Mezen Salonica ★ 4.5
Mezen's never-ending relay of small seafood plates arriving until you stop them has made it one of the most imitated formats in Thessaloniki. The kokoretsi of snapper and the calamari carbonara are the dishes food writers cite.
CuisineSouvlaki, grilled meats
Price range€
Location
Address: Egnatia 162, Thessaloniki 546 21
More casual dining in Thessaloniki
Deka Trapezia ★ 4.4
Chef Manolis Papoutsakis's no-reservation meze room in Ladadika brings Cretan ingredients to a walk-in format. Ten tables, daily specials, and a loyal local following make it an essential stop on Stratigou Kallari Street.
Nea Folia ★ 4.3
Since 1967 Nea Folia near Ano Poli has served the old Thessaloniki dishes: kavourmas of Xanthi beef, smoked mackerel with samphire, soutzoukakia of buffalo mince. No English menu; the staff speak enough to guide a first-timer through the specials board.
Ouzeri Tsinari ★ 4.2
Thessaloniki's oldest surviving ouzeri, trading in some form since 1865 near the Kapani market. Tsipouro, ouzo, and meze plates that have barely changed in a century. Order the marides (fried whitebait) and the htapodi (chargrilled octopus).
Canteen ★ 4.1
Canteen on Gounari has established itself as the go-to all-day room in the city centre with strong brunch trade, good coffee, and a menu that stretches from avocado toast to slow-cooked lamb. Outdoor tables suit the people-watching culture of the square.
Rouga ★ 4.0
Rouga near the port runs the classic tsipouradiko model: tsipouro arrives first, then a procession of small cold and hot plates including taramosalata, saganaki, and whole grilled fish. Popular with locals and port workers for a long lunchtime session.