Where
Ktima Perek
Monopigado, Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki · September 2027
Come spend my birthday with me in Thessaloniki.
Friday, 17 September 2027 at 19:00. I would love you to be there.
Welcome
A good reason to bring everyone together.
I know, my birthday is actually in February. But mid-September is one of the nicest times of year to be in Greece, and Thessaloniki has always felt, in a slightly difficult-to-explain way, like my home in Greece. So I thought it would be a good place to bring everyone together.
There is another reason behind the choice of venue. My Pontic heritage is an important part of where I come from, and I wanted the celebration to have some connection to that. Ktima Perek, in Monopigado outside Thessaloniki, reflects a lot of the food, traditions and atmosphere I grew up with. It felt like the right place to mark 60.
The rest is deliberately simple: good food, drinks, music, and people I care about in one place.
RSVP
Will you be there?
If you are planning to come, please let me know once your plans become clearer. When you RSVP, please include how many people will be attending with you, plus any dietary or accessibility requirements.
The RSVP form will be added here shortly. I will keep the deadline fairly relaxed for now.
RSVP form coming soonThe celebration
Friday, 17 September 2027
From 19:00 at Ktima Perek in Monopigado, around a 30-minute drive from central Thessaloniki.
What to expect
Dinner, drinks, music and plenty of time to sit, talk and catch up.
Dress
Come as you are. Unlike my 50th, there is no dress code this time. Wear whatever you feel comfortable in. The evening is meant to be relaxed.
Food & drink
Food is a big part of why I chose Perek. The menu draws heavily on Pontic and northern Greek traditions.
Getting there and back
I am planning to organise a shuttle from central Thessaloniki to the venue and back. The exact pickup point and timings will come later.
Driving or staying at Perek
There is plenty of parking at the venue. Perek also has guest rooms for anyone who would rather stay there instead of returning to the city that night.
Getting there
Travel to Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki Airport is SKG. Staying in the centre makes the city easy to explore.
Taxi and public transport options are available throughout the city. Uber and FREENOW also operate in Thessaloniki.
Where to stay
A few places to start looking.
Thessaloniki has no shortage of hotels and Airbnb options, particularly in and around the centre. The places below are simply a few options to help you get started. Some I know, some I have stayed in, and others are here because of their location or style.
This is not a definitive recommendation list and I am not vouching for every one of them. Think of it as a useful starting point, and do check the latest reviews, rates and cancellation terms before booking.
If you are bringing or hiring a car, parking can be a challenge, especially in the centre. Make sure your accommodation includes parking or has easy parking nearby.
Where I am likely to stay
Hyatt Regency Thessaloniki
Those who know me well probably will not be surprised. It is not in the centre, but it is very quiet, spacious, close to the airport, and I like it there. It also has plenty of free parking.
Hotel website ↗A preferential rate for guests
I’ve arranged a special rate including breakfast, with free parking and a complimentary airport shuttle.
If you’d like to stay here, WhatsApp me for the rates, booking code and link. Please book by 5 July 2027. Free cancellation up to seven days before arrival.
Prefer to stay at the venue?
Ktima Perek has guest rooms too. I will add booking details once I have them.
Around the celebration
Possibly a little more, but nothing too organised.
I am not planning a formal programme beyond Friday night, but while many of us are in Thessaloniki, I may organise one or two things, perhaps drinks somewhere cool one evening and a relaxed lunch on Sunday.
I will add details here once plans take shape.
Things to eat
Come hungry.
Thessaloniki is the food city of Greece. Here are a few things to try.
Start with the classics
Breakfast pastries, meze, seafood, sweets, northern Greek wine and a few things that are particularly Thessalonian.
Bougatsa
Flaky pastry filled with custard, cheese or savoury fillings. A classic Thessaloniki breakfast.
Koulouri Thessalonikis
The sesame-coated bread ring you will see everywhere. Simple, inexpensive and very local.
Μαγειρείο
Pronounced: mah-yee-REE-oh. A traditional neighbourhood eatery serving home-style Greek dishes, from slow-cooked stews to seasonal vegetables. Choose from whatever is cooking that day.
Soutzoukakia
Spiced meat, often served with a rich tomato sauce. A northern Greek staple.
Seafood
Especially good if you have time for a longer lunch by the water.
Trigona Panoramatos
Crunchy triangular pastries filled with cream, originally associated with Panorama above the city.
Tsoureki
Soft aromatic sweet bread, excellent with coffee and easy to take home.
Wine & tsipouro
Try wines from Northern Greece, and tsipouro if you enjoy a stronger local spirit.
My Thessaloniki
A few ways to spend your time.
- Walk
- The waterfront, the old city, and routes that combine history with good places to stop.
- Coffee
- A few genuinely good places for coffee, from central favourites to quieter neighbourhood spots.
- Eat
- Casual lunch, meze, seafood, something special, and places I would actually choose myself.
- Culture
- Museums, Byzantine history, markets and a small number of classic sights worth making time for.
- Drinks
- Bars, rooftops and relaxed places for a drink before or after dinner.
- Λαϊκή Αγορά
- Pronounced: lah-ee-KEE ah-ghoh-RAH. A weekly open-air neighbourhood market, with fresh fruit, vegetables, olives and other local produce. A lovely way to experience everyday life in the city.
Specific recommendations coming next
I will add the actual names, short notes and map links for restaurants, cafes, museums, markets, bars, rooftops, walks and hidden favourites as the list takes shape.
If you stay longer
Turn it into more of a trip.
Mid-September is still very much part of the summer season in Greece, so there are plenty of ways to add a few days before or after the celebration.
Beach
Halkidiki
The easiest beach option from Thessaloniki. You can make it a short break or stay longer, depending on how much time you have.
Island
Fly somewhere Greek
Thessaloniki has seasonal direct flights to many Greek islands, including Crete, Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes and Paros.
Mountains & culture
Olympus, Meteora, Kavala and wine country
Northern Greece gives you plenty of alternatives to the beach, from Mount Olympus and Meteora to Kavala and the region's wineries.
Practical information
Useful things to know
Currency: euro (€)Language: Greek; English widely spokenPlugs: types C and F, 230VEmergency number in Greece: 112
What about gifts?
Your presence really is enough. I do not need anything, and I will also have to get everything back to London afterwards.
But I know some of you, so if you absolutely insist, think small, light and fun.
What will the weather be like?
Mid-September is usually warm and pleasant, and it is still summer season in Greece. I will add a current forecast shortly before the celebration.
Do I need a car?
Not for the city itself. Much of the centre is very walkable. Ano Poli is hillier, so taxis can be useful depending on mobility and energy. A car can be useful if you extend your trip into Halkidiki, wine regions or more rural areas.
Stay in touch
I will be creating a WhatsApp group closer to the date for useful updates, shuttle details and information on the day. I will share the link here when it is ready.
Map links, shuttle details and local contact details will be added closer to the celebration.
RSVP
Will you be there?
The RSVP form will be added shortly. It will ask for the number attending, dietary requirements, accessibility needs and, later, whether you would like to use the shuttle.
RSVP form coming soon