The queen of the Thessalian valley knows a good time and is filled with bars, restaurants, cafés and taverns to cater for everyone’s taste.
It’s the provinces as they should be. Whether you’re heading north or are going south to Athens, a stop in Larisa for brunch, coffee, a drink or to buy amazing bread is a must.
Frourio
Frourio is a modern, all-day hangout in one of Larisa’s most beautiful areas. It’s on the only hill of town, right above Bezesteni, the remains of the old Ottoman market, where the ancient Acropolis of Larisa used to be. The design interior and the huge paved garden with the wooden deck, together with the plane and mulberry trees, are ideal for a refreshing stop either in the morning or in the evening.
The menu is well curated and is not trying to impress anyone; it offers comfort choices with a selection of more special ones, like the pork tomahawk steak and the beef rib eye. Try the strapatsada (Greek scrambled eggs with tomato sauce and feta) with mizithra cheese on toast, or the freshly baked sesame koulouri (thin round bread with a hole in the middle especially popular in North Greece) with smoked tenderloin, cheese and tomato, for breakfast, while if you’re craving something sweet go for the loukoumades (traditional fried dough balls) with sugar, honey or hazelnut spread. The menu also includes burgers, risotti and pasta, but the lamb soutzoukakia (traditional type of meat balls with origins in Asia Minor) with the tabbouleh salad are also a must.
Frourio hill, tel. 0030 2410251707, www.frouriolarisa.com
Las Ramblas Breakfast and Coffee Brewers
With the vibrant atmosphere, delectable displays and the smell of freshly grinded coffee, Las Ramblas is one of those places we’d like to be in our neighbourhood. You’ll come here for the specialty coffees, for brunch, but also for their fine homemade desserts. Las Ramblas opened its first store in December 2010 and now has four branches in town, one on Velika beach, Larisa, and one in the neighbouring town of Trikala. You’ll find Brazilian, Guatemalan, Colombian and Nicaraguan coffee here, as well as limited coffees. Whatever kind of coffee-based beverage you’re looking for, you’ll find it here. From a classic cappuccino and americano, to affogato, corretto with espresso and grappa, macchiato etc. and if you want something to eat with your coffee, their list is long and tasty.
Try their homemade butter, chocolate or strawberry mascarpone croissants, the apple pie with crumble, the lava cake or the rizogalo (traditional rice pudding, while if you’re more into savoury dishes try the fried eggs with the Tzoumagia sausage and bacon on toast, the trachanas (a traditional kind of pasta made with flour milk or yogurt) from Thrace with carob croutons, Florina pepper sauce and xigalo cheese, the strapatsada with apaki (traditional smoked meat from Crete, usually pork), the bao buns, the tikka burger and the steak sandwich, to name a few options on the delicious menu.
8 Apollonos str – tel. 0030 2411110390, 1 Kallitheas str – tel. 0030 2410256525, 4 Volos str – tel.0030 2410579080, Kouma & Asklipiou str – tel. 0030 2413016704, www.lasramblas.coffee
Kubrick
Perhaps the best bar in town, with great music and cocktails. The space is incredibly cosy with the bar dominating the space, with the tall stone wall, the wooden shelves and the large wooden bench with the leather cover. That’s where Giorgos Ziogas, Thanos Sideris and Argiris Diamantidis do their magic creating amazing cocktails, either fruity and fragrant, or very strong, all of them great. In the morning they also serve coffee.
12 Protopappadaki str, tel.0030 6977356011, www.kubrickpsc.gr
Klaras
The Klaras restaurant is a cult favourite, and probably the best soup place you’ve ever visited, that stays opens until the morning. The beef head, cheeks and tongue soup is a must, as is the meat and vegetable soup, while they also have the classic chicken soup with egg lemon sauce. The menu also includes pumpkin soup with parmesan crumble, carrot soup with ginger and cream cheese, and potato soup with bacon powder and parsley oil. Apart from the soups, Klaras is also known for its meat menu like the traditional lamp and sheep ribs, the beef gyros, the braised beef tail and many more. Depending on the season the dessert list ranges from Valrhona chocolate soup to ice cream and galaktompoureko (Greek custard pie).
29 Gr. Lampraki str, tel. 0030 2410253771, www.facebook.com/klarasestiatorio
Zymoseis Poyrnara
This is one of those bakeries that smell of fresh bread and baked sweets. Stop here to get sourdough, peasant, wholegrain, oat, or wheat bread, including a vegan bread made exclusively of seeds, with no flour or yeast. They also have great little sandwiches prepared with any bread you want, with charcuterie and cheeses, or even with a cheese koulouri.
Of course, you’ll find a selection of pies, like cheese pie, spinach pie, and the traditional galatopita (milk pie) with the fluffy cream and the crunchy filo dough. During this period, the kourambiedes (traditional Christmas shortbread with almonds and icing sugar) made with butter and roasted almonds and the melomakarona (traditional Christmas cookie with walnuts and syrup) are in the spotlight in the displays, together with the panettone with Belgian bitter chocolate chips.
1 Ipsilantou str, tel. 0030 2410239609, 23 Ipirou str, tel. 0030 2410610609, www.facebook.com/zymoseispoyrnara/
