5 New Athens Patisseries You Shouldn’t Miss

If you are foodies (like us) who are always on the hunt to eat at the best spots anytime you travel somewhere, then get ready to experience the best flavours around Athens- a city quickly filling up with a great range of patisseries that are glossy and new with boutique beauty! 

Kokakias (48-50 Patriarchou Ioakeim, Kolonaki)

Kokakias is the Greek diminutive for coque, a domed cake made of syrupy sponge that’s filled with a velvety cream and covered in a chocolate glaze, is the star of this small, pink patisserie. Indeed, you’ll find the dessert in several creative renditions here, created by pastry chef Manolis Stithos, known for his work with Funky Gourmet restaurant. Try the bright red Red Velvet coque with Madagascar vanilla, whipped cream and red fruits, the lemon-flavoured Ekmek coque with crispy cantaloupe and light vanilla cream, or the pistachio praline and Aegina candied pistachios as well as the Ferrero coque. Also tasty are the other desserts they prepare, such as the profiterole which instead of chou centres around mini coques with vanilla cream, hazelnut praline and bitter chocolate glaze. 

Candy’s Caravan (3 Giannitsopoulou 3 Glyfada)

How about something different? Like, say, pancakes on a stick for hassle-free indulgence, yummy and syrupy baba in a burger wrapper, or red velvet cake, chocolates, crunchy dumplings and many more indulgent treats. All this and more can be found at Candy’s Caravan, a fast-food-themed confectionery and unique concept store in Glyfada. Also an Instagrammer’s paradise because of the truly mouth-watering and amusing presentation.


Little Darling (119 Ethnarchou Makariou, Argyroupoli)

If you’re looking for a raw dessert that’s still just as delicious as a “regular” one, except that these desserts replace sugar with healthier syrups, are usually not baked and include ingredients like fruit, dried fruit, healthy powders like lucuma and nuts, then Little Darling is where you’ll find exactly what you want. This ‘secret’ spot has been known for some time by vegans and lovers of a healthier diet who visit the patisserie in Argyroupoli for raw vegan desserts made from amazing guilt-free ingredients. Some desserts to try are the white chocolate and hazelnut cream, passion fruit and mango tart and the raw carrot cake with carrots, nuts, raisins and spices. Even if you are not vegan, they are well worth discovering.

In Love Again in Athens (3 Kliitiou Street, Monastiraki)

This is the sweet sibling of the well-known and awarded bar “Baba Au Rum” bar, and opened at the beginning of September. In essence, it’s a concept store that marries quality coffee with sweets inspired by popular cocktails, and a florist. The Mai Tai tart is made with vanilla cookie, lime cream, bitter almond meringue and bergamot flavours; the Zombie profiterole contains fluffy noodles filled with aged rum-flavoured cream, white chocolate, a pomegranate glaze, grapefruit jam and pineapple and the Piña Colada cheesecake has coconut baked cream, a crispy cookie base and is topped with pineapple chunks. The rum baba is not missing from the menu, and you’ll find it in two versions, vanilla or caramel and passion fruit syrup, orange and peach. Also, try the vegan cinnamon cream vegan baguette made with oat milk and Iu honey. The entire menu is curated by chef Michalis Nournoglou.

Ourse (39 Mystra 39, Ano Glyfada)

At Ourse you’ll find sweets inspired by French culinary philosophy – with a lot of butter and cream – and a Greek character, since almost all the raw materials are Greek and mainly from small producers nationwide. Don’t miss out on the Flan Parisién, one of the most famous Parisian pastries, with thick cream and a sweet aroma of real Madagascar vanilla; the Paris-Brest with a chou puff pastry base filled with pistachio praline cream; pistachio ganache montée and pistachio crumble, and the Aegina pistachio tart that plays with four different textures of the nut. You’ll also find fluffy, chewy macarons in a wide variety of flavours, sinful chocolates to eat two by two, ice cream and apple pie – if you get there on time.

 

The Ultimate Guide to Athens for Foodies

Athens for food lovers can be one of the best travel experiences ever! And we suggest you bookmark our Ultimate Guide to Athens for Foodies as it will certainly please all your senses! 

Many visitors to the Greek capital tend to wonder: what are the spots every foodie shouldn’t miss? From three-level stores to tiny hole-in-the-wall shops, we’ve put together an unmissable itinerary of edible adventures for a DIY food tour in Athens. 

These are our picks of distinctive stores that will guide you to the best cheese, coffee, olive oil, spices, herbs, seafood, bread, and wine in town—surefire hits to taste while you are there and also some great gifts for yourself or others when it’s time to go home. 

Ergon Foods

Ten thousand square feet of pure bliss where you’ll find urban farmers harvesting a vertical orchard; and where bakers, butchers, fishmongers, and greengrocers bring the best and freshest of everything to market. Here chefs are at hand to prepare your purchase for you to enjoy on the spot or even takeaway. 

A: 23, Mitropoleos Street, Athens

Varvakeios Markets

Open every day, except Sunday, from early morning till late afternoon (around 8 am to 6 pm), at Varvakeios Markets you will find people in search of the best cuts, cured meat products, endless herbs, aromatic spices, nuts (of all kinds), olives (in every size), varieties of Greek cheese; and an array of legumes, fresh fish (and other seafood), colourful fruit and vegetables; as well as traditional Greek sausages like soutzouki and pastourma (plus lots more). 

A: Athinas 42, Athens

Insights Greece - The Ultimate Guide to Athens for Foodies

Ariana Olives

This year, 2021, marks a century since this warehouse-like shop (Ariana’s Olives) has sold almost nothing but olives. Open to the street, this hole-in-the-wall store invites you to taste the contents of 23 large free-standing barrels as well as smaller containers poised on shelves along the side walls. This wide collection features the fruit of some 20 varieties, with emphasis on the big oval greeny ones from Amphissa, the famous olive grove below Delphi.

A: Theatrou 3, Athens

Loumidis

This is the city’s oldest coffee store, serving freshly ground coffee the Greek way: strong and poured into mini white cups. Beyond the classic blends, Loumidis sells flavoured coffee including almond, hazelnut, cinnamon, orange, and amaretto. The utensils needed to prepare strong Greek coffee—such as the traditional Briki and grinding mills—can be bought at Loumidis.

A: 106 Aiolou, Omonia Square

Karamanlidika tou Fani

 In 2014 Evripidou St, the “spice street” of Athens, became even more sensorily exciting with the opening of the restaurant-deli Ta Karamanlidika Tou Fani, located in an old lovely stone house with a pretty, naturally-lit courtyard. Here you will find cold cuts and cheeses from all parts of Greece and you can sit in or take away. 

A: 119 Ermou, Monastiraki

Insights Greece - The Ultimate Guide to Athens for Foodies

Stani 

An authentic dairy store that dates back to 1931, here you can try traditional yogurts, made from cow and sheep milk, which have been awarded a certificate of authenticity, as well as a gold medal in the International Food Exhibition of Thessaloniki. You can also taste rice pudding and cream, especially enriched with aromas, along with other fresh pastries such as galaktoboureko (Greek custard pie.) 

A: 10  M. Kotopouli str, Omonia

Zouridakis

If you would like to taste traditional Cretan delicacies in the heart of Athens, head to Zouridakis, where you’ll find authentic Cretan products including meat, olive oil, cheese, herbs, rusks, and pasta. The story of Zouridakis deli goes back to 1930 when the family opened their first bakery in Chania, Crete. Over the years, they have expanded their business and range of products.  

A: Evripidou 25, Athens

Pantopoleio tis Mesogeiakis Diatrofis

A local favourite, this is a store where you can stock up on products that allow you to follow a true Mediterranean diet. From olive oil and herbs to teas and handmade pasta, there is also a great selection of organic wines to choose from. 

A: Sofokleous 1, Athens

Matsouka

If you would like to stock up on some local Loukoumia, Koufeta (sugar-coated almonds), mountain tea, spoon sweets, oregano, and legumes, head over to Matsouka, where you can also purchase locally produced dried fruits, nuts, and irresistible confectionery. 

A: Nikis 4, Athina; Kanari 8, Kolonaki

Yoleni’s

With a four-storey flagship store in Kolonaki, Yoleni’s is the ultimate Greek Gastronomy centre showcasing the best of Greece’s goodies under one roof. Stock up on wines, oils, herbs, and sweets from the Aegean, as you try the freshly baked pita (pie) of the day. There is also a great steak bar where you can choose your favourite cut and have it cooked just the way you like it, or arrange to have a private wine tasting session on Level 3! 

A: Solonos 9, Athens

Kostarelos

Did someone say cheese? If you love dairy, add Kostarelos to your list as this institution dates back to 1937 when the family began making cheese and yogurt using milk from their farm. Fast forward to 2021 and now you can enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner at this specialty store that allows you to sample all their famous goods on-site. The irresistible menu includes Greek cheese fondue and a tailor-made platter, featuring 20 different cheese options such as their specialty Feta, Graviera, Kefalotyri, and Maestyri.

A: Patriarchou Ioakim 30-32, Athens

Carpo

For healthy and delicious delicacies enter the doors of Carpo, where you can purchase handmade pasteli (sesame seeds with honey), dried fruits (such as dates, figs, and apricots), premium nuts (roasted, unsalted, sea salted, and coated) homemade chocolate (pieces, slabs, pralines, and truffles), plus a range of Greek honey and state of the art coffee beans, which are all beautifully packaged- making it the perfect spot to pick up some edible gifts. 

A: Kanari 6, Kolonaki; 1 Dimitriou Vassileiou Ave, Athens; Panepistimiou 9, Athens

Insights Greece - The Ultimate Guide to Athens for Foodies