On 209 Vasilissis Olgas Avenue, on the street where all the old villas of the city are located, the oldest patisserie in Thessaloniki, “Ellinikon”, has been operating since 1938. We have all seen it and admired its creations. Most of us have tried at least once its excellent rodinia and other old-style sweets, for which it is famous. Many love it for its Armenonville, which is truly special. Its history goes back 90 years and concerns people, residents and visitors of Thessaloniki, for almost a century. And that, in itself, is impressive!

The history of the “Ellinikon” Patisserie dates back to 1935 and is a history that has naturally been influenced by the Occupation and the war years. What do we mean? The original name of the Patisserie, which opened in 1935 opposite Villa Bilanca, on Vasilissis Olgas Avenue, was “Ethnikon”. With the arrival of the tram from that location, it moved, in 1938, a little further afield and when the War came, it was forced to change its name to “Ellinikon”.

The original owner was Georgios Pantsios, together with his then partner, at a time when there were few patisseries in Thessaloniki, just as there were few sweets produced. Ice cream, macaroons, cookies and a few pastries, petit fours, chocolates, kourabie and savoyards, as well as vanilla cookies and trigona, were the basic items of “Elliniko”. There is even a photo of the owner with the “invoice” (ed. that’s what the catalog was called at the time), to prove it.

Mother and daughter, the current owners

From 1967 onwards, the original owner’s daughter, Aspa Pantsiou, was at the helm of the business, while from 2000 her daughter, Chara Kiritsi, took over, sealing the third generation of owners and with the business closing, today, 90 years of operation as the oldest patisserie in the city.

Many actors, such as Aliki Vougiouklaki, Dimitris Papamichael, Jenny Karezi and Kostas Kazakos, singers, such as Charis Alexiou, painters, politicians and other prominent people have passed through its doors, even the French general and politician, Charles de Gaulle, during the war years. The joy and success of the store are, according to the owner, the new generations who come with their families, while years ago they used to frequent “Ellinikon” with their grandparents.

The top sweets of “Ellinikon”

Exuberant, with brio and plenty of humor, Aspa Pantsiou will make you feel at home and together with her daughter Chara and the store staff, they will recommend the most delicious sweets.

“Ellinikon” has been famous for its ice cream for years. We know, it’s winter now, but who could resist its old-fashioned flavors, such as cream, chocolate, strawberry, lemon and praline. Knowing that nothing has changed from the original recipe, in the wide variety of new flavors. They have about 50 flavors in total in the summer with the cream parfait and chocolate standing out as well as their semi-frozen Armenonville.

The walnut ones (ed. the well-known ergolavi, as they make them here), the syrupy ones, the old pastries, such as the “Marquise”, the eclairs and the mocha eclairs, their famous small and large rodinia, the profiteroles, are some of the old products of “Ellinikon”, which continue to be popular and have even greater demand in recent years.

Recipes that remain the same, ingredients pure and consistent

All these years, the recipes remain the same, as do the pure ingredients and their suppliers, who have been consistent for many decades. You will not find ingredients like ready-made powders, but only pure flavors, without experimentation, with faith in family tradition, which wants the best for the customers of the Pastry Shop. After all, this is what makes “Ellinikon” stand out from other pastry shops: the dedication to tradition and old, authentic, raw materials.

Modern sweets and handmade pies

Among the most modern sweets you will find the macarons of recent years, tiramisu and cheesecake, chocolate pies, brownies and the black forest, which is particularly loved. It is ideally balanced between juicy cherries, velvety chocolate cake and thin layers of whipped cream and in every spoonful, you feel the delightful taste of sweet cherries, with the richness of chocolate.

Be sure to try the “Aspas’s baked cookies” – the double-baked “Ellinikon” cookies that are literally a hit – and the petit fours, with jam, strawberry or lemon, as well as the village pies, savory, which are opened and made exclusively by hand and include minced meat, cheese, spinach and leek. All prepared with pure ingredients, such as fresh butter and good oil, just like in the old days.

Discover your own favorite dessert!

All the items of “Elliniko” Patisserie can be enjoyed on site, at the tables in the space, combining your morning or afternoon coffee and tea, with your sweet or savory snack.

Chara will introduce you to the passion and her own fresh touch in confectionery and Aspa will invite you to choose any dessert that “suits you”, as soon as you enter the store. The suggestions may be abundant, but everyone has their own favorite dessert! What do you say should be yours? Come to “Ellinikon” to discover it!

Tip: The store is open Monday to Sunday 07.30 – 23.30