Sweet tooth Athens!
The historic pastry shops of Athens really hit the sweet spot. Especially when it comes to family-run patisseries whose owners pass their secret recipes down from generation to generation. Discover the personal stories behind each shop window, and you’ll appreciate their irresistible baklava and Turkish delights even more.
Chara
Chara means 'joy' in Greek, and this nostalgically styled gem has no shortage of it. Open since 1969 on Patission Street—a prime location at the time—it specialises in syrup-soaked pastries and voluptuous ice-creams. Once the beloved haunt of politicians and celebrities, Chara has featured in several Greek films. The story begins with Aristea, a Greek from Istanbul, who worked in a pastry shop there. She fled to Athens in the early 1920s, along with many other refugees, with no possessions apart from her treasured recipes, hidden in her shoes. It never crossed Aristea’s mind to turn her pastry-making talent into a business, until her son, Nikos Papoutsis, did so himself. Now run by Aristea’s grandson, Stavros, the decor and desserts have barely changed over the decades. Find a table on the pavement and order an extra-large ice-cream sundae, or one of the six varieties of ekmek (a deeply decadent bread pudding layered with custard, clotted buffalo cream and ground nuts).
Address: 339 Patission Avenue, Ano Patissia, 111 44
Mitropolitikon
This Belle Epoque time warp opened in 1930 and has remained in the same family for three generations. Their workshop is upstairs and everything is made in-house. The moment you step inside, you are instantly enchanted by the familiar aroma of sugar and butter—strong enough to evoke childhood memories of baking with family. Among the huge variety of classic Greek pastries, Mitropolitikon is much-loved for the almond baklava, vrahakia (whole almonds covered in chocolate), amygdalota (Greek-style marzipan) scented with rose water or mandarin rind, and their quince jelly made with fresh fruit and honey, which is probably the best I’ve ever tasted.
Address: 39 Voulis, Historic Centre, 105 57
Aristokratikon
Since 1928, Aristokratikon chocolates and truffles have won devoted fans, including Maria Callas, Jackie Onassis, and Grace Kelly. The recipes are a closely guarded secret, but are based on top-quality ingredients from all over Greece: pistachios from Aegina, prunes from Skopelos, chestnuts from Pelion, sour cherries from Tripoli. Aristokratikon is also known for excellent loukoumia (Turkish delight) sugar-glazed chestnuts, and voutimata (dainty little cookies for dunking in coffee).
Address: 7 Voulis, Historic Centre, 105 62
Afoi Asimakopouloi
This family-owned pastry shop has been operating at the same location since 1915. Originally a dairy selling fresh milk, butter, yoghurt, custard cream and rice pudding, the four Asimakopoulos brothers took over the business in 1930. Over the years, they added ice cream and pastries to their rich repertoire. Their kourabiedes, the almond cookies traditionally eaten at Christmas, are among the best in town. Sisters Jane and Christina Asimakopoulou are the fourth generation dedicated to keeping sweet-toothed Athenians smiling.
Address: 82 Charilaou Trikoupi, Exarchia, 106 80
Stani
tani (which means ‘barnyard’) is the last surviving milk bar in Athens—a city once full of places where you could buy fresh milk, thick yoghurt, and dairy-based desserts. Nikolas and Zoe Karagiorgos originally opened their dairy in Piraeus in 1931. Forced to close when the port was bombed during World War II, they relocated to the current premises near Omonia Square in 1949. Now run by their grandson, Thanasis Karagiorgos, and his uncle, this old-school dairy is always full of office workers and old timers, who get through over 300 yoghurts a day. Made with fresh sheep’s milk, delivered daily from a family-owned farm, the yoghurt is topped with walnuts and a generous drizzle of honey from the Peloponnese. Other delights include anthogalo (fior di latte), excellent kaimaki (sheep’s milk ice-cream flavoured with mastiha, a resinous spice from Chios, and mahlepi (an aromatic spice made from the ground kernels of wild cherries), and rizogalo (rice pudding). The loukoumades, baby doughnuts drenched in honey, are legendary too.
Address: 10 Marikas Kotopouli, Historic Centre, 104 32
Craving Ice Cream only in Athens?
Le Greche
The most famous ice cream parlour in town—and deservedly so. Tastefully decorated, stylishly staffed and strategically situated a few metres from Syntagma Square. Although the name means “The Greeks” in Italian , the look, texture and taste of the ice cream here is convincingly Milanese. Indeed the elegant owner, Evi Papadopoulou, trained as a pastry chef and gelato pro in Brescia, near Milan. Signature flavours include the classic fior di latte, a reassuringly pale green pistachio ice cream made with real Sicilian pistachios, and (our favourite), the mascarpone with figs and ricotta with Aperol. What could be more Italian? Chocolate lovers should opt for dark chocolate sorbet, a dense and gratifying concoction that puts watery sorbets to shame. Fancy something a little outside the box? Lean on the bar and order some affogato: a hot, potent espresso served straight over silky vanilla ice cream.
Address: 16 Mitropoleos, Historic Centre, 105 63
Kokkion
Tucked on a side street not far from bustling Monastiraki Square, Kokkion is one of the most special spots for ice cream in Athens. Vassilis Papamattheou, owner of Paraxenes Yles (a store supplying specialist ingredients for pastry-making), opened Kokkion as an atelier for developing exquisite recipes and perfecting his confectionary techniques. If you’re a fan of frozen yoghurt, you must try the tangy yoghurt ice cream made from sheep’s milk. Recently, we indulged in an apricot, peach and rosemary sorbet which made us dream of sleeping beauties in Dante Gabriel Rosetti’s whimsical paintings. All the chocolate options are foolproof (they use Weiss artisanal French chocolate). Go for the spicy milk chocolate with pepper and orange—a jazzy tour de force. Finally, the salted caramel is a must. Top it off with a homemade butter cookie (best enjoyed with your eyes closed). Want a lighter scoop mate? Pair your gelato of choice with a freshly baked madeleine.
Address: 2 Protogenous, Psirri, 105 54
Cremino
Small and homely, but none the lesser for it, Cremino is an authentic little place where the home-made ice cream flavours change daily. Athanasia Kataliakou, the owner, uses sheep, cow and buffalo milk from small dairy farms. She hasn’t splurged on decorating and we mean that in a good way. The shop looks like a small living room with a kitchenette in the corner. Flavours are scribbled in the window daily. You’ll find classics like vanilla and chocolate alongside more elaborate confections, such as peach melba made with real peaches, rose made with rose petals from Athanasia’s garden, and the epic Chicago chocolate ice cream sundae, with chocolate syrup, chantilly and almonds. Half the pleasure here comes from the feeling that you have discovered a hidden gem, especially if you talk to Athanasia, who is always enthusiastic about her recipes. If you give her a good idea she might even invite you back the next day to try it!
Address: 50A Nikis, Historic Centre, 105 58
Maraboo
Maraboo is the newest addition to Athens’ artisanal ice cream scene. Located on trendy Archelaou Street, in the friendly Pangrati neighbourhood, you can chase drinks at the nearby bars with a scoop of quality ice cream. (It’s open until 11.30 pm midweek and 12.30 am on Fridays and Saturdays.) You’ll come across the most unexpected (yet by no means farcical) flavours here: think stout beer, avocado or jasmine. Our favourites include vanilla and saffron, lavender and honey, and the inimitable coconut with bay leaves. Fancy something a little more straightforward and palate cleansing? Go for the truly fruity mango sorbet. The chocolate sorbet is also eminently satisfying, with 81% organic cocoa. Flavours rotate so you probably won’t find more than ten different ones on display. Vicky and Igor, the owners, will guide you through the intriguing choices—don’t hesitate to ask for a small taste of this or that before ordering. One last thing we like about Maraboo: it only sells ice cream. And bottled water.
Address: 17 Archelaou, Pangrati, 116 36
The historic pastry shops of Athens really hit the sweet spot. Especially when it comes to family-run patisseries whose owners pass their secret recipes down from generation to generation. Discover the personal stories behind each shop window, and you’ll appreciate their irresistible baklava and Turkish delights even more.
Chara
Chara means 'joy' in Greek, and this nostalgically styled gem has no shortage of it. Open since 1969 on Patission Street—a prime location at the time—it specialises in syrup-soaked pastries and voluptuous ice-creams. Once the beloved haunt of politicians and celebrities, Chara has featured in several Greek films. The story begins with Aristea, a Greek from Istanbul, who worked in a pastry shop there. She fled to Athens in the early 1920s, along with many other refugees, with no possessions apart from her treasured recipes, hidden in her shoes. It never crossed Aristea’s mind to turn her pastry-making talent into a business, until her son, Nikos Papoutsis, did so himself. Now run by Aristea’s grandson, Stavros, the decor and desserts have barely changed over the decades. Find a table on the pavement and order an extra-large ice-cream sundae, or one of the six varieties of ekmek (a deeply decadent bread pudding layered with custard, clotted buffalo cream and ground nuts).
Address: 339 Patission Avenue, Ano Patissia, 111 44
Mitropolitikon
This Belle Epoque time warp opened in 1930 and has remained in the same family for three generations. Their workshop is upstairs and everything is made in-house. The moment you step inside, you are instantly enchanted by the familiar aroma of sugar and butter—strong enough to evoke childhood memories of baking with family. Among the huge variety of classic Greek pastries, Mitropolitikon is much-loved for the almond baklava, vrahakia (whole almonds covered in chocolate), amygdalota (Greek-style marzipan) scented with rose water or mandarin rind, and their quince jelly made with fresh fruit and honey, which is probably the best I’ve ever tasted.
Address: 39 Voulis, Historic Centre, 105 57
Aristokratikon
Since 1928, Aristokratikon chocolates and truffles have won devoted fans, including Maria Callas, Jackie Onassis, and Grace Kelly. The recipes are a closely guarded secret, but are based on top-quality ingredients from all over Greece: pistachios from Aegina, prunes from Skopelos, chestnuts from Pelion, sour cherries from Tripoli. Aristokratikon is also known for excellent loukoumia (Turkish delight) sugar-glazed chestnuts, and voutimata (dainty little cookies for dunking in coffee).
Address: 7 Voulis, Historic Centre, 105 62
Afoi Asimakopouloi
This family-owned pastry shop has been operating at the same location since 1915. Originally a dairy selling fresh milk, butter, yoghurt, custard cream and rice pudding, the four Asimakopoulos brothers took over the business in 1930. Over the years, they added ice cream and pastries to their rich repertoire. Their kourabiedes, the almond cookies traditionally eaten at Christmas, are among the best in town. Sisters Jane and Christina Asimakopoulou are the fourth generation dedicated to keeping sweet-toothed Athenians smiling.
Address: 82 Charilaou Trikoupi, Exarchia, 106 80
Stani
tani (which means ‘barnyard’) is the last surviving milk bar in Athens—a city once full of places where you could buy fresh milk, thick yoghurt, and dairy-based desserts. Nikolas and Zoe Karagiorgos originally opened their dairy in Piraeus in 1931. Forced to close when the port was bombed during World War II, they relocated to the current premises near Omonia Square in 1949. Now run by their grandson, Thanasis Karagiorgos, and his uncle, this old-school dairy is always full of office workers and old timers, who get through over 300 yoghurts a day. Made with fresh sheep’s milk, delivered daily from a family-owned farm, the yoghurt is topped with walnuts and a generous drizzle of honey from the Peloponnese. Other delights include anthogalo (fior di latte), excellent kaimaki (sheep’s milk ice-cream flavoured with mastiha, a resinous spice from Chios, and mahlepi (an aromatic spice made from the ground kernels of wild cherries), and rizogalo (rice pudding). The loukoumades, baby doughnuts drenched in honey, are legendary too.
Address: 10 Marikas Kotopouli, Historic Centre, 104 32
Craving Ice Cream only in Athens?
Le Greche
The most famous ice cream parlour in town—and deservedly so. Tastefully decorated, stylishly staffed and strategically situated a few metres from Syntagma Square. Although the name means “The Greeks” in Italian , the look, texture and taste of the ice cream here is convincingly Milanese. Indeed the elegant owner, Evi Papadopoulou, trained as a pastry chef and gelato pro in Brescia, near Milan. Signature flavours include the classic fior di latte, a reassuringly pale green pistachio ice cream made with real Sicilian pistachios, and (our favourite), the mascarpone with figs and ricotta with Aperol. What could be more Italian? Chocolate lovers should opt for dark chocolate sorbet, a dense and gratifying concoction that puts watery sorbets to shame. Fancy something a little outside the box? Lean on the bar and order some affogato: a hot, potent espresso served straight over silky vanilla ice cream.
Address: 16 Mitropoleos, Historic Centre, 105 63
Kokkion
Tucked on a side street not far from bustling Monastiraki Square, Kokkion is one of the most special spots for ice cream in Athens. Vassilis Papamattheou, owner of Paraxenes Yles (a store supplying specialist ingredients for pastry-making), opened Kokkion as an atelier for developing exquisite recipes and perfecting his confectionary techniques. If you’re a fan of frozen yoghurt, you must try the tangy yoghurt ice cream made from sheep’s milk. Recently, we indulged in an apricot, peach and rosemary sorbet which made us dream of sleeping beauties in Dante Gabriel Rosetti’s whimsical paintings. All the chocolate options are foolproof (they use Weiss artisanal French chocolate). Go for the spicy milk chocolate with pepper and orange—a jazzy tour de force. Finally, the salted caramel is a must. Top it off with a homemade butter cookie (best enjoyed with your eyes closed). Want a lighter scoop mate? Pair your gelato of choice with a freshly baked madeleine.
Address: 2 Protogenous, Psirri, 105 54
Cremino
Small and homely, but none the lesser for it, Cremino is an authentic little place where the home-made ice cream flavours change daily. Athanasia Kataliakou, the owner, uses sheep, cow and buffalo milk from small dairy farms. She hasn’t splurged on decorating and we mean that in a good way. The shop looks like a small living room with a kitchenette in the corner. Flavours are scribbled in the window daily. You’ll find classics like vanilla and chocolate alongside more elaborate confections, such as peach melba made with real peaches, rose made with rose petals from Athanasia’s garden, and the epic Chicago chocolate ice cream sundae, with chocolate syrup, chantilly and almonds. Half the pleasure here comes from the feeling that you have discovered a hidden gem, especially if you talk to Athanasia, who is always enthusiastic about her recipes. If you give her a good idea she might even invite you back the next day to try it!
Address: 50A Nikis, Historic Centre, 105 58
Maraboo
Maraboo is the newest addition to Athens’ artisanal ice cream scene. Located on trendy Archelaou Street, in the friendly Pangrati neighbourhood, you can chase drinks at the nearby bars with a scoop of quality ice cream. (It’s open until 11.30 pm midweek and 12.30 am on Fridays and Saturdays.) You’ll come across the most unexpected (yet by no means farcical) flavours here: think stout beer, avocado or jasmine. Our favourites include vanilla and saffron, lavender and honey, and the inimitable coconut with bay leaves. Fancy something a little more straightforward and palate cleansing? Go for the truly fruity mango sorbet. The chocolate sorbet is also eminently satisfying, with 81% organic cocoa. Flavours rotate so you probably won’t find more than ten different ones on display. Vicky and Igor, the owners, will guide you through the intriguing choices—don’t hesitate to ask for a small taste of this or that before ordering. One last thing we like about Maraboo: it only sells ice cream. And bottled water.
Address: 17 Archelaou, Pangrati, 116 36
