Sweets for my treats - Athens

Head to Ariston on Voulis 10  (nearest Metro stop: Syntagma) for some great tasting and very affordable traditional greek pastry pies. The store front could pass off as an electrical shop of sorts (if you ask me) but let your nose be led by wafts of freshly baked pastry and you won't be disappointed!

The pumpkin pie here is not to be missed - think of Thanksgiving encased in a flaky crust instead of the usual shortcrust. Yums! Also try the traditional Spanakopita (spinach) or Tyropita (spinach & feta cheese) - you will rediscover your love for Popeye's favourite veg! 

Each slice of pie is in the range of 2 euros. 
 

While trying to orientate ourselves after picking up some pie, we chanced upon dozens of boutique chocolate stores along Vasileos Georgiou street (right off Voulis) - also affectionately known as the "Chocolate Street" . 

Take your pick from the array of hand-made chocolate stores along Vasilous Georgiou.
Even big chains like Leonidas has a presence here.
Photo credit: Adeline Wong

But the best find was this dried fruits and nuts shop on the corner of Nikis and Vasileos Georgiou (the Greek name of the shop eluded me – right around the corner of Macdonald’s off Plateia Syntagma). Endless sacks (literally sacks!) of fruits, nuts and everything that you ever imagined the Greek gods had their fill of!

Endless sacks of nuts and fruits to relish

Easter candy!

I discovered the most amazing pistachios I had ever tasted in my life here - peeled, unsalted (or salted if you prefer) and so sweet like you'd never believe pistachios could be! And figs! There was plentiful delicious fresh figs!  It was with much self restraint that I managed to not buy up the entire store.  

The BEST pistachios ever! And even more amazing - no shells to crack or hurt your fingers with!

They're peeled!



Fresh figs. Mmmm. *chomp chomp*

As if that wasn't enough to satiate us for the rest of the day, the Greek gods sent us more goodies. While Addii and I were chatting to ourselves about buying some baklava inside our nuts and fruits store, a kind Greek local overheard our conversation and recommended one of Athens' most famous baklava shops just around the corner.

Karakoy Gulluoglu on 10 Nikis (yup, that's a mouthful to pronounce) is actually from Turkey, and the brand name carries widely across Istanbul as one of the best places to indulge in the sticky, nutty philo pastry delight that's baklava.

Let your eyes feast on tons of varieties of the much loved honeyed pastry, in all shapes and sizes, various flavours and types.

 

Rows of freshly made baklava entice the senses at Karakoy Gulluoglu



We got ourselves a few different pieces for sampling and sharing. Mmmm so delicious!!

And if the sugar craving needs even more fulfilment, go look up the restaurant Doris (Praxitelous 30), which whips up some of the most excellent loukoumades (greek donuts) in a very pink restaurant.

Colourful storefront signboard of Doris

These freshly deep fried pieces of dough are drizzled with honey and come with choice toppings like nuts and chocolate sauce. We got the honey and almond mix to share.

Ooooh.

Enough said.

Pair those deep fried sweet darlings with a cup of strong Greek coffee and you’ll have enough stimulants to get you bouncing off the walls.  

The chef-owner was incredibly generous and totally made our day by throwing in the loukoumades for free on our  bill too! Each plate costs about 3 euros. There's more than enough on that plate to make it worth anyone's while.

Go early though - Doris closes at 6.30pm.