Greek Ouzo Barbayanni (The Museum)
Μουσείο ούζου Βαρβαγιάννη
Visitors say
Our favorite ouzo brand, with a taste that truly stands out. It was wonderful to see its history, roots, and production process. The guide was very friendly and gave detailed information.
Excellent tour/interaction with distillery staff and owner. Really enjoyed learning the process, including using water and anis grown/harvested on the island.
About
Lesvos has long been considered the spiritual home of ouzo, producing some of the finest expressions of Greece's beloved anise spirit, and among the island's historic distilleries none carries a more storied name than Barbayanni. Founded in the nineteenth century in the southern coastal town of Plomari, the Barbayanni family helped define what authentic Lesvos ouzo means — a careful alchemy of pure alcohol, star anise, and a blend of aromatic seeds and botanicals, distilled slowly in copper pot stills to produce a spirit of exceptional clarity and character. The museum, housed within or alongside the working distillery near Agios Isidoros, offers visitors a rare window into this generational craft, with exhibits of antique copper stills, original production equipment, and archival materials that trace both the family's history and the broader story of ouzo's rise as a cultural institution.
Stepping inside, visitors are greeted by the warm, distinctive fragrance that permeates every corner of a working ouzo operation — anise mingling with the faint sweetness of alcohol and wood. The displays illuminate the full journey from raw ingredients to bottled spirit, explaining the distillation techniques that distinguish a premium Lesvos ouzo from lesser imitations. It is the kind of place that transforms what might otherwise be a casual pour into something genuinely understood and appreciated.
Beyond the educational experience, the visit naturally invites a tasting, and sampling Barbayanni ouzo at its source — perhaps diluted with cold water until it blooms a milky white, the traditional way — is an experience that anchors the whole trip to southern Lesvos in something authentic and sensory. For anyone touring the olive groves and fishing harbours of this part of the island, a stop at the Barbayanni museum is not merely a detour but a point of cultural gravity, connecting the landscape, the history, and the glass in your hand into a single coherent story.
Before you go
What to expect
The scent of anise and warm copper greets you at the door, well before you reach the first exhibit. The museum traces generations of family craft through antique pot stills, original production equipment, and archival photographs, then closes with a tasting where ouzo turns its characteristic milky white in cold water — the only proper way to drink it. It is an unusually coherent experience: the history, the smell, and the glass in your hand all tell the same story.
Best time to visit
Open year-round; spring and autumn are most pleasant for pairing the visit with a drive through the surrounding olive groves, avoiding the intense heat of July and August.
How to get there
Drive south from Mytilene toward Plomari — the journey takes roughly 30 to 40 minutes; the museum sits near Agios Isidoros, on the edge of the town.
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Visitor Reviews
I D
September 2025
You can learn a lot about ouzo production in that family operated establishment. Great testing experience!
Hasanakay
September 2025
This is the place to get your Ouzo while learning all about this national drink of Greece. This place has amazing artifacts and items that tell the story of this 5 generations of a family who started this business in the 1800's. The host of the museum is a very lovely lady who will give you a tour for FREE and tell you all about the process of making ouzo. Best of all you can go down and taste various types of ouzo and buy the one you like. A trip to this place while you are in Plomari is a must and not to be missed. It might even be worth a drive all the way from Mitilini.
Burak Aydın
September 2025
Our favorite ouzo brand, with a taste that truly stands out. It was wonderful to see its history, roots, and production process. The guide was very friendly and gave detailed information.
David Seligson
August 2025
Excellent tour/interaction with distillery staff and owner. Really enjoyed learning the process, including using water and anis grown/harvested on the island.
Amorfati Trips
August 2025
Along a winding country road from Agios Isidoros or Plomari it's a 10 minute walk to the Ouzo museum of Varvayannis. It's one of the largest producer of ouzo on the island of Lesbos and 17 distilleries on the island produce 50% of all ouzo in Greece. Make a visit, it's time well spent and you'll both get the history of ouzo and taste it and buy some, if you wish. If the gates are on you're welcome in. Jamas!!
Mak Panop
July 2025
A must-visit in Lesbos! The Ouzo Barbayanni Distillery in Plomari offers a fantastic glimpse into the tradition of Greek ouzo-making. The tour is informative, the museum charming, and the tasting is a real highlight. Friendly staff and a true taste of Greek heritage—highly recommended!
Lennart
May 2025
Beautiful distillery with very friendly people. You first get an intro to their history and then even a tour of their factory. Be sure to buy some of their product on the way out and ask how to drink Ouzo the proper way
Seray Topçu Yılmaz
September 2024
A great history of ouzo. Free entrance. If you want, in the upper floor you can see historical improvement of Barbayanni factory and if you want a guidance a guy helps you. In the ground floor, you can see distillation and packaging of the ouzos. The gentleman who tells us the ouzo production history was very nice and he knows all of the rakı brands in Turkey! 😅 he told us to ouzo drinking customs. You can taste the ouzos (including %42-46-47-48 alcohol) and you can buy them!
Selin Engin
September 2024
Barbayanni Ouzo Museum and Factory is a must-visit for anyone interested in Greek culture and tradition. The experience of seeing the ouzo production process up close is truly fascinating. The guided tour walks you through each step of how this iconic drink is made, from distillation to bottling, with detailed explanations that bring the history of Barbayanni to life. The museum is rich in heritage, showcasing artifacts and stories behind this family-run business. It’s a great opportunity to learn and taste a piece of authentic Greek tradition. Highly recommended!
Sahan Camdereli
June 2024
This museum is amazing and also it is open for everybody to visit the factory and also you can get the info about how ouzo preparation developed itself. You can taste every type of ouzo. The staff are so helpful to answer your questions. The prices are the lowest prices in the island.
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