4 Best Restaurants in Ioannina, Epirus and Thessaly

The coffee here is pretty special, but what really steals the show are the delightful desserts. Treat yourself to one of the maison speciality waffles, the honey-soaked French toast, a chocolate cheesecake, or the deconstructed banoffee pie (a British pie made from bananas, cream, and caramel), all with an innovative twist inspired by pastry chef Dionisis Alertas. If you're feeling peckish you can grab a serving of the gastro-fare dished out here, more at home in a fine dining establishment than a café.

For one of the best dining experiences in the city look no further than Presvia restaurant/bar. Housed in a carefully restored two-story listed building, formerly the Italian Embassy—hence the name Presvia, the Greek word for embassy. Owners George Tsolis and Yianna Tefa have expertly come up with playful takes on Greek and Mediterranean dishes. In summer you can dine out in the lovely courtyard or on the breezy little porch.

For innovative street food look no further than Folk. This Americana-style diner has a modest but creative menu. Beef burger with feta sauce, lettuce, tomato and crispy pear chips, a mizo tsatsiki chicken sandwich, a soft brioche filled with rib-eye fillets, orange mayonnaise, pickled cucumber, tomato, arugula and melted cheddar. For vegetarians there is the option of celeriac gyro pita with leak cream, pickled apple and popcorn.

For more than 30 years Mr. Vassilis has run this friendly place, where you can discover how Greek grandmothers cooked before the comforts of electricity were introduced to Epirus. The gastra is basically a large clay or iron container placed on a fire with hot coals scattered on the iron lid over the pot. Your meal (of lamb, chicken, or goat) roasts very slowly in its own juices, resulting in tender, juicy meat with a crispy outer skin. Even though the location is rather charmless, the great food has local diners coming in droves.