There is a song from 1940, with lyrics and composition by Panos Tounda, called “Tombourlika” and it is also what inspired the name of our own “Tombourlika”, the musical tavern that for 32 years has written and continues to write daily its own history in quality entertainment with rebetiko music of Thessaloniki.

Most people remember “Tombourlika” from Kalapothaki Street, next to Eleftherias Square, where it operated until 2005, when it was moved to Ano Ladadika, to end up at number 5 of Lordou Vyronos Street, where it has been operating since 2015.

Evenings steeped in familiar and beloved chants, some less, some more, dressed with warm melodies, love and above all good, traditional food, they have held the baton all these years, in the preeminent meeting point for lovers of the genre. Dozens of representatives of this particular musical group have passed through its tables, from the Milan brothers to Agathonas and Solonas Lekkas from Lesvos, while the stable band of “Tombourlika” has kept us company all these years, while we enjoy the delicious appetizers with our tsipouro.

In the aforementioned store’s namesake song, “tombourlika” is a “full-bodied” girl (s.b. this is also what the word “tombourlika” means, which comes from the Turkish word tombul), whom the song praises . That is where the tavern got its name from, which is the oldest with a genuine Greek natural sound in the songs, without the use of microphones.

A story of more than three decades…

“Tombourlika” was initially opened by the current owner Pantelis Chatzikyriakos and his childhood friend, Thanasis Chalkias, who wanted to house a humble dream they had together, a tavern that would also host their views on music and food, in Thessaloniki where at the time folk song prevailed in entertainment and where they themselves could not play live what they wanted.

They also wanted to promote simple Greek cuisine, flavors that people ate at home, such as meatballs, garlic cod, fava beans, hand-cut fries, fresh, wine-seared cuttlefish or mushrooms with oil and lemon – they used to make their own mustard too – appetizers always cooked with virgin olive oil, with the aim of preserving a type of cuisine that is being lost.

From the stage of “Tombourlika”, many important artists, representatives of this musical genre, have passed. Iconic names such as the Milan brothers from Volos, representatives of the old folk song and bearers of its history – their arrival was an important milestone for the tavern, as it was the first time they left Volos to play in another city – Babis Goles, Agathonas, George Xyntaris, Nikos Papazoglou, who was also a frequent visitor, Nikos Strouthopoulos, the singer Solonas from Lesvos, all either passed by “Tombourlika” as customers, or played music in the place, having it as a hangout.

… which continues

Today the business is a family business, with the oldest waiter of “Tombourlika” and first cousin of Pantelis Chatzikyriakos, Aris Eseridis, having mainly taken over the store. Pantelis himself, is still in the place every day, cooking and playing bouzouki, in his “sweet and soft” way – as they have described it, but also singing on stage, together with his partners, the stable band “Tombourlika” , with guitarist Nikos Georgakis and singer Konstantina Samaras.

From the “old generation” of musicians, Lazaros Charitidis still plays every Thursday, every Tuesday the program turns to traditional, while the instruments we will hear on a daily basis are the guitar, the bouzouki and the baglamas, to hear folk and rebetiko sounds.

Entire generations have grown up in here with this particular genre of music and the story continues, with many young people and several older patrons still finding here an ideal hangout for authentic entertainment.

Appetizers like in an old Thessaloniki tavern

Basic philosophy remains true, good music and “honest” food, a “road” that the people of “Tombourlika” themselves opened and want to keep alive. After all, what people love and appreciate is that here they serve neat dishes and listen to good and rare songs, just like in an old, classic, Thessaloniki tavern.

On the menu of “Tombourlika” we will find exquisite dishes such as eggplant in the pot, the well-known “ragu”, beans, white tarama, fresh grilled mushrooms, cod with garlic and pasturma with eggs and a series of sauces and salads, made by hand. In the future, we may find even more options in stews.

To accompany our appetizers, many labels of bottled or bulk wine, tsipouro, ouzo and raki are ideal options, for a genuine, rebetiko evening.

An ideal hangout

One thing is certain: “Tombourlika” does not need special recommendations, nor fancy advertising. For 32 years now, despite the adversities and difficulties, it proves every day that it is a completely successful venture, the ideal hangout for live rebetiko music, in a beautiful and warm environment, with appetizers that compete with even the best homemade food.

It is an ideal meeting point for any group that loves authentic folk and rebetiko music of the 50s and 60s. And if you are also a musician and you are lucky enough to be invited to the stage, you will live the experience first hand!

Tip: The tavern is open Tuesday to Saturday 19.00 – 03.00 and Sunday 13.00 – 20.00. It’s always open on holidays, with live music. It remains closed on Mondays.