The Greek word for pastry shop is zacharoplasteio, literally “sugar sculptor”, and Athens has hundreds of them. From 1880s family-run fournos selling fresh-baked bread to 1960s ice-cream-and-galaktoboureko institutions to modern French-trained patisseries doing croissants that would pass muster in Paris, the Athens baking scene is one of the most underrated reasons to visit the city. This guide ranks the 20 best bakeries and pastry shops in Athens for traditional Greek desserts and modern patisserie, with current prices, signature items, and clear advice on which is worth crossing the city for.
Every shop below was checked against the official This Is Athens bakery guide, Insights Greece, and the latest local food writers. Prices reflect 2026 menu rates.
The Three Greek Dessert Traditions
Athens bakery culture splits roughly into three streams. Filo-based syrupy desserts (baklava, galaktoboureko, kataifi, ekmek) descend from Ottoman-Byzantine traditions and are served in syrupy form at zacharoplasteia. Dairy-based desserts (Greek yoghurt with honey, rice pudding, milk pies) come from the mainland Greek farming tradition. European-influenced patisserie (millefeuille, profiteroles, croissants, French-style cakes) arrived with the Bavarian-Greek monarchy in the 1830s and matured through the 20th century. The best Athens bakeries do all three.
For broader food context, see our Athens Food Guide pillar, our traditional Greek dishes guide, and our cafes and coffee shops guide.
Historic Pastry Shops (1900-1980)
1. Stani (1931)
The last surviving milk bar in Athens. Greek sheep-milk yoghurt delivered daily from a family farm in the Peloponnese, topped with walnuts and honey. Also serves rice pudding (rizogalo), milk pies, and traditional dairy desserts. €4-7. Address: 10 Marika Kotopouli Street.
2. Kosmikon (1961)
Athens’s reference galaktoboureko shop. The custard-filled filo pastry soaked in lemon-orange syrup is the namesake; the profiteroles, kataifi, and tsoureki are also excellent. €3-5 per slice. Address: 7 Konstantinoupoleos Street, Agios Eleftherios.
3. Chara (1970s)
Half-century-old pastry shop and ice-cream parlour. Famous for “Chicago ice-cream” (an Americana cream-and-syrup tower) and ekmek kataifi. €4-8. Address: 25 Athanasiou Diakou Street.
4. Krinos (1923)
The historic loukoumades shop on Aiolou Street. Honey-soaked Greek doughnuts, Greek coffee in copper brikis, and a vintage interior that has barely changed in 100 years. €4 for 10 loukoumades; €2.50 Greek coffee. Address: 87 Aiolou Street.
5. Aristokratikon (1928)
The oldest premium chocolate shop in Greece, on Karageorgi Servias. Handmade Greek chocolate, marzipan, traditional sweets, and chocolate-covered olives. €5-15 per box. Address: 9 Karageorgi Servias Street.
6. Bakaliarakia tou Damigou (1865)
Best known for salt cod, but also makes traditional Athens bougatsa with cream and crispy filo. €3-5 per slice. Address: 41 Kydathineon Street, Plaka.
Modern Patisseries & New-Wave Bakeries
7. Takis Bakery
Family-run Koukaki bakery with 30+ types of bread, Thessaloniki-style koulouri, and an exceptional pistachio baklava. €2-8 per item. Address: 14 Mitseon Street.
8. Lykkavitos
Kolonaki’s longtime favourite European-style bakery. Mini cheese and spinach pies, fluffy piroshki, panettone, stollen, strudel, plus first-rate French croissants. €3-7. Address: 5 Karneadou Street.
9. Choureal
Specialty croissant and choux pastry shop in Kolonaki. Probably the best croissant in Greece; flaky, buttery, all-natural ingredients. €3-5 per croissant. Address: 8 Anagnostopoulou Street.
10. Veneti
Mid-tier chain with 30+ locations across Athens, doing reliable spanakopita, tyropita, bougatsa, and bread at fair prices. €2-4 per pastry. The most accessible “Greek bakery” experience for tourists.
11. Ariston
The leading downtown souvlaki bakery with the best spanakopita and tyropita in central Athens. €2-3 per slice. Address: 10 Voulis Street.
12. Pâtisserie Cake
French-trained Greek patissier making delicate millefeuille, opera cake, and éclairs. €4-8 per slice. Address: 22 Skoufa Street, Kolonaki.
13. Apallou
Modern sourdough bakery in Pangrati with naturally leavened bread, fresh croissants, and a small café. €3-6 per item. Address: 6 Empedokleous Street.
14. Mover Bakery
Specialty sourdough and dark-fermentation bread. Limited daily production sells out by midday. €4-9 per loaf. Address: 21 Akti Posidonos, Faliro.
Traditional Greek Desserts to Try
15. Loukoumades (Honey Doughnuts)
Best at Lukumades on Aiolou (1937 original) or Krinos. €4 for 10 pieces.
16. Baklava
Layered filo pastry filled with chopped walnuts or pistachios, soaked in honey syrup. Best at: Kosmikon, Takis Bakery (pistachio), and most central patisseries. €3-5 per slice.
17. Galaktoboureko
Custard pie in filo pastry, soaked in lemon-orange syrup. The “national dessert” claim is real. Best at: Kosmikon, any traditional zacharoplasteio. €3-5 per slice.
18. Tsoureki
Greek brioche braided bread, flavoured with mastiha and mahlepi, traditional at Easter but available year-round. Best at: Kosmikon, Takis Bakery, any neighbourhood fournos. €5-12 per loaf.
19. Bougatsa
Filo pastry with cream filling (sweet) or cheese/spinach (savoury). Originally Thessaloniki specialty but available across Athens. €3-5. Best at: Bougatsadiko Thessaloniki in Psyri.
20. Greek Yoghurt with Honey & Walnuts
Simple but transcendent when made with proper sheep yoghurt, real Greek mountain honey, and fresh walnuts. Best at: Stani (the milk bar), any traditional kafeneio. €4-7.
Best Neighbourhoods for Bakery-Hopping
Central Athens (Aiolou Street): Krinos and Lukumades for traditional sweets; Aristokratikon for premium chocolate. Kolonaki: Lykkavitos, Choureal, Pâtisserie Cake for upscale European-style bakery. Koukaki: Takis Bakery for the neighbourhood spanakopita-and-bread experience. Plaka: Bakaliarakia tou Damigou, traditional zacharoplasteia on Kydathineon. Pangrati: Apallou for sourdough; neighbourhood bakeries for the most local experience. Northern suburbs (Aigaleo, Agios Eleftherios): destination-worthy pastry shops including the original Kosmikon.
Greek Coffee Pairings
The classic pairing: Greek coffee (ellinikós kafés) with a sweet. Galaktoboureko + Greek coffee is the lunchtime combo. Loukoumades + Greek coffee is the after-school snack tradition. Yogurt with honey + Greek coffee is the morning ritual. Baklava + freddo espresso is the summer afternoon. Bougatsa + Greek coffee is the breakfast tradition. Most bakeries also serve coffee; the best zacharoplasteia have full coffee programmes alongside the pastries.
Average Athens Bakery Prices for 2026
Koulouri (sesame ring): €0.80-1.50. Spanakopita/tyropita slice: €2-3. Loukoumades portion: €4-5. Baklava slice: €3-5. Galaktoboureko slice: €3-5. Croissant: €2-5. Greek coffee with a sweet: €5-8. Premium box of chocolates: €15-40. Whole tsoureki Easter bread: €5-12. Sourdough loaf: €4-9.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best bakery in Athens?
For traditional sweets, Kosmikon (1961) for galaktoboureko or Stani (1931) for Greek yoghurt with honey. For European-style patisserie, Choureal in Kolonaki for the best croissants in Greece, or Lykkavitos for everything bread-related. For loukoumades, Lukumades on Aiolou (1937).
What is the most popular Greek dessert?
Baklava is the international ambassador; galaktoboureko is widely considered the “national dessert” by Athenians; loukoumades is the iconic street-food sweet. All three are widely available at Athens bakeries from €3-5 per portion.
What is a zacharoplasteio?
Zacharoplasteio literally means “sugar sculptor” in Greek. It refers to a traditional Greek pastry shop specialising in syrupy filo desserts (baklava, galaktoboureko, kataifi) and ice cream, distinct from a fournos (bakery for bread and savoury pastries).
How much do Greek pastries cost in Athens?
Most individual pastries cost €2-5. A portion of loukoumades (10 pieces) is €4. A whole tsoureki Easter bread is €5-12. A premium box of Aristokratikon chocolates runs €15-40. Athens bakeries are significantly cheaper than equivalent western European cities (30-50% lower than London or Paris).
Where can I find the best baklava in Athens?
For traditional Athens-style walnut baklava, Kosmikon and most traditional zacharoplasteia. For pistachio baklava (a more modern variation), Takis Bakery in Koukaki. For premium gift baklava, Karamanlidika tou Fani near the central market.
Do Athens bakeries open early?
Yes. Most fournos (bread bakeries) open at 6 AM with fresh bread; zacharoplasteia (pastry shops) typically open 9-10 AM and close 8-9 PM. Late-night pastry shopping is uncommon; for late-night sweets, find a souvlaki shop that also stocks loukoumades.
Are Athens bakeries cash-only?
Most modern bakeries accept cards. Smaller traditional zacharoplasteia and neighbourhood fournos sometimes prefer cash. €5 minimum is sometimes required for card payments.
Plan the Rest of Your Athens Trip
For more food-focused content, see our pillar guide to Athens food and dining, our traditional Greek dishes guide, our cafes and coffee shops guide, our Varvakios Central Market guide, our street food guide, and our things to do guide.