Thessaloniki

 

The citys tourist-trap, the area between Athonos square and Aristotelous street is full of basic taverns mostly serving bad quality meat and/or fish accompanied by, cheap wine, cheap retsina traditional low cost wine and cheap ouzo. Some feature cheap live music.

Vrotos

Ouzo restaurant ouzeri.

Toicho-Toicho

An ouzeri

Pyrgos

A brasserie.

Makedoniko

 

An old district of Ano Poli hosting the eponymous tavern, along with some others.

Ano Poli

Tavern

 

Traditional fast food include sandwiches with gyros pork meat, souvlaki or soutzoukaki meat balls offered in many stores for a little over €2.

Tsarouhas

is for those of you with adventurous tastes, preferably to go after a hard night's drinking, for a "patsás" tripe soup - a delicious way to prevent a hangover.

Goody's

Is the greek fast-food chain. You will find classic hamburgers, also souvlaki, pasta, and salads.

 

This area is another lively and noisy student hang-out that gets crowded on warm nights.

Bit-Pazar

Ouzo restaurant ouzeri. A great place to eat "meze" and drink, a student hangout.

 

The old warehouse area near the port, around Morichovou sq., is chock-full of restaurants, bars and clubs.

Ellinikon

Offers 'appelation d'origine' local delicacies.

 

If you like sweets, there are 3 typical pastry-shops you should try, typical of this city:

Chatzis

(http://chatzis.gr/) is famous for its collection of Greek Asia Minor sweets politika glyka originating from Istanbul.

Terkenlis

(http://terkenlis.gr/) is famous for its variety of "tsoureki", a sweet bread much like brioche but containing spices too, covered and filled with several combinations of chocolates/creams/nuts, etc.

Elenidis

(http://elenidis.gr/) is considered the expert in "trigona" triangles made of sfoglia, filled with cream.

 

Best winter dessert: baked quince.

by rent a car

There is a variety of car rental companies.

Ride and Drive

(http://www.rideanddrive.gr)

Pop's Car Rental Greece

(http://www.popscarrental.com)

Thessaloniki Car Rental

(http://www.thessaloniki-c...)

Morphis Car Rental

(http://www.car-rental-gre...)

HolidaysCAR car rental

(http://www.holidays-car.gr)

Odos Aristotelous

Ouzo restaurant ouzeri.

snacks

For something quick, try the crepe shops patronised by the student population at Gounari street, near Navarinou square.

For a carnivore's treat, try soutzoukakia: minced meat pellets either grilled at the central market or rotisseries and topped with with chilli pepper flakes, or in tomato and cumin sauce Smyrna-style.

Agora

Ouzo restaurant ouzeri in one of the most interesting old downtown areas

clothing

For fashion, Proxenou Koromila, Mitropoleos and Tsimiski. You won't find many bargains, but the shopping area is conveniently small and full of cafes when you get too tired. For cheaper clothing, check out Egnatia street.

by car

Athens about 5 hr Highway A1, E75

Belgrade in Serbia about 7 hr A1, E75

Istanbul in Turkey about 8 hr A2, E90

Tirana in Northeastern Albania about 6 hr Α29 and Α2

Sofia in Northwest Bulgaria about 4 hr Α25, Ε79

Constanta in Romania about 8 hr.

One of the burdens for visitors and inhabitants alike is finding a parking place, so be prepared to either spend a lot of time looking for a place or pay for space in the parking lot starting from €4 for 3 hr. Don't assume you're safe from paying a fine just because locals flagrantly flout parking laws. Traffic congestion is a problem, largely due to double-parked cars, but generally fellow drivers and passers-by are helpful in showing you the way if you're lost.