A city with strong character and countless options for food and drink offers wonderful gastronomic delights By food journalist Dimitris Stathopoulos.
A city with strong character and countless options for food and drink offers wonderful gastronomic delights.
It's a city that constantly renews itself. It continually offers new proposals for going out, follows trends, has vitality and pulse. A walk through the center of Ioannina brings us before a large network of charming pedestrian streets with beautiful shops.
We found ourselves there and despite the fact that Ioannina has the reputation of a rainy city, we enjoyed every moment, walking through the lively Parga Square, the Sakka pedestrian street, the town hall, and generally the commercial center with dozens of shops. We tasted delicious flavors, aromas, and above all we met people who were open-hearted, smiling, and at the same time active and creative. Among everything we tasted, we selected a few and present them to you.
Poriki Bakery
It's morning and we're walking in front of the emblematic clock on Ioannina's main street. Directly across we observe quite a few people standing in line and we approach. It's the Poriki bakery, operating for forty years and becoming a meeting point for its sourdough bread, but also for dozens of other baked goods, like its emblematic little tomato pies, little pepper pies, and Thessaloniki ring. The famous tsoureki with chocolate and handmade orange marmalade flies off the shelves and we don't miss the opportunity to try it either.
A large team of bakers arrives at the bakery around 4 AM and begins the preparation process. We meet them quite late, when the display cases are full and people are standing in line to make their daily purchases. We meet the head, Theodoros Natsikos, and he tells us about the long history of the bakery, when his father-in-law Christos Porikis started almost 40 years ago, but also about today. "We maintain quality, we emphasize creating new and innovative products, and our most important award is the fact that our customers come daily to buy their daily bread, but also various other items."
I. Gounari 1, Ioannina, Tel.: 2651024444
Du Sel at Du Lac Hotel
It's the fine dining restaurant of the Du Lac hotel, with stunning views of Lake Ioannina. A warm, hospitable, and chic space, ideal for traveling through Epirote gastronomy. The kitchen of Du Sel was set up with an axis of locality and seasonality. Modern touches, smart twists, contemporary cooking techniques, with a solid foundation in the mythical gastronomy of Epirus. Traditional trout, from icy Epirote waters, meets toasted almonds and wins in intensity and flavor depth. Sautéed shrimp are paired with ouzo and fennel sauce. Local manouri cheese ties ideally with marinated figs.
Taste hints of a homeland knowledge that utilizes the livestock products of Epirote mountains, bows respectfully to their mushrooms, glorifies the fruits of the lake, with rare eels and smoked fish, honors new productions, with black chicken flirting with tea sauce and Northern Greek saffron. The wine list of Du Sel highlights the unique terroir of Greece's most mountainous vineyard and simultaneously traces some of the rarest wines of local varieties. Warmth, enjoyment, and authentic cuisine.
HotelduLac, Karolou Papoulia & Ikkou, Tel.: 2651059100
Saint George
It's a bar that, in a way, we can say is synonymous with entertainment in the city. It's located in Parga Square, right next to the church of Agios Georgios, making it the ideal spot for a stop during a visit to the center or even for after-office drinks with an air of Italy. Saint George has life from early morning until late at night. It starts with coffee mainly at the square's tables and some tasty snacks and gradually moves to drinks. The space resembles a classic bar, with nice tall wooden seats, a very interesting cellar, while it has very good service.
Andreas and Elpida are the owners and they're the ones who leave nothing to chance. They carefully select wines from the Greek and international vineyard, which you can enjoy with a cheese and charcuterie platter. It also has a very good drinks and cocktails list. Music is something they invest in, with the DJ position in a catalytic spot.
V. Pyrsinela 20, Parga Square, Ioannina, Tel.: 2651023687
Deli
The paradise of cheeses and charcuterie with an axis of locality, but also quality, is the Deli shop on Napoleontos Zerva Street in the center of Ioannina. Here in 1988, Ilias Petridis set up a space and started bringing the best cheeses of Epirus and charcuterie. Today, 40 years later, his daughter Fotini has taken over this historic shop, where she continues with quality as her guiding principle, while she has also added her own perspective, adding things like legumes, pasta, jams, and aromatic herbs from local producers.
Especially in the cheese sector, here we can find cheeses from the Tositsa Foundation in Metsovo but also various others selected from the Tsotsouvidis dairy. Metsovone, mozzarella, parmesan, Metsovo cow cheese, vlachotyri, goat graviera, Etoloakarnania feta are just some of the products for which people make Deli a meeting point.
Napoleontos Zerva 64, Ioannina, 6951413463
Kollia Coffee Roastery
The story of the Kollia coffee roastery reaches back to 1977, located in Parga Square and giving its own aroma to one of the city's liveliest and constantly evolving squares. The coffee roastery has the most fanatical customers who come here from all over the city to buy their favorite Greek coffee.
"Today we have customers who have been coming here since the beginning of the '80s," Evstathia Kollia will tell us, who today has succeeded her father at the coffee roastery. In addition to Greek coffee and other coffees, here one can also find various other "accompaniments" like candies, pasteli, dried fruits, and confections.
Parga Square 6A, Ioannina, Tel.: 2651034653
Beanhive
It's located on the Sakka pedestrian street and is the center's new coffee spot. It started operating a few weeks ago, with Ilias Loupas, the owner, returning to Ioannina, his place of origin, after several years living and working in the coffee space in Athens. "Our return to Ioannina coincided with the birth of our daughter, Zoe, as we believe we can offer her a more quality and substantial everyday life." He chooses to place lyrics from songs he likes on the walls of the shop, while giving the blends he creates names from their favorite bands.
He seeks interaction with those who come to get their coffee, either as takeaway or to enjoy it in the beautiful space. "I'm interested in talking about coffee, seeing what people like and don't like, answering questions. Coffee is something very alive that deserves to have time dedicated to it." Beanhive is a shop full of life, with many flowers, which Mr. Michalis, an agronomist and Ilias' uncle, takes care of. Worth a stop when you're in the city.
Sakka 20, Ioannina. Tel.: 26516 07240
Souzi Tros
A well-kept and tasteful space next to the Castle, on Iosef Eligia Street that holds the title of neo-tavern. Souzi Tros initially caught our interest from its inventive name, however quickly and as the dishes arrived at the table, the taste and good executions made the food dominant.
We tasted delicious meats, well-cooked exactly as we ordered them, and ultra-fresh salads. The service was satisfactory and generally you leave with a nice feeling of fullness without feeling the weight of the food.
Iosef Eligia 13, Ioannina, 2651033606
Kofi
The love and passion for quality coffee, but also the life stance that demands contribution to environmental and social sustainability, result in the creation of a special space, in a small pedestrian street behind the city hall. Kofi is an industrial modern cafe, where besides a full range of coffees, one can find various tea varieties, fresh juices, but also a rich selection for breakfast, brunch, and lunch.
Omelets, croque madame and croque monsieur, bruschetta, bagel, croissant, and much more transform this corner into a destination of taste and aromas. Somewhere around there will be Ramon, a friendly labrador, who is certain to win your attention.
Katsimitrou 4, Ioannina, 2651607219
Kastro Cafe
It's located inside the castle, and serves coffees and beverages, but has a nice menu characterized by dishes belonging to traditional Epirote cuisine. Classic decoration with rustic notes exudes relaxation and tranquility. It's open from morning, and the main concern of Kostas and Paris, the two owners, is to find raw materials from small producers and cook based on traditional recipes.
After a nice walk in Its Kale and the Kastropoliteia, here you can make a nice stop for tsipouro or ouzo, mulled wine or raki honey, for a nice break in the courtyard or in one of the rooms of the main space. From food, it serves bean soup, meat soup, various pies like flour pie and wild greens pie, and various daily specials.
Andronikou Paleologou 66, Kastropoliteia Ioanninon, 26510 2265
Its Kale
Manouka, located on the 7th floor of the Utopia hotel on Ermou Street, near the emblematic church of Panagia Kapnikarea and has an imposing view of the Acropolis, while the building of Parliament is also visible. The space, laid with beautiful rugs, creates a hospitable scene. The menu includes comfort recipes, delicious and light, ideal for a lunch break from the office or for a business meeting.
Inside Its Kale, at one of the most emblematic spots of Ioannina Castle, is the eponymous cafe. It's a mandatory stop during your visit, as it serves tasty pies, varieties of meats and seafood, ideal accompaniments for tsipouro or ouzo.
The beautiful courtyard for days when the weather permits but also the gorgeous interior space will be the best stop to make a brief account of all the great things that have happened in this historic place.
Ioannina Castle, Tel.: 26510 64206
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ioannina known for food-wise?
Ioannina is celebrated for Northwestern Greek cuisine — lamb dishes, savory pies, freshwater fish from Lake Pamvotis, and the city's bougatsa. The lakeside tavernas are unlike anywhere else in Greece.
How far is Ioannina from Athens?
Ioannina is ~440 km from Athens — a 4.5 hour drive or 1 hour flight. A great long weekend from Athens.
