This family-run bakery in Athens has been in the business of selling sweets for more than 100 years. Neither the decor nor the recipes here have changed much since 1923. Through the years and the generations, they’ve built up a reputation for selling some of the best loukoumades in the city. These fluffy, fried doughnuts are traditionally drenched in honey, then sprinkled with cinnamon and chopped walnuts. Early references to them date back to the Ancient Greek Olympic games, where they were served to the victors.
Even the Neoclassical building that houses Krinos is quite a bit of history behind it. In 1855, Stamatios Krinos, a professor at the University of Athens School of Medicine, purchased the building at the current location in Athens and opened the first pharmacy in the city. The pharmacy thrived until 1923, when Minas Kasimatis bought the building and converted it to a confectionary store, the first of its kind in Athens.
The most popular item at the bakery was (and still is) loukoumades. Although their traditional version is still the top seller by far, but they also offer variations including loukoumades drenched in chocolate, or filled with hazelnut cream, ice cream, or whipped cream. A standard order of a half dozen is ideal for sharing, although you may not want to. Today, the bakery claims to serve over 1,000 of these treats a day.
