Kanelbulle, a cinnamon and sugar dough roll, is what accompanies a cup of Swedish coffee, which the Swedes call fika. This fluffy confection was born at a time when spices were becoming widespread and sugar was no longer a luxury item. By the middle of the 20th century it had already established itself as an everyday habit, a symbol of warmth and unpretentious enjoyment. Its passage to the other side of the Atlantic gave it a more exuberant and ‘commercial’ version. With its rich icing and sweeter dough, it became synonymous with malls, take-aways and a culture that sought small doses of sugar in everyday life. When that version began to travel, the cinnamon roll became a dessert with an international footprint and easily recognizable.

The appearance in Greece

It debuted first in individual cafes, but without creating much noise. Its rise to prominence came when Athens began to systematically adopt brunch and turn to quality coffee. There it found the ground to emerge. A dessert that goes well with cappuccino or flat white, that brings out an “outdoorsy flavor”, that can go viral without much effort. The next chapter was written by micro baquery. Small dough workshops sought products that were amenable to interpretation and technical variations. The cinnamon roll offered just that since it is a base that can be made butterier, fluffier, more flavorful and more appealing. Somehow, the number of places that began to see it not as a simple dessert, but as a product with character, began to multiply.

Its appearance in Greece

It first debuted in individual cafés, without creating much buzz. Its rise came when Athens began systematically embracing brunch and turning toward high-quality coffee. That’s where it found the ground to stand out: a sweet that pairs perfectly with cappuccino or flat white, that gives off an “abroad” vibe, and that can easily go viral without trying too hard.

The next chapter was written by the micro bakeries. These small dough workshops searched for products that could allow interpretations and technical variations. The cinnamon roll offered exactly that, since it is a base that can become more buttery, fluffier, more aromatic and more appealing. In this way, more and more places began treating it not as a simple dessert but as a product with character.

There are many explanations for why it has become so fashionable in Athens today. The most immediate is the era itself: a period in which small pleasures are sought more than ever, and the need for familiarity finds an outlet in flavors that evoke “homemade” warmth. There is also the power of imagery through social media. The cinnamon roll is one of the few sweets that is both striking and simple at the same time—an ideal balance for Instagram culture.

The result is a trend that doesn’t feel superficial. Cinnamon rolls have now taken root in everyday Athenian life, not as a fleeting trend but as a link between the tradition of dough-based pastries, international gastronomic influence, and the need for easy, affordable pleasures. A story that continues to be written every time a new bakery opens and every time someone holds another warm, aromatic roll in their hands.

Five places to eat delicious cinnamon rolls in Athens

72H Artisanal Bakery & Eatery Athens

In this new-generation bakery, the process itself is part of the experience, since you can watch the entire preparation of the cinnamon rolls through the glass window. And once they reach the display case, they disappear almost immediately.

The dough resembles tsoureki: buttery, fluffy and aromatic. The classic roll comes with rich frosting made from cream cheese from Trikala, while the more “playful” versions—lemon poppy seed and gianduja with caramelized hazelnuts—add a gourmet touch without going over the top. It’s one of those places where you try something once and then return… for the exact same reason. Even if it means patiently waiting in line again.

📍 27 Mitropoleos & Patroou 9, Athens

Ugly Rolls

It’s the kind of place that appears out of nowhere and suddenly everyone is talking about it. It opened with a simple statement: “We only make cinnamon rolls—and we make them well.”

Chef Antonis Prasinos worked the dough until it became almost addictive: soft, buttery, essentially a brioche with a cinnamon mood. There are eight options, each aimed at a different “personality”: classic, tiramisu, lemon–blueberry, apple crumble, pistachio, and even a melomakarono-inspired version for Christmas. And yes, you can also get them in a mini version—although it’s hard to stop at just one.

📍 9 Evripidou, Athens

Sol Bake & Coffee Project

Its story didn’t begin in Athens but in Tinos in 2021. From there came the first batch of cinnamon rolls, which became so popular that the next step was almost inevitable: their own spot in the center of Athens.

Every day, from the small open workshop, rolls infused with cinnamon aroma fill the neighborhood. Lotus, pistachio, apple pie, cheesecake, tiramisu, and red fruits with white chocolate are some of the options you’ll find—often changing.

📍 11 Praxitelous & 9 Havriou, Athens

Sweet Spoon by Dimitris Drakos

This is one of those places you don’t stumble upon by accident. Someone must have whispered its name to you. Away from the city center and in the southern suburbs, this shop makes cinnamon rolls worth the trip from downtown all the way to Argyroupoli.

The sticky roll here proves that simplicity doesn’t need fanfare: fluffy dough, sugar and cinnamon melting together, and a glaze that doesn’t believe in moderation.

📍 53 Marinou Geroulanou, Argyroupoli

Hygge

It may be in Exarchia, but as soon as you step inside you take a mental trip to Stockholm. Owner Anne Meurling seems to bring with her secret family rituals: breads reminiscent of winter mornings in the North, airy butters, sweets that carry something of childhood memories, cardamom rolls just as they should be, and of course cinnamon rolls that perfume the entire street.

They’re fluffy and irresistible, and you’ll find them in two shapes: the classic roll and a braided version that sometimes comes topped with a little cream cheese.

Try both—no exaggeration.

📍 192 Ippokratous, Exarchia