No matter what anyone says or believes about Valentine’s Day, the truth is that it can pull us out of the routine we’ve been in since the beginning of the year and give us an excuse to treat ourselves.
Already, many venues in Thessaloniki are busy getting ready for the day – creating the right atmosphere, shaping a more appropriate menu and sparking extra romance in a city that deserves its reputation.
Hyatt Regency Thessaloniki
13th km Thessaloniki – Peraia highway, +30 2310 40 1234
So close to the sights and shops, but so far away from the noise and crowds; whether you’re a visitor to this magical city or a resident looking to get away from it all, grab the opportunity to experience Valentine’s Day in a different way. Make a gift to yourself and indulge in a unique experience that combines accommodation, gastronomic journeys, moments of relaxation through body and soul treatments and couples yoga sessions. In a beautiful location surrounded by nature, Hyatt Regency Thessaloniki offers you comfort safety and luxury in the ultimate value for money package. The courteous staff will welcome you in the hotel’s elegant premises. All you have to do is let yourself go and enjoy the luxurious and warm atmosphere.
Enjoy your stay in the city’s largest rooms. You may choose one of the elegantly decorated 42sqm rooms with marble bathrooms, 55” flat screen TV and all modern amenities or one of the 34 suites with access to the lush gardens or with a balcony and a beautiful view of the pool and waterfalls. Have breakfast on your King size bed and make a reservation for a romantic dinner at the award-winning Ambrosia restaurant, renowned for its sophisticated dishes with the signature of Hyatt Regency Thessaloniki’s acclaimed executive chef, Apostolos Altanis.
The day is special and so your hotel experience is topped off at the Harmonia Spa & Wellness, which, among other things, includes four brand new suites (two double and two single) with state-of-the-art design, automatically adjustable lighting for a perfect atmosphere and a separate relaxation and wellness area.
Wrapped in your fluffy bathrobes, allow yourselves to revel in a particularly relaxing environment. With the beneficial properties of the luxurious care of COS-PARIS products, enjoy a relaxing bath with rose petals in combination with the unique aromatic bath oil Jardin D’Orient. The well-being of body and soul is completed with the Aromatherapy Detox Massage, a detoxifying aromatherapy blend of rare essential oils combined with massage, offering you the ultimate rejuvenation.
Alfredo’s Grand Dining
12th km Thessaloniki – Airport highway, +30 2310 491199
A special day is approaching, the 14th of February, dedicated to lovers, and it is worth giving it a special touch with a dinner of high gastronomic sophistication. So how about a romantic dinner for two to the sounds of live music with the voice of Anna Balaska and Alexandros Tsakiridis on the piano? At the award-winning restaurant Alfredo’s Grand Dining at Regency Casino Thessaloniki, the executive chef has prepared a unique menu consisting of six gourmet dishes: Parmentier with smoked eel, Peruvian potato and red apple; tuna tartare with avocado cream and wasabi; guinea fowl risotto with berries, beetroot and parmesan chips; passion fruit sorbet and champagne jelly; tournedos with sweet potato puree and marsala sauce; chocolate duo with white chocolate pearls and Visanto ice cream; and finally coffee or tea.
Thessaloniki Regency Casino
12th km Thessaloniki – Airport highway, +30 2310 49 1234
And if you’re in the mood for a trip, don’t miss a night out at the Regency Casino Thessaloniki. Because, in addition to cash draws and lavish prizes, the raffle tickets you receive on entry put you in the big draw for a 4-day trip to Rome.
Vergina Theatro
12th km Thessaloniki – Airport highway, +30 2310 491291
Enjoy a high quality performance while sipping your drink at the comfortable seats of Vergina Theatre, next to Regency Casino Thessaloniki. Two enterprising performers share the stage of Vergina Theatre and offer a spectacular show featuring beloved Greek songs by performer Melina Aslanidou and the caustic humour of actress Sofia Moutidou.
Vergina Theatro has introduced a new kind of entertainment in the city of Thessaloniki. Only there one can enjoy the biggest names of the Greek music scene, in a luxurious non-smoking area, which observes all safety measures.
Hatzis’ Dairy Shop
108, Tsimiski street – 16, P. Mela street, +2310 284620
On the most popular street of Thessaloniki, at the junction of Tsimiski and Pavlou Mela streets, the Hatzis dairy shop was established a year and a half ago. The latter is the new concept of the well-known patisserie chain of the same name. Five generations of noble flavours meet the modern aesthetics of the new Hatzis generation. In a beautiful environment, where modern design dominates, with displays full of delicious syrupy desserts and signature dairy products, traditional custards and the famous kazandibi (burned milk pudding), the traditional recipe of which dates back to 1908, the fifth generation of the Hatzis family, sisters Yeliz and Izel, along with tradition, add a fresh touch and make their desserts even more unique. “We want to reach out to the younger generations. That’s why we are adding fresh flavours, light and vegan options, such as Ashure or Noa’s pudding made with wheat, raisins, walnuts, chokeberries, dried figs, apricots and clove”, Yeliz Hatzis tells travel.gr, explaining that the name of the new concept of the business is essentially a rebranding. “We are returning to our roots under a modern format, we have brought back the old name of the shop and our motto is ‘for the old to remember and the young to learn”.
Thus, in Hatzis’ boutique dairy shop, maintaining the long tradition, apart from the kazandibi, the old time classic walnut baklava and the syrupy kataifi, a few more traditional recipes based on buffalo milk but with a twist are added. Ekmek kataifi with buffalo kaymak, kunefe kataifi with cheese, hanum burek stuffed with buffalo milk cream and fresh butter, as well as signature custards such as tavuk göğsü (rice porridge, milk and chicken breast), oven-baked rice pudding made from buffalo and cow’s milk, eggs and sugar, and a few vegan options such as zerde (jelly made from saffron and rose water), almond drink malhebi and chewy rice porridge cream, Turkish delights and halvah. Open daily, on weekdays from 07.00am and on weekends from 08.00am.
Youkali
6, Ethnikis Amynis street, +30 2310 220310
With views of the White Tower and a very special atmosphere inside, in the last five years the café bistro Youkali has managed to win the hearts of the sophisticated public of the city and beyond. Evoking the atmosphere of a bygone era, the beautiful café-bistro is located at the corner of Ethnikis Amynis and Tsopela streets, in an area with an artistic vibe, nestled between the State Theatre of Northern Greece, the Avlaia Theatre and the Royal Theatre. Peculiarly decorated, the barber’s corner with the classic swivel armchair that we can still find today in modern barber shops, the mirror, the marble table and the copper tap, stands out. The impressively unique setting is complemented by the floor with traditional cement tiles, the marble tables with wooden chairs and the background music that varies depending on the time, the day and the mood.
You can listen to everything from jazz to ethnic and Latin music. There are often even live music sessions, e.g. every Monday rebetiko and on Wednesdays Greek traditional folk music with lute and violin. It opens at 8am and serves coffee, tea and breakfast, omelettes with singlino (salted meat) and kavurma or yoghurt with muesli and dried fruit. At noon, tsipouro and wine is served, accompanied by delicious mezze prepared by chef Panagiotis Gratsonis. Try his homemade dolmadakia (stuffed vine leaves), fava (yellow split beans puree), mushroom patties, tigania (pan-fried meat), eggplant caponata with pickles and capers, and vegetable couscous. Premium ouzo is also served, which is perfectly accompanied with vinegary octopus and smoked mackerel. As for the name of the café, it was inspired by a song by Kurt Weil, the famous composer whose music was featured in the works of Bertolt Brecht, and which sends you on a journey to dreamy places.
+Trofi
3, Navmahias Ellis & Doxis street, +30 2310 540260
It is one of the most talked about restaurants lately and undoubtedly one of the top restaurants in Thessaloniki. “We use mostly organic ingredients, we have a daily menu with 14-15 dishes with an emphasis on meat, but also with fish and vegan options”, tells travel.gr Alexandros Barbounakis, co-owner of +Trofi, the new restaurant that he opened together with the famous chef Yannis Loukakis in July 2020.
“What is +Trofi? -Its companionship, it sets a backdrop of camaraderie and everyone is welcome, whether it’s for a glass of wine, a cocktail or a meal”, he explains. The interior of the restaurant is dominated by the open kitchen, on one of the shelves of which is placed the icon of Saint Euphrosynos, the patron saint of cooks! On a daily basis, they cook with an emphasis on traditional recipes. The tables are laid outside in a dedicated area, which is protected by glass and kept warm and cosy by heaters. Bread is baked daily with organic flours (sourdough, yeast and carob), which accompanies creative dishes. Lamb breast with bulgur and livers, roast lamb fricassee, braised rooster with orzo but also black pig pancetta and egg tagliatelle, pan-fried prawns, beef sausage and runny yolk egg or braised black pig with prawns and sour trahana, etc. are coupled with biodynamic wines from small producers. Homemade liqueurs such as cinnamon orange or chocolate hazelnut, spirits and signature cocktails – the Basil Smash (gin with basil, simple syrup and lemon juice) or the old fashioned (whiskey with organic carob bitters) – complete the menu and are served on a daily basis, except on Sunday evenings.
YDRO
11, Navarchou Kountourioti & Navmahias Ellis street
A new arrival in a key spot of the historic centre of Thessaloniki, opposite the port, in Ladadika, a café with character and artistic influences; Ydro features industrial décor and serves drinks, beverages and cocktails created by Miltos Sofianos, coupled with documentary and film screenings, photography and painting exhibitions, discussions, seminars, live music, etc. “Through our events, through the selection of films and exhibitions, we express ourselves”, tells travel.gr Hara Kasidou, who along with her administration studies, participated in theatre groups, “we do the things we like and that make us feel content. Sometimes we get bored of the café bar, but the combination with other events keeps us on our toes”, she adds.
Ydro, a name derived from the ancient Greek word ὕδωρ meaning water, is a place that loves coffee and culture in equal measure. Rehearsals of theatre groups, scheduled street art, photography and painting exhibitions, live music sessions – from experimental rebetiko to jazz – on the ground floor and upstairs of Ydro complete the menu of this special new arrival that opened on Christmas 2021.
The flower Shop
110, Tsimiski street, +30 2310 279677
153, Al. Papanastasiou street, +30 2310 309147
The protagonists of these days are none other than roses, especially the red ones. Romantic heart-shaped arrangements, as befits the approaching Valentine’s Day. Bouquets, velvet flower boxes in red and pink shades with fresh flowers, fairy-tale jars and boxes with roses in various colours that live forever, teddy bears made of foam roses, flower arrangements, sandalwood or jasmine scented candles, soy candles with crushed lavender, chamomile and calendula for ultimate relaxation are some of the choices you will find in the two flower shops that Mrs Gogo Zisi owns. “The first shop is on Papanastasiou street and the second on Tsimiski”, tells travel.gr Ms. Zisi, who has been working as a florist for 24 years. As she says “nature has been generous with me, blessing me with the most beautiful art, the art of flowers”, adding that it all started in 1999 when she opened her own flower shop. Her work is characterized by her love of flowers, experience, passion and imagination. “That’s what flowers are all about”, she says, “to brighten your day and make you smile. It’s the most beautiful and creative way to express and communicate”.
