What to Eat in Thessaloniki: A Simple Guide to Greek Meze

If you are visiting Thessaloniki for the first time, you will quickly notice that eating here is often a shared affair. Instead of choosing one dish and keeping it to yourself, you order a few plates for the middle of the table, talk, taste and decide what comes next.

That is the pleasure of meze. It is less about following a rigid order and more about enjoying different flavours together. Here are a few things worth looking for when you open a Greek restaurant menu in Thessaloniki.

Start with something fresh

A Greek salad is familiar for good reason: tomatoes, cucumber, feta, olives, herbs and olive oil make a useful contrast to richer dishes. Seasonal greens or a dish like dakos can bring a different texture to the table.

If you are ordering for two, choose one fresh plate and build around it. For a larger group, you can mix salads with a few warm starters.

Try dips and vegetable dishes

Tzatziki is a yoghurt-based dip that goes well with many savoury plates. Fava is a creamy yellow split-pea purée, while smoky eggplant preparations bring a deeper flavour. Stuffed vine leaves and zucchini fritters are also familiar examples of food meant to be shared.

At Thermaikos Garden, current menu examples include homemade zucchini fritters served with tzatziki, stuffed vine leaves and smoked eggplant with feta. The menu may change, so check it before visiting if you have a particular dish in mind.

Do not skip the cheese

Greek cheese dishes are far more varied than a block of feta in a salad. Bougiourdi is baked feta with tomato and peppers; saganaki-style dishes are served warm and make an easy addition to a table of meze. Balance one richer cheese dish with vegetables or greens.

Add seafood or something from the grill

In a coastal city like Thessaloniki, seafood is a natural part of the menu. Fried anchovies, sardines, mussels and shrimp saganaki are among the dishes you may encounter. Meat eaters can also look for soutzoukakia or other Greek-style grilled and cooked dishes.

There is no need to order everything. One or two larger dishes alongside several smaller plates are often enough to start; add more if the table wants them.

What should you drink with meze?

Depending on your preference, a Greek meal can be paired with water, wine, beer, ouzo or tsipouro. The last two are traditional spirits, so take your time and enjoy responsibly. You do not need alcohol to enjoy the sharing-table experience.

A useful tip for first-time visitors

Ask about ingredients and allergens if needed, then order at a pace that suits the group. The best part of a meze meal is that everyone gets to try a little of what they enjoy.

You can explore the current Thermaikos Garden menu for ideas before dining near Thessaloniki's White Tower.