Thessaloniki drinks wine seriously — and it drinks Greek wine seriously. This is the gateway to northern Greece's great vineyards: Xinomavro from Naoussa and Amyndeo an hour away, the whites of Epanomi on the city's doorstep, and a national revival of indigenous grapes you'll rarely see on a supermarket shelf abroad. The city's wine bars are where that all pours by the glass — small, buzzy rooms where the pour is generous, the cheese board is regional, and nobody blinks if you want to taste six things you can't pronounce. Here's where to drink well.
What makes Thessaloniki's wine scene different
Two things. First, it's Greek-first: the best lists lead with indigenous varieties and northern-Greek producers rather than the usual international suspects — so a wine bar here is a crash course in Assyrtiko, Malagousia, Xinomavro and Limnio. Second, by-the-glass is the whole point: most bars pour dozens of wines by the glass (some with Coravin systems for rare bottles), so you explore rather than commit. Come to taste, pair with meze, and let the staff steer.
| Wine bar | Area | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Super Ioulios (4.8★) | Athonos Square | The city's top-rated wine bar — buzzy, Greek-leaning, natural-friendly |
| Souel (4.8★) | Pavlou Mela, centre | Small central room, thoughtful low-intervention list |
| Wine Hideout | Historic centre | 400+ labels, ~100 by the glass, Coravin for rare pours |
| Monmarti | Kalamaria (SE suburb) | ~250 labels with an emphasis on indigenous Greek grapes |
| Dangara | Near the Rotunda | Western-Macedonia cooking with northern-Greek wines |
| Chilai (4.4★) | Ladadika | A wine stop in the warehouse-district night |
The bars, and what they're for
Super Ioulios — near the sensory chaos of Athonos Square, this is the highest-rated wine bar in our data (4.8★), and a good first stop: a lively, unpretentious room built for grazing Greek wines by the glass with a plate of cheese and cured meat.
Souel — a small, central spot on Pavlou Mela (4.8★) with a considered, often low-intervention list. The kind of place to sit at the counter and ask what's open tonight.
Wine Hideout — the deep end. Tucked in the historic centre, it runs more than 400 labels with around 100 available by the glass and a Coravin system for pouring rare bottles a glass at a time. If you want breadth and a rich Santorini section, this is it.
Monmarti Wine Bar — out in Kalamaria, the seaside district southeast of the centre, this wine-bar-restaurant runs about 250 labels weighted toward indigenous Greek varieties, ideal if you want the wine and a proper meal in one sitting.
Dangara — near the Rotunda, this one pairs hearty Western-Macedonian cooking — the food of Florina and Kozani — with the wines of the same north. A great match for a cold evening and a bottle of Xinomavro.
Chilai — over in Ladadika (4.4★), a wine stop woven into the warehouse-district's tavernas and bars, handy if you're already out that way.
Skip the international wine list
The one rookie move: ordering a familiar French or Italian label off a Thessaloniki wine list. You can drink Bordeaux anywhere. Here the whole point is the Greek side of the page — the northern reds, the island whites, the odd grape the owner is excited about this week. Say "something Greek, by the glass, surprise me," and you'll drink better and cheaper than you would chasing a name you already know.
Pair it with the vineyards
Wine bars are the city end of the story; the vineyards are the other. If the by-the-glass tour hooks you, take a day out to the source — our Thessaloniki wine tours guide covers Naoussa's Xinomavro and the Gerovassiliou estate near Epanomi. For the food to go with it, see the ouzeri and meze scene and the full Thessaloniki food guide; for the wider night, the cocktail bars of Valaoritou are minutes away.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the best wine bars in Thessaloniki?
Highly rated spots include Super Ioulios near Athonos Square and Souel on Pavlou Mela (both around 4.8★), the deep-listed Wine Hideout in the historic centre (400+ labels, Coravin), Monmarti for indigenous Greek varieties, and Dangara near the Rotunda for northern-Greek wine with regional food.
What wine should you drink in Thessaloniki?
Go Greek and go local: Xinomavro, the great red of nearby Naoussa and Amyndeo; crisp whites like Assyrtiko and Malagousia; and whatever indigenous grape the staff are pouring by the glass. Thessaloniki is the gateway to northern Greece's vineyards, so the regional wines are the reason to be here.
Are Thessaloniki wine bars expensive?
No, by Western-European standards. Most pour a wide range by the glass at fair prices, so you can taste several wines for the cost of a couple of cocktails, usually with cheese and cured-meat plates to share. It's one of the better-value nights out in a city already known for cheap eating.
What's the difference between a wine bar and a wine tour here?
A wine bar is a city-centre room for drinking Greek wines by the glass, often with meze — perfect for an evening. A wine tour is a day trip out to the vineyards of Naoussa or Epanomi to taste at the source. Many visitors do both: bars in the city, a tasting trip on a spare day.
