If you visit Thessaloniki, you’ll get to taste some of the best food Greece has to offer. A walk through Kapani market will reveal a variety of produce from both land and sea, showcasing a blend of Greek, Ottoman, and Jewish culinary influences. As a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, Thessaloniki offers a rich food culture with numerous restaurants, dishes, and pastries to try.

Thessaloniki, once at the heart of the Byzantine Empire, has always been cosmopolitan due to its trading links to North Africa and its diverse population. Despite the upheavals caused by a great fire in 1917, the forced population exchange of 1923, earthquakes, and wars, the multicultural influences on its cuisine have persisted.

Today, Thessaloniki exudes prosperity and has a large student population. Restaurants often set tables on pavements and squares, perfect for enjoying coffee or lunch in the sunshine. Known as Greece’s “food city,” it boasts ambitious chefs and a creative food culture.

The city offers a wide range of dining experiences, from stylish brunch spots and trendy late-night bars to modern Greek cooking, traditional tavernas, and colorful markets. For more on Thessaloniki’s history and culture, check out my article on the best things to do in Thessaloniki.

Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, has hundreds of restaurants, bars, and cafes, providing endless choices. To help you find the best places to eat, here are some recommended neighborhoods:

– **Ladadika**: Behind the old port, this quaint area is popular for dining out, with busy streets from lunchtime to late evening.
– **Seafront and Aristotelous Square**: The Leof. Nikis road along the seafront offers sea views, and the area around Aristotelous Square is prime for dining.
– **Ano Poli / Tsinari**: This residential area has charming restaurants around Tsinari, including the well-known Ouzeri Tsinari.
– **Vatikioti Market and Athenos Square**: Quiet during the day, these areas come alive at night with pedestrianized lanes filled with restaurant tables.
– **Valaoritou**: Known for nightlife, this area is full of stylish bars and clubs at night, with trendy rooftop bars like Stin Taratsa and Urania.

Thessaloniki’s meze culture is strong, with excellent Mezedopoleía (meze restaurants) in every neighborhood. Variations include Ouzeri (serving Ouzo) and Tsipouro restaurants (serving Tsipouro). Traditional tavernas and koutoukia (small family-run restaurants) offer authentic Greek dishes and sometimes live folk music.

Here are some traditional restaurants to try:

– **Ouzeri Tsinari (Ano Poli)**: A charming, inexpensive neighborhood restaurant with traditional sharing dishes.
– **Rediviva Cucina Povera (Ano Poli)**: Known for excellent sharing plates and a variety of Tsipouro.
– **Wall by Wall / Toixo Toixo (Ano Poli)**: A vintage-style cafe/restaurant offering Mediterranean and Greek meze dishes.
– **Taverna O Thodoros (Paparrigopoulou 15)**: A traditional taverna with good food, reasonable prices, and live folk music.
– **Full Tou Meze (Ladadika)**: Consistently recommended for its excellent traditional Greek food.
– **Mezen Salonika (Ladadika)**: Part of a small chain serving Meze and Tsipouro in the style of Volos.
– **To Elliniko (near White Tower)**: A well-established Greek restaurant visited by UK chef Rick Stein.

For modern Greek cuisine, try:

– **Charoupi / Xaroupi (Doxis 4 Ladadika)**: Specializes in Cretan cuisine with sophisticated presentation and attentive service.
– **Extravaganza (Episcopou Amvrosiou 8)**: Known for creative and beautifully presented Mediterranean and Greek cuisine.

Vegetarians will find tasty vegetable dishes on standard menus, and markets and delicatessens offer fresh seasonal produce. For vegan or vegetarian cuisine, try rOOTs vegetarian and vegan or Tarantoula.

Seafood lovers should visit Kalamaria, a suburb with several seafood restaurants near the beach and marina. In Thessaloniki, check out:

– **Kritamos Meze Bar (Tirolois 38 in Toumba)**: Specializes in seafood meze plates with Tsipouro.
– **Marea sea spirit (Margariti Lori 13 near the White Tower)**: An upscale oyster bar and seafood restaurant.
– **Bajayazi (Vasileos Herakliou 35 near Modiano market)**: A taverna-style restaurant specializing in seafood.
– **Ouzerie Lola (Agapinou 10 near the Rotunda)**: A traditional ouzeri serving small seafood plates.

Thessaloniki also has a strong coffee culture, with traditional coffee shops and trendy coffee bars. The popular Greek summertime drink, Frappé, was invented here. For a chilled but milky coffee, try a Freddo Cappuccino.

Brunch culture is thriving, with dishes based on local Greek flavors. Look for places like Ergon Foods, Donkey Garden, Estrella, and Apallou for substantial brunch dishes.

Thessaloniki is also known for its elegant bakeries and cake shops. Special cakes include Trigona, Bougatsa, and Kazan Dipi. For the best Trigona, visit Elenidis Patisserie. For Bougatsa, try Serraikon, Bougatsa Giannis, or Bougatsa Bantis. Kazan Dipi can be found at Konstantinidis Patisserie.

For a deeper understanding of Thessaloniki’s food culture, consider taking a culinary walking tour. These tours offer market visits, tastings, and traditional lunches.

Thessaloniki’s markets, such as Kapani, Vatikioti, and Modiano, are great places to experience the variety of food. Kapani Market is the main market, offering fresh produce, fish, meat, and deli counters. Modiano Market has been renovated and filled with modern food businesses.

Local specialties include peaches from Naousa, kiwi fruit from Pierias, cherries from Rodochori, Florina peppers, giant beans from Kato Nerokopi, and Halkidiki olives and olive oil. Look out for local cheeses like Anevato, Katiki Domokou, Feta, Manouri, Kyano, Kasseri, and Batzos.

Thessaloniki’s cuisine is influenced by Ottoman traditions and the influx of Greek refugees from Asia Minor. Look for dishes like Politiki salad, Piperies Florinis, Bougiourdi, and Soutzoukakia Smyrneika.

Greek wines are excellent, and several vineyards near Thessaloniki can be visited, such as Ktima Gerovassiliou, Domaine Florian, and Voulgari winery.

If visiting in May, check out the Street Food Festival by Soul Food Thessaloniki. They also run a beer festival in early September.

For more on things to do, where to stay, and how to plan your trip, read my article on the best things to do in Thessaloniki.