Thessaloniki Local products

One of the things that Thessaloniki is most famous for is its delicious food. While visiting the enchanting city, make it a point to visit the numerous food markets, bakeries, cafes, and restaurants to get a taste of its delectable local products.

The koulouri of Thessaloniki is the most emblematic product of the city. This traditional sesame-crusted bread ring is a popular breakfast item country-wide, its origins dating back to the Byzantine times. Nowadays it comes in many different forms, from crispy to fluffy, in sticks, with olives, or made with whole-grain flour. It is also sometimes served with sweet accompaniments, including chocolate. Although you will be able to find a Thessaloniki koulouri in practically every bakery in the country, nothing compares with enjoying this delicious snack in the historic city itself.

Tsoureki is a braided sweet bread that is mostly associated with the Easter season. However, it is enjoyed throughout the country year-round, and you will be able to find one in every bakery in Thessaloniki. Bougatsa is another highly popular dessert that has found its way into all corners of the country and beyond. This flavorful Greek pastry is made with crispy phyllo dough and is typically filled with sweet custard and dusted with sugar. The classic trigona Panoramatos, phyllo triangles filled with cream and drizzled with syrup, are also worth a try. The perfect pairing to a mouth-watering sweet is an ice-cold frappe, the world-famous coffee that was first created in Thessaloniki in the 1950s.

The many taverns found around the city serve a wide variety of traditional dishes that keep visitors coming back to the city year after year. Soutzoukakia is a famous meatball dish prepared with tomato sauce and seasoned with cumin, pepper, and garlic. Bougiourdi is a lovely appetizer, consisting of feta, tomatoes, peppers, oregano, and olive oil. The ever-popular moussaka (layers of eggplant or potato, cheese, meat, and a creamy sauce), spanakopita (phyllo pastry pie filled with feta cheese and spinach), and patsas (tripe soup) are also must-haves. The gyros and souvlaki served in Thessaloniki are also amongst the best in all of Greece and the perfect choices for grabbing a bite on the go.

One of the largest markets where you can get all the food products Thessaloniki has to offer is the Kapani Market. Located at the heart of the city center, it hosts many vendors selling everything from fresh fish, meat, vegetables, and sweets to flowers, clothes, and souvenirs. The Modiano Market is housed inside an impressive early 20th-century building and hosts produce, cheese, meat, and fish shops along with tavernas, restaurants, and bars. Finally, the market found in Athonos Square is worth a visit as well.