Athens Pastries is one of Toronto's longest running Greek bakeries. Considering the quality of its food, it's not hard to see why.

The bakery's first location opened in 1978 on the Danforth. Its current owner, George Tsioutsioulas, took over from his parents, who oversaw the Greektown landmark for many years.

The family business expanded into Scarborough in 2005. A third location once occupied the food court at Michael Garron Hospital, but closed in early 2023 to facilitate renovations.

Thankfully, the Scarborough location shows no signs of slowing down.

Step inside and you'll find a cozy dining area, whose calming colour palette is dominated by blues, greens and browns.

Wooden booths face the open concept kitchen, giving you a clear view of the pastries being prepared — though depending on when you visit, you may have other things on your mind!

Athens Pastries is an unofficial meeting spot for members of Toronto's Greek community, many of whom have spread the good word to their friends.

Conversations can be heard in a dozen different languages and spontaneous bouts of laughter are a common occurrence.

A regular, whom the staff tells us has been visiting for the past eighteen years, helpfully explained what draws him to Athens: "Everyone knows each other here. It's almost like Friends, or Cheers."

He went on to praise their coffee, which he describes as very authentic. "Every time I take a sip," he says, "I remember what it was like back home."

Athens Pastries has a small menu, consisting mainly of warm drinks and traditional Greek dishes.

Though this lack of variety may be a turn-off for some, it shows a certain level of culinary confidence on the part of the bakers. Why bother with a wide selection when your skills speak for themselves?

Lattes ($3.65/small, $4.25/large) are sweet and frothy, with a layer of cinnamon-infused foam at the top.Greek coffee ($3.25/small, $3.75/large) is a finely ground drink with a rich, earthy taste. Though the drink was too strong for me personally, I'm told that it's one of the bakery's most popular items.

The frappé ($4.50) is another popular drink. This semi-sweet beverage is made with instant coffee and sugar, topped up with Greek mineral water and served with ice.Not to be forgotten is the freddo espresso ($3.50), a cold counterpart to the conventional espresso. Like the Greek coffee, I found this drink a little bit bitter, though I can definitely see the appeal of its gram-worthy gradient. Spinach pies ($5.60), also known as spanakopita, are flaky and filling, thanks to their winning combination of spinach, onions and feta cheese.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention the phyllo crust, which is so flavourful that you'll want to eat the crumbs.The cream pie ($5.60), or bougatsa, is a light dessert with a subtle flavour enhanced by cinnamon and icing sugar. The custard inside is soft, but not overly sweet, and makes for a delicious afternoon snack.Larger frozen versions of both pies can be purchased for $15.50.Loukoumades ($5.60/dozen) are filled with honey, then deep-fried and dusted with cinnamon. Be sure to keep napkins handy before taking a bite: these pastries are so stuffed that they practically explode in your mouth.

Though dedicated to providing an authentic experience, Athens Pastries has managed to find an audience outside the Greek community.

As the customer we spoke to put it, "It's not just a Greek thing. As far as I'm concerned, it's the thing."

Athens Pastries is located at 2567 Victoria Park Ave.