There’s been a buzz about Palio Hamam for months and it took me a while to actually visit. Honestly, I was putting my visit off I thought there’d be a heavy Eastern spirit and similar type of music, which is a bit too much for my taste. That was till a friend gave me an ultimatum “I have only two hours in Thessaloniki, meet me at Palio Hamam”.

So I went and was more than pleasantly surprised by the fresh atmosphere, the successful mix of old and new and of course one of the most wonderful rooftops in Thessaloniki. Cocktails co-existing with 500 year old domes and cheap prices make it really popular. What made me want to come back was the fact that it’s just a breath away from the city center but hidden from the street noise.

Try it during the day to enjoy the Greek sun and get soak up the vitamin D and during the night to meet the young crowd next to the beautifully lit up domes. The inside is quite interesting, you can see parts of the old building and walls decorated with paintings by alternative artists.

To Palio Hamam, translates to the Old Hamam, is part of the Bey Hamam which were Turkish baths built during the Ottoman era. Next to the coffee place is the main building of Bey Hamam, an Ottoman monument that unfortunately is no longer open to the public, due to restorations.