Diavlos Mezedopoleio - Diavlos Traditional Tavern
Δίαυλος Μεζεδοπωλείο - Diavlos Traditional Tavern
Visitors say
I went 3 nights in a row since I loved the food and the atmosphere. My last night in Lesvos I chose another place to try different options and I deeply regret it. I would not miss the opportunity to get real traditional Greek food again!
We had lovely dinner with Greek dishes. Cozy atmosphere, reasonable prices, polite staff and wonderful surroundings.
About
Tucked away near the quiet coastal settlement of Alyfada on the eastern shores of Lesvos, Diavlos Mezedopoleio is a traditional Greek tavern that embodies the unhurried spirit of the island's food culture. A mezedopoleio is a distinctly Greek institution — somewhere between a tapas bar and a neighborhood tavern — where the focus falls on shared small plates, cold carafes of ouzo or local wine, and long, leisurely meals that stretch well into the evening. At Diavlos, the menu draws on the proud culinary heritage of Lesvos, an island renowned across Greece for the quality of its olives, olive oil, cheeses, and sardines.
Visitors can expect the kind of honest, unpretentious cooking that rewards those who venture off the main tourist trail: plates of local cheeses, cured meats, stuffed vegetables, freshly grilled seafood, and the island's famous ouzo-friendly bites known as mezedes. The atmosphere is convivial and relaxed, the sort of place where locals gather after work and families linger over the table. The setting near Alyfada, a small and largely unspoiled stretch of the Lesvos coast, adds a sense of discovery to the visit — this is not a place you stumble upon accidentally, but one you seek out.
For travelers exploring the quieter corners of Lesvos beyond the capital Mytilene or the better-known resort areas, Diavlos offers a genuinely local experience. It is the kind of tavern that reminds you why Greek food culture is so celebrated — not for grand gestures, but for simple ingredients treated with care, shared generously, and enjoyed slowly in good company.
Before you go
What to expect
The ritual at Diavlos is ordering round after round of mezedes — sardines, aged island cheese, stuffed vine leaves — alongside a cold carafe of ouzo or local wine, with no one watching the clock. The crowd skews local and the pace is genuinely unhurried; a table for two can easily stretch across three hours without feeling rushed.
Best time to visit
Late spring through early autumn works best; summer evenings are lively with locals, and the cooler shoulder months of May and September are particularly pleasant.
How to get there
Diavlos sits on the eastern waterfront of Mytilene itself, a short walk or a few minutes by taxi from the ferry port — one of the easiest places on the island to reach.
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Visitor Reviews
Vassilia S
November 2024
Food was delicious The owner is very friendly and pleasant. Don’t miss the octopus and the courgette flower. And the pastrami pie a blast Order ouzo samaras or white wine from Lemnos Of course everything is seasonal so for winter there was no sardines which is my favourite dish on the island
Gabriela Moreno
October 2024
I went 3 nights in a row since I loved the food and the atmosphere. My last night in Lesvos I chose another place to try different options and I deeply regret it. I would not miss the opportunity to get real traditional Greek food again!
Onur Tatar
August 2024
It was really surprising to eat one the best Hunkar Begendi I have ever tasted in a Greek tavern. Service was great, waitress was really professional. Restaurant was well decorated. Only negative feature is the street which doesn't have airflow but this is a regular issue in the center.
Habiba Allam
May 2024
I think this is one of the best tavernas in Mytilene and I have been here for a month. In the picture are the dolmades and the Aubergine in the oven. Both are great. The service is slow but friendly (like most greek places) and not all staff speaks English, but they have an English menu.
Mert E
November 2023
authentic food with decent price, every dish we ordered were full of flavor
seçil Alaca
September 2023
It is the best taverna in the center. The food is delicious and fresh. Service is also good. The owners are lovely and they give you advices to choose if you are not familiar with Greek cuisine. The other tavernas in the center doesn’t offer anything better. I have tried some other places too. So if you are in the mytillini center don’t waste time and directly go there.
Konstantinos Karampelas
July 2023
We had lovely dinner with Greek dishes. Cozy atmosphere, reasonable prices, polite staff and wonderful surroundings.
Owner Response
Thank you very much for your kind words !
eleni afiontzi
December 2022
We visited this place on Christmas day. despite the hectic day the service was quick and the waiter was friendly and polite. the food was really tasty, we especially liked the baked feta cheese with honey and the meat dish called lepidia.
Fijn Fijn
August 2022
Really friendly service and nice food again. Are there Any bad played in this country?? Comfy afhmosfere. Small street and many more bars. If you visit the capital walk through this romantic streets.
Céline A.
September 2019
The best fried squid with fresh fries as a side are found here. The food is simply delicious at this taverna. The owner is very nice and welcoming.
Owner Response
Thank you very much :)
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