For 32 years, at one of the most pivotal points that connect the center with Ano Poli, on 22 Apostolou Pavlou Street, opposite the Turkish Consulate, “Prigipos” has been steadily writing its own history. Silently, as a cradle of culture at times, it is a daily meeting point, for a coffee in the morning and a beer at noon, in the heart of Thessaloniki!

And both the menu and its space “bear witness” to the great history of the business, which succeeded a Cafe that had operated in this location since the early 20th century. Especially now that the new season has finally arrived, “Prigipos” will be… the “greenhouse for the garden of our hearts”!

Every day, all day long, “Prigipos” is full of people. Regulars, others less regular, visitors to the city, travelers, passers-by, who stop by this now historic cafe.

In a place that takes the visitor back in time, from the morning of October 11, 1993, when it opened, until today, 32 years later, the beauty of this timeless space remains constant, while many of the customers have now turned it into their “second home”!

Not by chance, since the warm and welcoming environment of “Prigipos” makes it easy for every passer-by to want to come in, for every local to want to drink their daily coffee here, for every other resident to see it as a meeting point. From early morning until late at night, with coffee, beer, drinks and food, with a friendly and helpful staff and a wide list of Greek breweries and exquisite flavors to accompany it… and with constant live performances by bands from the city, it is a place where culture is highlighted, daily.

Three generations, half a century of history

The history of the use of this space as a Cafe begins as early as the 19th century, when a long, narrow Turkish cafe operated on the square, as one of the small shops that “Islachane” rented as a boarding school, to generate income for its activities. After the evacuation of the area in 1922 and after the area was inhabited by refugees, two brothers originally from Koula in Manisa and Silata in Cappadocia, Michalis and Konstantinos Loukidis, wanting to make a new beginning, bought and opened, in 1929, the “Elpis” café, which became known as “Karamanlis’ Café”.

In 1965, the café opened in the newly built building, the space where “Prigipos” operates today, and passed into the hands of Michalis’ son, Plato, until 1969. Since then, it has been rented, changing names depending on the tenant: “Thomas’ Café”, “Jordan’s Café”. “Prigipos” took its current form in 1993, when it was renovated, thanks to Kostas Dinoudis, Nikos Daskalopoulos and Giorgos Tsanaxidis. They, having Asia Minor origin, asked the decorator Dimitris Sahpazis, to revive a Cosmopolitan Urban Cafe of the East. In the summer of 1993, while searching for a name, they came across an Album that had been published in 1990 for Constantinople. Reading the references to the island of Prigipos in the book, Giorgos Tsanaxidis derived the name of the Cafe, told the others about it and the “baptism” took place. In 2003, George Karapostolis and Konstantinos Loukidis (the third generation) entered the business and, together with George Tsanaxidis, continue to this day the history of one of the oldest cafes in the city, with over a century of history.

The decoration, the people, the music

Mirrors, wood, glass and bronze dominate the decoration at “Prigipos”. The beautiful colors, the plaster decorations, the lighting and the handmade carpet, the marble tables and the wooden cafe chairs, as well as the impressive chandeliers, the mural of the Blue Mosque in the background and the oriental colors, give their own impressive look to the “retro” space and transport you to another era.

It is chosen by students for coffee or study, groups of intellectuals, professors, poets and generally people of Letters and Arts of Thessaloniki, tourists and visitors to the city, businessmen and people of all ages and professions. The Turkish Consulate right next door, moreover, but also the location of the cafe, on the border of Kato and Ano Poli, with the beautiful historical plane tree right in front, favor the attendance of patrons from all over the world.

The live performances at “Prigipos” are regular and cover sophisticated pop and traditional music, rebetiko and rock, by carefully selected, quality bands of Thessaloniki, with groups of young people who highlight their work and others, older, who have been offering their art for decades.

In addition to enjoying live music, you can play backgammon, chess or scrabble and of course work or study, as the atmosphere is ideal.

What to eat and drink

At “Prigipos”, Greek coffee is always roasted on the embers and, as an accompaniment, from “Grandma’s cupboard”, as they say, spoon sweets, homemade lemonade and sour cherry juice are served.

The menu includes refined dishes, from cheeses and cold cuts from small production units in the country to pork knuckle, handmade sausages from Germany or Greek producers, chicken nuggets, Florina kebabs, burgers and ouzo appetizers, following the philosophy of meze (small dishes), brought to Thessaloniki by Asia Minor refugees.

In addition to ouzo, you will also find rakomelo, tsipouro, raki, as well as draft beers and selected wine labels. For your autumn visits, if you don’t want alcohol, there are the coffeehouse’s herbal teas.

With even more visitors from other countries, “Prigipos” continues its steady operation, every season of the year, with doors open to everyone and waiting to become your next hangout. Become one of the “Princesses” or “Princes” who, no matter what, will have a coffee there…

Tip 1: “Prigipos” can also host events, such as graduations, book presentations, corporate lunches and gatherings of groups and clubs.

Tip 2: Every Saturday and Sunday, a special menu is available for Turkish visitors.