island, Paros, and the protagonist is none other than the olive tree. The olive wood used in Olive Tree is not a logging product, but comes from the natural remains of the pruning of trees in Crete, the Peloponnese and Evia, when they can no longer bear other fruits. It is a natural process of consolidation and growth of olive trees, which takes place once a year. The wood then rests and matures over time as it is processed until it takes its final form.
On the most popular street of Thessaloniki, Tsimiski Street, there is a shop with wooden products that offers a wide variety of cookware and decorative items, such as wine glass holders, frames, candle holders, artwork (fruit bowls, baskets or cutting boards), smoking accessories, rosaries, jewellery and accessories (bow ties, belts, cufflinks, etc.). The list of wooden products handmade with care and respect to Mother Nature is completed by a wide range of sunglasses, wrist and wall clocks, pens, wallets, etc. There are also plenty of games for young and old, from chess and backgammon to tic-tac-toe, snake cube, the classic spinning wheel and the Japanese Mikado, a game of skill with chopsticks.
The Dubliner – Irish Bar & Restaurant
16 – 18, Katouni Street, +30 2310 517865
So what if we are in the centre of Thessaloniki, and more specifically in Ladadika, in an area with cobbled streets, full of bars, cafés, restaurants and taverns. In one of the most popular areas of the city, which offers a variety of quality entertainment options all day long, on the pedestrian street of Katouni, an authentic pub-restaurant transports us to Ireland.
Sitting either in the impressive 11-metre-long wooden bar or in the lounge with its comfortable seating, one can enjoy the authentic Irish atmosphere. Depending on your mood, here one can watch a top sporting event on one of the five large-screen TVs, enjoy traditional Irish specialities from the menu (beef pie cooked in Guinness beer, sausages with mash, fish & chips, etc.) or a glass of authentic Irish whisky. However, in the Irish pub in Ladadika in Thessaloniki, you will be greeted with the traditional “Céad míle fáilte agus Sláinte!” i.e. “Welcome! Cheers!”.
