Koulouri Thessalonikis, fresh pies, vegan bakes
Tragano on Dimitriou Gounari near Navarinou Square bakes some of the city's most reliable koulouri (sesame bread rings) alongside cheese and spinach pies, vegan options, and small filled sandwich-bagels. The wood-oven crisp on the koulouri and the rotating savoury pies have built a loyal queue from breakfast through lunch.
Galaktoboureko, revani, traditional Greek pastries
Thanasis on Egnatia is the address for hot galaktoboureko, the semolina custard pastry in crisp phyllo drenched with citrus syrup. Serves a full range of traditional Greek sweets plus loukoumades (honey fritters) on weekends.
Bougatsa croissant, artisan pastries, brunch bakes
Estrella popularised the bougatsa croissant, a cream-filled phyllo-pastry hybrid that sells out before 10am. The full pastry range spans almond croissants, custard danishes, and seasonal fruit tarts. The coffee is specialty-grade. Opens 08:00 daily.
Natural sourdough breads and French viennoiseries
Fleur in Pylaia opened in 2019 as Thessaloniki's serious naturally-leavened bread programme, with slow-fermented sourdough loaves, monastic-style breads and ancient-grain zea sitting beside French croissants and handmade macarons. Opens 06:00; second branch on Egnatia 127.
Organic bread, health pastries, seed loaves
Zitari on Proxenou Koromila is Thessaloniki's foremost health-bakery, producing organic whole-grain loaves, seed-studded crackers, and no-added-sugar pastries. The clientele is largely residential; the bread sells out by noon.
Traditional Greek sweets, loukoumi, halvah
A confectionery and pastry shop on Tsimiski focused on traditional Macedonian sweets including rose and mastic loukoumi, sesame halvah, and sugar-preserved fruits. The packaging makes it one of the city's best edible souvenirs.