Sweet anticipation, festive aromas, and the ultimate Italian delight: panettone is making a strong comeback in Athens, especially during the holiday season. This year, the city’s bakeries, delicatessens, and pastry shops are raising the bar. From classic recipes with raisins and citron to premium versions featuring pistachio, chocolate, or sourdough fermentation, Italy’s Christmas treasure has become a must-have on the Athenian holiday table. Where can you find the best panettone in Athens? Here are five of our favorites.

Antonis Selekos Conceptual Desserts
Richly decorated on the outside, honeycombed and airy on the inside, it is made with sourdough. This year, you can find panettone with dark chocolate, caramelized hazelnuts, salted caramel, and fleur de sel; panettone with raisins, cranberries, handmade orange and lemon confit, and dark chocolate; panettone with Aegina pistachios, white chocolate, cranberries, and pistachio nougat; and panettone with handmade caramelized apples, cinnamon and spices, salted caramel with fleur de sel, and crunchy streusel.
Erifylis 2, Pangrati, Tel.: 210 7248888

Takis Bakery
Soft as a cloud and full of butter, with large honeycombs. It is available in four different versions: the classic plain one, with Sicilian pistachio, with blackberry and chocolate, and three different types of chocolate.
Misaraliotou 14, Athens, Tel.: 210 9230052

Temps Perdu
Traditional panettone with candied lemon, mandarin, and orange. Made with long-fermented dough, it smells of butter and citrus.
2 Axarlian (Lekka) Street, Athens and 114 Karaiskou, Piraeus, Tel.: 210 4296027

Ntouras
Fresh and fragrant, from the bakery in Chalandri known for its quality. The al limoncello version is particularly special, made with sourdough, candied fruit pieces, and a thin coating of white chocolate. They also offer Panettone Mandorlato, with raisins, orange, and almond paste pieces.
87 Epidavrou, Chalandri, Tel.: 21 0685 3298

Le Greche
Offers Fiasconaro panettone, a traditional Sicilian brand of sweets, in elegant packaging by Dolce & Gabbana. Flavors include panettone with chocolate dough, dark/milk chocolate pieces, and orange paste; panettone with hazelnut glaze; panettone with raisins in sweet wine, almond glaze; and the classic with raisins and citrus.
Agia Paraskevi: 456 Mesogeion Ave., Tel.: 210 0101617
Athens: 16 Mitropoleos St., Tel.: 216 7006458
Neo Psychiko: 220 Olympionikon & Lykourgou, Tel.: 213 0416299
Kolonaki: 19 Patriarch Ioakeim St., Tel.: 210 9244989