Thessaloniki’s food scene needs no introduction. But if you do, then you should know the city has some amazing restaurants. Being by the sea, seafood is naturally a large part of Thessaloniki’s food. I also have some cafes, brushes, and gyros recommendations for you.
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Essential information for eating in Thessaloniki
Every country or even city has their own ways of doing things, and that’s true when it comes to restaurants as well. Here are some of the things that I’ve observed when dining in Thessaloniki:
- Bread and water are automatically given but they are usually 1-2 euros and 1 euro, respectively. You can ask them to take it away
- Most restaurants closed for a siesta and the time can be anything between 2pm to 6pm
- A lot of places will be closed during the middle of August as the Greeks traditionally heads off to the islands to escape the heat
- People tend to just go in and sit down, but if you are a larger party or it looks busy, it’s best to get the attention of the staff.
I happen to know the second to last point quite well as I visited during August. But that does mean that what I’m going to recommend is most likely to still be open if you happen to visit during that time.
Restaurants in Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki has many good restaurants and I had some delicious seafood meals there. Having come down from Bulgaria, it was a change of flavours and just what I needed.
Charoupi
Charoupi is a Cretan restaurant in a square by the port of Thessaloniki. It is quite popular, so I had to wait a little to be seated and then for service. However, there is a lot of nice little touches like a welcome snack and free dessert. I had the lamb ravioli, and it was very delicious.

Address: Doxis 4, Thessaloniki 546 25, Greece
Opening times: 13:00 – 1:00
Porto Gyros
If you’re looking for a quick snack and not a sit-down meal, you can’t go wrong with gyros pita. And the Porto Gyros do them well in addition to other fast food options. They’re just north of the port and a convenient place to grab a snack.
It’s very close to the seafront, so you can walk down to the promenade to enjoy the sunset. They also have a few tables outside to sit as well.
Address: El. Venizelou 2, Thessaloniki 546 24, Greece
Opening times: 11:55 – 2:00
Ο Λουτρός

While the restaurant only has its Greek name, they do Thessaloniki food amazingly. It was my first meal in the city as I was staying nearby, and it’s just down the road from the Roman Forum. Everything is in generous portion and the staff are very kind and happy to recommend. I had the squid in fava and it was so good that I kept eating even after I was full!
Just beet beet salad
I also got the beetroot salad, but I didn’t really need it as it was already quite filling. But do note that a beetroot salad is just beetroot, and it is a restaurant more suited to group dining than solo dining.
Address: El. Venizelou 55, Thessaloniki 546 31, Greece
Opening times: 11:00 – 1:00
Deka Trapezia

Deka Trapezia is a modern Greek restaurant near the White Tower with tapas style food. There is no English restaurant sign so watch out for its restaurant. It is on the pricier side but the flavours are excellent and the seafood fresh. My fish dish had a sauce with cranberries which was finger-licking good.
Address: Str. Kallari 4, Thessaloniki 546 22, Greece
Opening times: 13:00 – 1:00
The House Of Grandma
The House of Grandma is south of the museums and an excellent place to grab lunch if you’re there. The prices are good and I had a grilled fresh sardines for around 11 euros. I also really like the outdoor seating but their seaside feel interior is also lovely.
Address: Emiliou Riadi 7, Thessaloniki 546 40, Greece
Opening times: Tues – Sun 12:00 – 0:00
Brunch and Cafes in Thessaloniki
The Caravan Cafe
The Caravan Cafe is the onsite restaurant for the Caravan Hotel and serves up some delicious brunch options. I escaped there to use the WiFi and the alley it is located on is very photogenic and they have a good range of sweet and savoury (ok mostly sweets) options. I had a delicious chocolate french toast.
Address: Rempelou 1, Thessaloniki 546 31, Greece
Opening times: 7:00 – 16:00
Melie Boulangerie Patisserie

If you are looking for a grab and go, the Melie Boulangerie is close to the city center by Egnatia Road with great pastries. They have both savoury and sweet as well as hot drinks. There were lots of locals and tourists alike when I went in to grab a croissant on the go.
Opening times: 8:00 – 23:00