2 Best Restaurants in Mt. Olympus, Thessaloniki and Central Macedonia

Self-taught and ever evolving chef Andreas Gavris creates seasonal delights fit for the gods in his justifiably popular restaurant. Standouts include the melon soup with prawns and mint; bourani, a rich rice dish with nettles, wild mushrooms, and a Gruyère-like cheese from Crete; and black pig of Olympus stew and mountain lamb, cooked with mushroom and wheat puree. People travel from far and wide to enjoy Andreas' creations, which help make the superb location become even more enticing. The wine list has more than 500 labels on offer.

This homey restaurant is known for its outstanding seafood—it's always fresh, artfully prepared, and surprisingly cheap. The grilled meats are good, too, as are the fresh bread and the dips—especially the kopanisti (the punchy spiced cheese dip) and the melitzanosalata (lovingly made from roasted eggplant and garlic). The fish soup in winter is also a specialty. Follow the signs 100 yards up from the main square and to the left around the corner.