Where to Find the Best Christmas Sweets in Athens

The holiday season is upon us, and what better way to celebrate in Greece than to load up on all the traditional Greek Christmas sweets? Below are our picks for where to find the best Greek Christmas sweets in Athens, including kourabiedes (butter cookies covered in castor sugar), melomakarona (syrupy honey cookies), diples (fried dough square), tsoureki (sweet, chewy brioche), and Vasilopita (New Year’s cake).

Northern Suburbs

Up in Kifissia, Varsos (Kassaveti 5; 2108012472) is a standard for all the classic Christmas sweets, with a particularly wonderful Vasilopita. Meanwhile, Terkenlis (Papanikoli 100, Halandri,21 0684 0020; The Mall, 2106106535; Golden Hall, 2106832370) has some of the most divine chocolate-covered tsoureki you’ll ever try. In Holargos, Choc ‘O Rock (Voutsina 105; 2110122512) is a small, hidden gem of patisserie has a huge following for their tsoureki, Vasilopita, and three kinds of kourabiedes (one of which is covered with yellow spices!).

Downtown

Downtown, Desire (Dimokritou 6; 2103632333) is a legendary patisserie in Kolonaki, where you can sit down and enjoy a cuppa along with your cookies or delicate French sweets, like chocolate-covered chestnuts. Other classics downtown include Ariston (Skoufa 41; 2103607907) and Afoi Asimakopouloi (Harilaou Trikoupi 82; 2103610092); the former has a great panettone, and the latter is legendary for its kourabiedes and melomakarona.   

Southern Suburbs

Finally, down south, Nouvelle Patisserie (Leoforos Amfitheas 168; 2109833096) in Palaio Faliro is known for its cookies, cupcakes, and famed Christmas fruit tart. Palet (Leoforos Kalamakiou 16; 2109828154) in Alimos is known for their modern and creative kourabiedes, while Kazarte (Artemidos 51; 2108956289) in Glyfada is known for their Greek and Italian sweets, including a wide array of kormous (Christmas cakes).

We wish you the happiest of holidays, with love, health, and happiness for you and your loved ones!

(Photo credit Kazarte)