Entertainment In Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki has some great entertainment and leisure options. There is a huge range of fine eateries from cafs serving delicious Greek snacks to traditional tavernas and swish international restaurants. The city has an interesting art and music scene, with traditional Greek music, a number of theatres and some good nightclubs. Thessaloniki also has some of the best shopping in Greece and a colourful food market.

Eating out

Thessaloniki is a great city for eating out, with a huge choice of restaurants and cafs for those in search of a full meal or just a quick snack. Two of the best areas for eating are Ladadika, one of the areas of the city to survive the 1917 fire, and Bit Pazar, where there used to be a Turkish market. The Ladadika area used to be the centre of the olive oil trade in the city and with its old buildings and vibrant colours, it is particularly pleasant to stroll around looking for a restaurant.

The main focus here is Mediterranean and Greek cuisine but, as the second biggest city in Greece, Thessaloniki has a huge range of international restaurants as well. For great seafood, head to the waterfront, where there are a selection of tavernas, with Miami being one of the most popular with both locals and tourists alike. The area above Ano Poli, known as the Kastra, also contains some traditional small tavernas.

Local cuisine

The focus of the local cuisine here is spicy fresh grilled meat and Mediterranean vegetables. The best way to sample Greek cuisine is to head to a traditional taverna and order a mezedes, a variety of hot and cold dishes, usually including domades (stuffed vine leaves), aubergine salad, a selection of grilled meat, cheese, seafood and other local specialities. The olives are both abundant and delicious, and no meal is complete without a Greek salad with feta cheese.

There are some great local snacks to be sampled such as tyropita (a cheese pie), gyros and souvlaki, the latter two consist of grilled meat, usually served in pitta bread. Thessaloniki is dotted with bakeries serving traditional Greek sweets such as baklava (made with nuts and honey) and pougatsa (cream pies).

Theatre and music

Thessaloniki has a rich and varied theatre and music scene, and is considered to be the heart of modern Greek music. There are many bouzoukia in the city (clubs specialising in traditional Greek bouzouki music) and these are popular places to head after a meal and a few drinks.

The Thessaloniki Film Festival held in November each year is one of the finest in Europe, usually featuring world premieres and small independent productions. The festival is held at the Olympion Cinema, an historic and beautiful building with a fantastic caf.

There are a number of theatres in Thessaloniki and every year during the summer season, the citys outdoor Garden Theatre plays host to an Open Theatre Festival, with a mixture of modern Greek drama, European Theatre and traditional Greek performances.

The city has a vibrant nightlife, with a number of outdoor dancing and music venues. The Piano Bar is a popular nightclub, and the area close to the airport has a number of venues offering live music. Some of the citys nightlife is focused around Mylos, an old windmill which has been converted into a number of clubs and restaurants.

Shopping

For shopping, Thessaloniki is second only to Athens in Greece. The most fashionable shopping area is Tsimiski Street, running through the centre of the city, where you will find many Greek and international fashion boutiques. Mitropoleos Street is also good for clothes shopping and the area of Kalamaria, in the eastern part of the city, is another fashionable shopping district.

There are also some big shopping centres situated outside the city centre in the Pylaia area. These have become popular with people not wanting to drive and park in the city. Mediterranean Cosmos is the biggest shopping centre, with a range of shops, but while convenient, the out-of-town shopping centres lack the charm of shopping in the city itself.

The Modiano Old Market is worth a visit even if you dont buy anything; this lively meat, fish and vegetable market is always busy with locals buying fresh food and enjoying some light-hearted banter with the stall holders. Outside the market are the flower shops, which add some wonderful colours and smells to the busy street.

There are many good shops throughout the city and the best way to explore is by just strolling around the streets and window-shopping in some of the many interesting smaller shops and boutiques.