“Panselinos”, at number 3 of Tositsa Street, inside the arcade of Bit Bazaar, is a beautiful retro shop, with a welcoming courtyard and a tree that gives coolness. In the more than 20 years of the history of the place, it goes from the hands of friends to the hands of other friends and continues to be the most quiet and secluded option to enjoy your meal or a drink in the otherwise bustling arcade of Refugee Market.

As long as the tavern in the lower left corner of Bit Bazaar has been operating, it has grown from ‘Selini’, as we knew it for years, to now ‘Panselinos’. Passing through the hands of previous owners who were friends, it reached the current ones, who took over the space a year ago.

The interior of the tavern is retro, with the period black and white tiles making it especially dear to those who are “tied” to the past and like to bring it into the present.

The wooden table seats, the marble table tops, the comfortable bar and the discreet but full wine cellar, promise a warm stay on every visit, with elements of the new owners’ personality decorating the space. They themselves maintain it, after all, as a more alternative, not so pop restaurant, which they operate, on their own terms.

The yard that wins

What, however, gives the most to “Panselinos” and what makes it stand out, is its beautiful courtyard. Away from the other restaurants and taverns of the arcade, it ensures the quietness you need to enjoy a meal the way you want, with the necessary coolness when the weather is hot and a feeling that can make you forget you are in the center of Thessaloniki.

Especially the climbing tree, which covers almost the entire outdoor space and is now blooming, with the pergolas and comfortable seats, gives you the experience you really need, in the center of the city.

The menu options…

In the Mediterranean cuisine menu of “Panselinos” you will find, in the main courses, well-cooked meats, such as the veal souvlaki with Florinis pepper sauce, the veal liver with sweet potato puree or the chicken thigh fillet with potato salad.

The mushroom schnitzel, which is now made without egg and is also ideal for vegan customers, has remained stable as a value, all these years, while the carrot meatballs or the vegetable stir fry are also really worth it, as well as the traditional Caesarian vegetable pie, also ideal for those who do not desire meat or animal components.

From the salads we recommend the beetroot with blue cheese and orange, from the new dishes of the tavern and from the appetizers for bream, ouzo, wine, retsina or beer, the smoked mackerel and the traditional pastourma pie of Caesarea.

In all the dishes, the suppliers of the raw materials are usually small producers, with the quality of meat and vegetables being guaranteed.

…and the ones of the cellar

In the cellar, retsina, white, red and rosé wines (exclusively dry and semi-dry, without added sugar), from Cooperatives with which the owners of “Panselinos” cooperate, tsipouro also from Cooperatives, but also raki, which comes directly from small producers in Archanes of Heraklion, Crete, are among your basic choices, to accompany your meal.

Regular drinks are also served, which you can enjoy at the bar of the tavern, while you will find many options from exclusively Greek microbreweries. Beer glasses and beer-related frames dominate the space, as do retsina glasses, which adorn the bar.

Meals after music

Every Tuesday you will enjoy live rebetika and oriental – Asia Minor songs of Kafe Aman. All other days, the tavern’s playlist will offer you notes of alternative, rock, jazz and reggae music. And you will feel as if you are in the courtyard of a tavern, on an island…

A “gem” of Bit Bazaar

The always willing team of “Panselinos” is ready to serve you on every visit and to suggest what to try, based on your preferences or dietary preferences.

Whether you sit inside or outside, one thing is certain, that you will enjoy every bite and every visit, in this beautiful place, which is discreetly hidden behind and among the antique shops of Bit Bazaar and which has been characterized as a “diamond” by its patrons.

Tip: “Panselenos” opens from Friday to Sunday from 13.00, from Tuesday to Thursday from 19.00 and on Monday, it remains closed. It is advisable to make a reservation, especially if it is a Tuesday, Friday or Saturday.