Ilias is from Thessaloniki. Theodora comes from Alexandroupoli but lived in Athens for a long time. They met in Samothraki and fell in love with each other and the island. Despite the many difficulties they faced, they decided to change their lives and move to the place that had brought them together. A few years later, Konstantina, a beautiful blue-eyed baby girl was born.
Together, they run the coffee shop with perhaps the best view towards the old medieval castle and the red roofs of Chora. It's called Trapeza Café and it's right in the center of the small traditional village. In Greek, trapeza means "bank". Before being a coffee shop, the building was a bank, but at one point it was abandoned and fell into disrepair. Theodora and Ilias transformed the old house, turning it into a charming place, full of good vibes. The iron safe in the back is the only testament that remains to the building's former function.
Theodora is a graphic designer and it shows. Wooden and string decorations, colored ceramic pottery, books and small paintings tastefully arranged on the shelves and in the window frames make every corner of her coffee shop picture-worthy. Many products sprinkled throughout the shop make for excellent gifts from Samothraki: soaps, natural cosmetics, crochet toys, essential oils, spoon sweets, condiments and liqueurs made by Ilias. If you want to try something unusual, ask him about the scented geranium liqueur (in Greek the plant is called arbaroriza).
Trapeza is not just a café, but also a bar and a bistro.
Go in the morning and sit at a table on the balcony overlooking Chora. Slowly sip a Greek coffee or a creamy frappe. Maybe try a coffee or a hot chocolate with mastica. If you love espresso, this is one of the places where you can find a good one. Their coffee is sourced from an artisanal roastery. Ask for a feta, tomato and oregano omelet or try one of the many types of sweet or savory crepes. If you're looking for a traditional taste, go for the Greek crepe with feta, tomatoes, olives, peppers and onion.
Don't forget about the ice cream - it's delicious, and Theodora makes it herself. If you want to try a traditional dessert, try the chaslamas.
Go again in the evening when the sun begins to set and be amazed by the changing shades and colors of the castle and village. If there are no free tables outside, enjoy the colorful interior.
Ask for a plate of local starters, a lemon, orange, walnut or chocolate pie and drink a cocktail, a lavender lemonade or a homemade liqueur. Browse through the books about Samothraki. Allow yourself to live slowly, to enjoy the holiday, to make new friends and to discover wonderful cozy places just like Trapeza.
Contact Trapeza Café - Chora Samothraki
Trapeza Café is in the center of Chora, the capital of Samothraki, in a small square along with other shops.
Phone: +30 255 104 1532
Where and what to eat in Samothraki
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Fish and sea food at Taverna Akrogiali
Sunset panorama at Taverna Paradeisos
The goat specialists of Karydies Taverna
