10+1 Best Confectioneries in Athens
We tried, without any regrets, sweets from the pastry shops that have the reputation of being the best.
The truth is that almost all of them lived up to their reputation. Some, however, overcame it.
The test started with an all-time classic sweet, Sokolatina, so we could directly compare the patisseries. But this did not work because some shops are even more famous for other sweets and are not wrong.
See below why you should not eat sweets from anywhere, but choose the best of the kind!
Andrias
If you haven't eaten profiteroles from Andrias, you haven't eaten profiteroles!
It is one of the most excellent pastry shops in Filothei, and every time you pass by, there will be a line waiting. However, as you already understand, its most vital point is Profiterole.
Unrepeatable chocolate, fresh on top of you and filled with whipped cream, is offered in individual sizes to eat on the spot while you wait for one of the family sizes.
This does not mean that the rest of Andrias' sweets go back. Delicious chocolate delights, almond cream, caramel, truffle and more.
Varsos
We continue with another vintage & all-time classic patisserie that, if you haven't visited yet, do so today!
A pastry shop that has existed in Kifissia for a century. No Athenian hasn't sat in the shop's aisle to enjoy rice pudding, tsureki, ekmek and many others. An essential asset is Serrano chocolate, which is hard to find in stores anymore. Very strong in both pan sweets and meringues.
Asimakopoulos brothers
Here we are now talking about chocolate on another magical level. The most classic shop that has been in the centre of Athens since 1915. It offers a range of chocolate options that will hardly leave anyone unmoved. The excellent raw materials, combined with creativity and talent, resulted in delicious rum chocolate, serrano chocolate, classic chocolate, etc. The white pastes also have no comparison.
But together, one will find a wide range of chocolates, tarts, soft pralines and ice creams, which cause the sweetest confusion in what to choose first.
A good solution is to visit the store several times until you manage to try most of them.
On the plus side, this particular pastry shop has a very active IG profile!
Dimitris Economides
The modern patisserie as it should be. Before we get to the sweets, a big plus of this particular business: You enter a minimal aesthetic environment reminiscent of an art space, and there, people welcome you in the most friendly, exemplary way.
Let's go to sweets. And there, excellent use of the best raw materials, combined with unique flavours, is full of surprises.
You can find a Minimal aesthetic in their sweets too. With flavours that can't be compared to anything, you've tried. Perfect lemon pie with a playful sweet-sour balance, one-of-a-kind eclair that you haven't tasted like in Greece and let's go to the chocolate where something very pleasantly pulls you back in terms of taste memory and, at the same time, pulls you equally pleasantly forward in terms of the modern version of the dessert.
Choureal - Choux & Profiterole
An excellent idea that started in Thessaloniki came to Athens and became an immediate success. It is Aliki Symeonidou and Miles Anastasios Skliris who created Choureal. They make the profiteroles in front of you right then and there, using delicious crème patisserie or ice cream, freshly baked choux and your choice of chocolate (bitter, milk, white, praline or caramel).
Of course, they also have other sweets which are of course worth trying. And if you visit it in Athens, you can enjoy these beautiful sweets while sitting at the shop's tables!
Pastry Family
Another all-time classic patisserie. It has been located in Pagrati for many years and has served several famous people who preferred it for their 'hypoglycemia'! From Horn, who went for nougatines, Hadjidakis, who liked kourabiedes, to Aliki Vougiouklakis and many others.
Pastry Family reminds you of many cafés in Paris, and since it was created in 1969 until today, not much has changed, neither in the decor nor in the quality of the products.
The sweets always stand out are the soudas with cream and fresh strawberries, the chocolate, the mini honey macaroons and more.
Ourse
A boutique pastry shop in Glyfada with leading contributors behind the wonderful sweets you will try. The owners are chef Stefanos Tsoukalas and pastry chef Vicky Dalagiannis. The desserts are overseen by one of the country's top pastry chefs, also known from Spondis, Spyros Pediaditakis
You will be impressed by the premium raw materials, the elegant appearance and the unique and balanced taste. You should try Saint Honoré with Madagascar vanilla, Paris-Aegina pistachio, quivering flan Parisien and other very high-tech, sweet inspirations.
Désiré
At Désiré, the chocolate is unique. His Saint Honoré, not unjustly famous, with crispy and fluffy puff pastry, light pastry cream, whipped cream and caramelized choux. The ingredients are always fresh.
Since 1962, in Demokritou in Kolonaki, the raw materials have remained excellent. French refinement and a vintage approach dominate both in the confectionery and in the booths with the tables where you can take your sweets with your coffee or tea.
Pavlov’s Lab
Alexander Pavlov has done something beautiful in New Eritrea. Excellent sweets that are worth trying, even if you start from the other side of the city. You will try one of the best eclairs with a superb cracker coating and fillings of red velvet cream, peanut butter, chocolate, and cream cheese!
Also, you will find Paris Brest and financier Queen Aman, which are reasons to visit Pavlov's Lab.
An ideal workshop if you want a cake for a wedding, birthday, etc.
For the end, we left something ... different
Madame Fraise
Evgenios Vardakastanis and Yiannis Kikiras, two pastry chefs and friends who need no introduction, created the first "hidden" pastry shop.
Madame Fraise is a self-described "ghost". You won't encounter the classic commercial pattern of the production area where you can go and buy. On the contrary, it follows the trend of spaces that function as creative project hubs.
Through Wolt, you can order millefeuille with pecan praline, tarte Tatin with almond cream, cardamom and layers of caramelized apples and – you won't miss out – if you order panettone made with natural sourdough in two versions: with orange and lemon confit, blond currant and Madagascar vanilla and one with chestnut confit and milk chocolate.
Fresh Patisserie
If we were to choose a chain that has stood out for its quality, modern aesthetics, and delicious truffles, then this would be the Fresh chain!
In every store of the chain, you will find beautiful cakes, excellent ice cream and many chocolate delicacies. But, of course, we shouldn't forget the beautiful tarts with crème patisserie and fresh fruit, but also the big bowl of crème patisserie with strawberries, which the rumour has it that someone managed to leave for the next day as well.
The ideal pastry shop for premium birthday treats!
