Takis Bakery on Misaraliotou in Koukaki has baked breads and pies in Athens since 1961, three generations of the Papadopoulos family with 30 daily fresh breads.
Tip: Morning bread out by 07:00; the koulouri Thessalonikis is the breakfast order with a coffee.
Address: Misaraliotou 14, Athina 117 42, Greece, Athens
Pnyka in Pangrati Athens has baked since 1981 from a wood-burning oven, sourdough only with the stone mill in-house, with the Kotsaris family running the bakery across generations.
Tip: The Pangrati branch holds the stone mill; the carob loaf is the long-keeper to take home.
Worth the queue: Stone-mill wholemeal sourdough
Kora on Anagnostopoulou in Kolonaki Athens is the sourdough and viennoiserie bakery from Maria Alafouzou and Ianthi Michalaki, with morning croissants and a long bread list.
Tip: Weekend mornings sell out by 11:00; the morning sourdough loaf is the order to take home.
Worth the queue: Buttery croissant and morning sourdough loaf
Pnyka on Petraki in central Athens is the Syntagma branch of the long-running sourdough bakery, the destination for the buckwheat and zea ancient-grain loaves.
Tip: Mid-morning is the best window; the low-gluten loaves often sell out by lunchtime.
Worth the queue: Buckwheat low-gluten sourdough
Venetis 1948 in Kifisia is the original founding store of the Athens Venetis bakery chain, a destination for Greek breads, tsoureki at Easter and pies year-round.
Tip: Multiple Athens locations; the Kifisia 1948 store is the founding bakery with the widest stock.
Worth the queue: Tsoureki bread at Easter
Ariston on Voulis behind Syntagma in Athens has baked filo pies since 1910, a takeaway counter where the spanakopita is the order and the bougatsa is the breakfast.
Tip: Stand-up counter only; closed Sundays. The morning pies fly out before 10:00.
Worth the queue: Spanakopita
Krinos on Aiolou has fried loukoumades on the same recipe and decor since 1923 in Athens, the back-row counter where the doughnuts come with honey and a Greek coffee.
Tip: Closed Sundays; the seated counter at the back is the destination, not the takeaway window.
Worth the queue: Loukoumades with honey and cinnamon
