Baklava: The King of Local Desserts in Greece. In Athens, you can find the best baklava in all its variations – with walnuts, pistachios, or almonds.
Athens is indeed the right place for the best baklava.
But let’s look into this a bit more.
If you’re reading these lines, one thing is certain: baklava isn’t an unfamiliar word to you.
Perhaps you’ve tried it somewhere and can’t wait to do it again! Or maybe someone has recommended it, and you’re excited to taste it for yourself.
We understand completely: baklava is not just a dessert.
It’s pure enjoyment.
So, we have some essential tips for you to enjoy the best baklava in Athens.
And, of course, while you’re at it, discover other delicious local desserts of Athens: galaktoboureko, kataifi, ravani, orange pie, ekmek, tsoureki, and much more.
Map of the Finest Baklava and Local Desserts Shops in Athens
Before we move on, if you want to explore Athens’ food scene thoroughly, be sure to read our comparison of the must-try food tours for foodies.
In a nutshell, two tours I recommend are the highly rated Athens: Greek Foodie Tour with Tastings and Athens: Food Market Visit and Cooking Class with Wine.
Baklavas
One’s name speaks for itself.
Here, baklava gets the recognition it deserves.
Located in the heart of Athens, with a scent of Istanbul, the best baklava in Athens isn’t just one kind.
There’s the traditional Greek one with walnuts, cinnamon, and cloves.
And there’s the “politikos” one (originally from Istanbul, Turkey).
At Baklavas, you’ll find it in all its versions and shapes.
The recipes here are mainly from Istanbul: airy phyllo, fresh and aromatic butter, and a filling of nuts.
However, it’s also available with walnuts, almonds, and even chocolate (but let’s be real, baklava with chocolate isn’t baklava).
This store also offers other local sweets (mainly from Istanbul), but if you try just one thing, make it the baklava. You won’t regret it.
The only deterrent might be the prices – 25 to 30 euros per kilo can feel too much by Greek standards.
More information: Baklavas
Smyrni Baklava
Here, you can definitely find one of the best baklavas in Athens.
The recipes originate from the other side of the Aegean Sea, from the cosmopolitan city of Izmir (Smyrni in Greek), where the Greek element was once dominant.
Behind Smyrni Baklava are four friends from Izmir and Istanbul, who decided to introduce the Greeks to authentic baklava.
The variety here is great, so the best thing to do is try a bit of everything.
If you love pistachios, give the green baklava a try. It will be worth it.
Here, the prices are a bit more affordable without any compromise on quality.
You can also try other traditional sweets from Izmir, like Turkish delight, and the famous kazan dibi, which means “the bottom of the cauldron” in Turkish.
Legend has it that the Sultan’s confectioner, by accident, burnt the milk and, to cover his mistake, claimed the sweet was named after the burnt bottom of the cauldron.
Smyrni Baklava is located in the historical center of Athens (Mitropoleos 25, Syntagma).
There’s also a branch at 92 Patision Street, just an 11-minute walk from the National Archaeological Museum.
If I were you, I’d visit the Museum, take a stroll in the nearby Pedion tou Areos park, and finish with a visit to Smyrni Baklava for some delicious energy.
More information: Smyrni Baklava
Mitropolitikon
One of the oldest (founded in 1930) and most elegant pastry shops in Athens is located next to Syntagma Square.
Its trademark? The tiny baklava, which is simply the best of the best.
These small, delicious bites melt in your mouth.
Here, the recipe for the best baklava originates in Lesbos, the renowned Greek island in the Aegean, known since ancient times.
The thin, crispy phyllo layers are bathed in honey, fresh butter, and ground almonds – it’s what we call in Greek “what a dish”!
Alongside the famous baklava, you’ll find many other local desserts: syrupy, chocolate, and almond treats.
Pay special attention to the almond sweets.
They are traditional almonds from Hydra (another Greek island), covered with powdered sugar – a true sweet dream.
Your Athens Itinerary
While exploring the best baklava and local desserts in Athens, make sure your won’t miss the city’s top hotspots.
Our itineraries are carefully designed and tailored on the length of your stay:
Stani
The next stop for the best baklava in Athens is Stani, an emblematic milk shop near Omonia Square.
Having close to 100 years of history, Stani offers a baklava rich in Greek tradition, made with fresh butter.
‘Stani’ in Greek means the sheepfold, the enclosed space where shepherds kept the sheep.
So, milk and all its derivatives are the basis for all the products of this historic store.
In addition to baklava and other local desserts, you must try the traditional sheep yogurt with honey and walnuts.
It’s a purely Greek traditional sweet that’s sure to thrill you.
And here’s another tip: at Stani, you’ll also find one of the best ravani in Athens – a perfectly syrupy local dessert with a cake-like texture, infused with aromas of mastic and orange.
More information: Stani
Afoi Asimakopouloi
Another historic pastry shop in Athens is located in Exarchia, a neighborhood that has been misunderstood.
Once considered underground, today Exarchia is one of Athens’s most vibrant and alternative neighborhoods. Maybe the most authentic.
You’ll find it directly behind the National Archaeological Museum.
The area is filled with countless shops, ranging from budget-friendly to more upscale options, where you can dine, drink, and shop.
The Afoi Asimakopouloi confectionery, located at 82 Harilaou Trikoupi Street, has been here since 1915.
It boasts a sweet history of over 100 years in Athens, offering a wide variety of local desserts.
Their tiny baklavas with honey and walnuts are among the best.
You’ll also find exceptional galaktoboureko (another unbeatable syrupy local dessert with sweet cream) and amazing tsoureki (a local dessert, a blend between cake and sweet bread, but uniquely delicious).
Extra Tip (Although Not Sweet)
Diagonally opposite the pastry shop, you’ll find a small street food restaurant called “Lontza tis Geitonias“.
This modern gastro bistro serves traditional Greek cuisine.
My suggestion is to have a meal here first (try the traditional “hylopites” or the awesome balik ekmek – a sea bass fillet sandwich) and then head over to Afoi Asimakopouloi for dessert.
Kosmikon
One of the most emblematic pastry shops in Athens, Kosmikon, is famous for its galaktoboureko.
This local dessert is a top favorite in Greece, and here, you’ll find it in its most fantastic version.
Fresh phyllo pastry, perfectly syruped with a rich pastry cream filling, creates a tasty masterpiece that you can’t get enough of.
While Kosmikon also offers one of the best baklavas in Athens, don’t leave without trying the galaktoboureko.
The only catch? Kosmikon isn’t located in central Athens.
But it’s totally worth taking Metro Line 1 and getting off at Agios Eleftherios stop (just 5 stops from Omonia) to try the best galaktoboureko in Athens.
Another Sweet Tip
Since you’ve made it this far, write down another address in the surrounding area for another fantastic local dessert.
The area, Patisia, was once a holiday destination for Athenians.
Now, it’s a vibrant part of the city, similar to the rest of central Athens.
Here, on Patision Street, you’ll find the historic Chara confectionery. Their specialty? “Ekmek with ice cream”.
Ignore all other sweets (even baklava) and try this.
A base of syrup-soaked cake that smells of mastic, topped with homemade kaymak ice cream, drenched in sour cherry syrup and sprinkled with roasted almonds.
Words can’t do it justice.
And they might just have the best ice cream in Athens!
More information: Confectionery “Chara”
Ta Serbetia stou Psyrri
Back in the center of Athens, in the beloved neighborhood of Psyrri, “Ta Serbetia stou Psyrri” is our final stop in the quest for the best baklava and local desserts.
This place is a sweet paradise!
From traditional baklava, galaktoboureko, walnut pie, ravani, and kataifi to European delights like panna cotta, crème brûlée, mousse au chocolat, mille-feuille, carrot cake, and more.
The word ‘Serbetia’ originates from the Turkish ‘sherbet’, which is a very sweet drink, and metaphorically, it implies something excessively sweet.
At “Ta Serbetia stou Psyrri”, you do run the risk of a sugar rush.
But it’s a risk worth taking!
More information: Ta Serbetia stou Psyrri
Still Craving More?
Here are some additional sweet hotspots!
Sweet Alchemy by the top Greek pastry chef Stelios Parliaros in Kolonaki (24 Irodotou, Athens). A boutique patisserie offering amazing sweets with top-notch ingredients.
Portatiph: The cutest café-candy store in Athens, also in Kolonaki (21 Sina, Athens). Enjoy your coffee or tea with wonderful cakes, tarts, and brownies. The pistachio éclair is a must-try.
Stavropoulos – Anatolian Bakery: Known for the famous salty tsoureki of Athens. Authentic Armenian recipe and a semi-sweet version with mastic from Chios. (4 Gamveta, Athens).
Papaparaskevas Patisserie: The renowned Xanthi (city in northern Greece) confectionery is now in Athens.
It offers two must-try desserts: saragli and carioca.
Saragli is something like a mini baklava but so distinctive.
Karioka is a chocolate temptation with bittersweet chocolate, walnuts, and sponge cake.
Both treats are available at other confectioneries, but here you’ll enjoy them at their finest.
This is especially convenient if you’re taking the tram along the Athenian Riviera and find yourself in Glyfada (13 Andrea Papandreou, Glyfada, near the tram stop).
I wish you… sweet dreams!
Athens Essentials: Baklava, Uber, and the Perfect Stay
If you enjoyed reading about the best baklava and local desserts in Athens, but you are still hungry, make sure to check the city’s top 10 Authentic Greek Taverns and the top brunch places in 2025.
You should also read the guide of Uber In Athens to better understand how to effectively use the popular app while in Greece.
For the best stay experience, our ‘Where to Stay in Athens in 2025‘ guide offers insider tips and top recommendations.
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