13 Agiou Konstantinou Street, Efkarpia, Thessaloniki “Doragon” means “dragon” in Japanese and if “Doragon” – this unique space on 13 Agiou Konstantinou Street, in Efkarpia – has something, it is its direct connection to the world of fantasy and magic! For eight years, it has been offering the city of Thessaloniki something truly special: a completely thematic destination, where upon entering you leave every care behind and let yourself enjoy the magic of each of its spaces.
How? By drinking your coffee or drink with heroes such as Harry Potter, Beauty and the Beast, the 8-year-old boy from “The Polar Express” and other characters from favorite animations and films, but also with Halloween or other themed decorations of the year.
Those who pass through the door of “Doragon” leave reality behind and enter a fantasy world, full of magical settings, fairy tale heroes and decoration, which changes with the seasons. And no, it is not a playground, but a thematic area mainly for adults, with such an atmosphere, which makes even the most demanding visitors want to stay for hours.
This “magical” destination, as dreamed by its owner, started with one room in December 2017 and today offers you five different spaces, constituting a multi-thematic, absolutely Instagrammable cafe – bar, capable of hosting up to 250 people. The concept on which it was based is the creation of a destination to escape from routine, where the atmosphere is captivating!
From Harry Potter to Beauty and the Beast: Each room is an experience
This season, “Doragon” welcomes its visitors with two themes that make the imagination run wild: one is permanent and is none other than the magical world of Harry Potter, with an authentic Hogwarts atmosphere, moving images and a carriage reminiscent of Harry’s journey on the Hogwarts Express.
The second —and temporary until May 31— theme concerns Beauty and the Beast, with an impressively decorated garden space that tells the romantic story in a captivating way and music taken directly from the animated film!
“Doragon” changes themes four times a year: from Halloween and Christmas, when you will have the opportunity to live, in the carriage, the experience of the “Polar Express”, to Spring and Summer with fairies and secret gardens, each of your visits can be different. In June, the transformation of its “Secret Garden” into a Fairy Garden is expected, with a new fairy tale coming to life before your eyes!
Escape with taste
The “Doragon” menu is not far behind – it offers an almost… cinematic experience. In the current menu, which is shaped like the mirror of Beauty, you will find drinks with sparklers, sweets with “spilled” chocolates, and interactive presentations that excite young and old, as well as themed alcoholic drinks: “Belle” and “Beast” and themed cocktails, such as “Gaston”, “Lumiere”, etc.
Sweets also inspired by the fairy tale, such as “Candle”, “Clock” and “The Little Chip”, take you on a journey in their own way. Finally, there are fixed dishes and drinks inspired by the world of Harry Potter, such as the “Harry Potter sweet” and the “Hogwarts school express” milkshake, which ideally complement the fairy-tale setting.
Time stops
One of the most characteristic elements of “Doragon” is the feeling of time that… disappears. Visitors on average stay in the space for 2 to 2.5 hours – and this is not due to the wait.
On the contrary, the store staff, always friendly and dressed thematically depending on the occasion, encourage visitors to browse the spaces, take pictures, sit as long as they want and relax. No one will rush you to order or leave.
The outdoor area – “Station” is available for smokers, while the famous “Doragon” carriage is designed to resemble a journey, with compartments and moving images on screens, which create the illusion that you are on your way to Hogwarts.
Thematic tourism made in Efkarpia
Eight years now and constantly enriched, “Doragon” has become a destination in itself. It is no coincidence that the majority of its visitors come from eastern districts, such as Kalamaria and Toumba, while many tourists also visit it – often organized by buses – since it has now established itself as one of the most special café-attractions in Thessaloniki.
“Doragon” awaits you to experience the magic up close, to find yourself where imagination takes shape, fairy tales come to life and you… forget where you are! After all, as its team says: “you don’t come here to just drink a coffee, but to calm down, to dream and remember what it’s like to believe in fairy tales”!
Tip 1: “Doragon” operates from Tuesday to Friday 17:00 – 00:00 (on Monday it is closed for the… rest of its elves!) and on weekends from 10:00 in the morning, while it remains open even on holidays.
Tip 2: You can make reservations exclusively for the wagon, which is also available as a private space.
