Pikap, meaning the record player in Greek, is a new café/thrift/vinyl shop located on 57 Olymou Street just a couple of minutes walking distance from Aristotelous Sqaure. A street that goes commonly unnoticed, Olympou Street is found in the Roman Forum neighborhood and has recently become a hub for cafes, bars and restaurants. Pikap’s laidback environment, friendly staff, eclectic music and top notch coffee and drinks should definitely make it to your list of coffee shops to visit in Thessaloniki.
Pikap is the only cafe in Thessaloniki that plays exclusively from records. Call them old school, the owners decided to stick to a records-only policy to capture the true essence of the music. Since 4 out of the 6 owners are DJ’s themselves, they pay extra attention of the sound of the music. On any given day you can find them playing all types of music, from classical, to reggae, to soul, to house, to many more. There are no restrictions on the music, so the DJ has the freedom to play anything they desire.
The environment of Pikap is pretty relaxed, creating a calm vibe overall. The six owners run the place by taking shifts during the day. They are all very friendly. Every Monday morning before the café opens, they all meet to discuss issues that might have arisen or new projects that they are working on. When I went for the first time I instantly felt the family vibe among them. The bar is self-service, creating an opportunity to get to meet the owners in person.
During the day enjoy your coffee in one of the leather couches or at one of the tables outside, where the sun hits you at just the right angle. If you are a pet owner, you will be delighted to find dog bowls with water near the entrance. All the furniture in Pikap are conveniently bought from the nearby antique shops to create a vintage, pop vibe. While downstairs you can find friends, couples or even people working on their laptops, upstairs you can find a thrift shop that sells second hand clothing and vinyls. Every item is individually selected either from local designers or from second hand shops. For instance, one of the owners recently visited England to pick some unique second hand items.
When nighttime approaches, Pikap is transformed into a mellow fusion of good music, dancing and drinking, creating a perfect night out. Actually, Pikap is only open till 1 AM, so it is an ideal spot for some early drinks before you start bar hoping. After all, Thessaloniki is truly the city that never sleeps! Whatever the time of day, Pikap provides a chill and vintage atmosphere unique to any other place I’ve been to. Their extra friendly owners and their vinyl-only policy creates an extra distinctive touch. Although it only opened in 2015, I strongly believe Pikap has a long future ahead of them. I cannot wait to see what else they have in store for us!
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Basic Information on Pikap in Thessaloniki
Telephone: 231 027 1499
Cafe Hours: Everyday: 11AM-1AM
Store Hours: Mon-Sat.: 1PM-9PM
Social Media: Cafe Facebook, Store Facebook, Instagram, Soundcloud
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