Nightlife in Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki is a cosmopolitan city. It is not a problem to find a good place for a night out. Problem is choosing from the wide selection of clubs, bars, restaurants and traditional places. Thessaloniki has to offer everything, from clubs pumping out loud house music to small cafes and laid back bars and from places where you can do some modern and Latin dancing to the traditional and authentic Greek bouzukia.
People here are laid back and fun loving. Ideal party people, so it is no wonder that nightlife is a popular topic among locals. You should note that people in Thessaloniki go out late. Warming up with a few drinks doesn’t start before 10 pm and the parties start around 11 o’clock or even at midnight. But don’t worry, they also last longer, until 4 am usually. At the historical center of the town the parties last shorter and the music is not as loud. Best and loudest places are at the eastern outskirts of the city, near the airport.
There is no shortage of clubs for big and loud parties. Vogue a mainstream club playing pop, R&B and house music with good DJ live performances. Club Monroe is one of the most popular places and one of the more stylish clubs with carefully selected music. Among other recommendations are W Club, Dogs and TRAP basement.
Thessaloniki has a lot of bars, especially in the area close to the water front. Bars are all in different musical styles, designs and decoration. If you are looking for something more special go to Ladadika area and in the Valoritou and Syggrou Streets you will find more rock and alternative bars that are always full of people enjoying music and drinking lots of beer.
Moreover, in Ladadika you could find very interesting flavors and tastes in food. There are a lot of nice restaurants in this area. Ladadika went from having a bad reputation to being one of the nicest places in the city. In case you want to experience more elegant and stylish restaurants you could go to the area of Krini, which is on the east coast of the city by the seaside.
Of course clubs, bars and restaurants are places you can find in any place. A recommendation from us is to visit a traditional bouzoúkia. The bouzoukia are hard to define. They are places you can sit and drink. Guests sit at their tables, but it is for drinking only and the atmosphere explodes after a few drinks in a frenzy of Greek singing and dancing.
Name derives from the traditional Greek instrument bouzouki, similar to the lute. Traditionally the music that played at the bouzoukia was authentic Greek Laika songs, but in the last decades it shifted to Greek pop and folk-pop music.
You may either sit at the bar and have a drink or book a table, for which you’ll have to order a bottle of spirit for every four people at your table. Most of the people sit at the tables and participate in the singing and dancing.
Usually buzoukia hire a popular Greek singer for the night. The atmosphere is fantastic, and as the singer sings guests are standing and dancing around. At some time in the night the beautiful ladies who dance the oriental dance called tsiftetéli come in. They and dance on the tables while the men admire them. There are a lot more of traditional dances you can experience like Hasápiko or Zeibékiko you have to experience firsthand.
From the authentic bouzoukia to the more mainstream clubs and bars, Thessaloniki has a lot to offer for a night out. Don’t be afraid to try out something new and just do as the locals do. Grab a few drinks to warm up and you are ready to go and have a great time.
This nightlife guide is brought to you by Zaliki Boutique Hotel Thessaloniki
