Ouzeri Tsinari

Ouzeri Tsinari is a traditional meze restaurant at Alexandras Papadopoulou 72 in Ano Poli, the Upper Town of Thessaloniki, in Central Macedonia, Greece. It occupies a former Turkish kafeneio, or coffeehouse, in the old quarter that survived the 1917 fire which destroyed much of the lower city. Ano Poli's narrow streets, Ottoman-era houses, and views down to the Thermaic Gulf give the venue a setting very different from the waterfront and Ladadika. It is priced at the budget end, with a single dollar-sign rating, making it an inexpensive way to eat in the old town.

The dishes most associated with the ouzeri are tzigerosarmas, a traditional preparation of liver wrapped and cooked in the manner of sarmas, and an assortment of ouzo meze. Ouzeri cooking is built around small plates meant to accompany drinks, so a meal typically consists of several shared dishes rather than individual courses. The menu leans on straightforward home-style cooking rather than modern reinterpretation.

The atmosphere is rustic and unhurried, with the character of a neighbourhood meeting place. No dress code applies, and noise levels are moderate. The hilltop streets are steep, so most visitors combine a meal with a walk along the Byzantine walls and the Eptapyrgio fortress area.

Ouzo is the main drink, served with water and ice, and tsipouro and simple Greek wines are available as alternatives. Pairing small plates with a measured pace of drinking is the usual custom.

Booking is recommended, particularly at weekends and in the evening. Opening hours are reported as daily from 1PM to midnight, but they are noted as variable, so a phone call to +30 231 028 4028 is advisable before the climb to the Upper Town. Getting there is easiest by taxi or by bus uphill from the centre.