Greece - Korina Miller [222]
Hotel Pella ( 2310 555 550; Ionos Dragoumi 63; s/d €40/50) A larger, port-area hotel, the Pella is less noisy than Egnatia hotels and has clean, well-maintained rooms and friendly staff.
Hotel Aegeon ( 2310 522 921; www.aegeon-hotel.gr; Egnatia 19; s/d €45/60; ) Recently renovated, this place in a historic building on Egnatia is surprisingly good value. The decent, clean rooms have low-key decor, bathrooms and most mod cons. It’s a five- to 10-minute walk to the train station.
MIDRANGE
Tourist Hotel ( 2310 270 501; www.touristhotel.gr; Mitropoleos 21; s/d/tr incl breakfast €55/70/90; ) At this classic place (built 1925), an old-school gated lift leads to rooms with all mod cons and decorated with elegance. Street noise is mitigated by the soundproof windows.
Le Palace Hotel ( 2310 257 400; www.lepalace.gr; Tsimiski 23; s/d incl breakfast €85/100; ) At night gaze down from your little balcony at twinkling Tsimiski roaring by below (there’s soundproofing). Le Palace has spacious, modern rooms with all mod cons. Valet parking costs €11 per 24 hours.
Egnatia Palace Hotel ( 2310 222 900; www.egnatia-hotel.gr; Egnatia 61; s/d/ste €90/115/145; ) This four-star hotel above Plateia Aristotelous offers bright, modern rooms and suites with individual design and furnishings. The wellness facilities include a heated pool, gym, hammam, sauna and massage room.
Electra Palace Hotel ( 2310 294 000; www.electrahotels.gr; Plateia Aristotelous 9; s/d €115/130; ) Even if you come only to gaze out onto the harbour from the rooftop garden cafe, the appeal of this five-star city landmark that stands splendidly over Plateia Aristotelous is instantly apparent. Rooms are spacious and with all the expected amenities, including a mosaic-tiled indoor pool, rooftop outdoor pool and hammam.
City Hotel ( 2310 269 421; www.cityhotel.gr; Komninon 11; s/d €120/135; ) A posh, recently renovated four-star business hotel near Plateia Eleftherias, this offers very professional service and some subdued elegance in its handsome rooms (some are wheelchair-friendly). Amenities include laundry services and parking. There’s a big American-style breakfast and a spa centre.
TOP END
Daios ( 2310 250 200; www.daioshotels.com; Leoforos Nikis 59; s/d with sea view €170/225; ) This White Tower boutique hotel has become a favourite among Greece’s upper stratum. A keen sensitivity to light and shadow pervades the whole hotel, which has a contemporary, minimalist design. Suites have enormous, sound-proofed windows and wrap-around balconies (from some you only see water, not streets). The hotel’s waterfront cafe is equally sophisticated and colour-rich. Staff is friendly and professional. Enter on the side street (2 Smyrnis).
Capsis Bristol ( 2310 521 321; www.capsishotel.gr; cnr Oplopiou & Katouni; s/d €192/250; ) What was fated to become a stylish and friendly modern hotel was originally Thessaloniki’s post office, in 1870. The Capsis Bristol’s 16 rooms and four suites, decorated with ornate antiques, Persian rugs and artworks, suffuse the hotel with an old-world charm befitting its location in historic Ladadika.
Eating
From quick and cheap souvlaki spots to fine dining, Thessaloniki has it all. In addition to the following, for Thessaloniki wine restaurants see Wineries of Northern Greece, Click here. For sweets shops, see Sweet Indulgences, opposite). The website www.tavernoxoros.gr, in Greek, listing Thessaloniki eateries and locating them on the map, is a handy online resource.
Kyprion Gefsis ( 2310 202 800; Manou Kyriakou 5; grills €2-4) A popular place specialising in Cypriot pittas, the Kyprion Gefsis is a good and cheap pick near the Rotunda.
To Etsi ( 2310 222 469; Nikoforos Fokas 2; grills €2.50-4) This bawdily decorated, iconic eatery near the White Tower offers refreshingly light souvlaki and soutzoukakia (meat rissoles in tomato sauce) with vegetable dips, in Cypriot-style pitta