Visitors say
Everything was amazing! Highly recommended if you are nearby. Sardela pantremeni is the best dish we had by far.
This traditional tavern in Skala Sykamias is one of the best places to enjoy Lesvos islands' unique local cuisine. We had ordered fried squid, sardines and eggplant saganaki and they were all absolutely amazing. The owner is also super friendly.
About
Tucked into the crook of one of Lesvos's most enchanting fishing harbors, I Mouria tou Mirivili takes its name from the ancient mulberry tree that shades its waterfront terrace — a tree forever associated with Stratis Myrivilis, the celebrated Greek novelist born in nearby Sykaminia, who made this very shoreline immortal in his writing. Skala Sykamineas is a village of rare, unhurried beauty: a handful of colorful caiques bobbing in a small harbor, whitewashed walls climbing the hillside, and the Aegean stretching north toward Turkey. Sitting beneath the mulberry's wide canopy here, with salt air drifting off the water and the gentle clatter of the harbor as your backdrop, is to understand exactly why a writer chose this spot to think and dream.
The taverna has long been a gathering point for locals and travelers alike, offering the kind of straightforward, honest Greek seafood cooking that this coastline demands. Fresh fish landed by the village's own fishermen, grilled octopus curing on the line outside, and mezedes built around the day's catch make up the heart of the menu. The setting does as much work as the kitchen: long lunches spill into the afternoon here, glasses of ouzo catching the light, and time slows in the way it only does on islands. Whether you arrive for a full meal or simply to sit with something cold and watch the boats, I Mouria tou Mirivili offers one of those rare experiences where place, food, and story fuse into something genuinely memorable.
Before you go
What to expect
The ancient mulberry tree creates a natural canopy directly over the water, and you eat looking out at the fishing boats with salt air moving through the terrace. The kitchen follows what the village fishermen bring in each day — grilled fish, octopus hung to dry outside, mezedes built around the catch — so the menu is never quite the same twice. Knowing that Stratis Myrivilis wrote about this exact harbour gives the long lunches here a weight that's hard to explain and easy to feel.
Best time to visit
Late April through September for the full experience; May and early October are quieter than the July–August peak.
How to get there
Skala Sykamineas is on the north coast, roughly an hour's drive from Mytilene through the island's mountainous interior — the final descent into the village is dramatic and worth slowing down for.
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Visitor Reviews
Thomas Mylonas
August 2025
Everything was amazing! Highly recommended if you are nearby. Sardela pantremeni is the best dish we had by far.
Selin Sengoz
August 2025
Absolutely the best restaurant we’ve been to in Lesvos! The service is outstanding, the waiters are always smiling, friendly, and attentive, making you feel truly welcome. The food is simply amazing. The fried calamari rings and garlic shrimp are out of this world !!!! perfectly cooked and full of flavor. For the main course, the fish is always fresh and cooked to perfection. You can truly taste the quality in every bite. If you’re looking for a place with both incredible food and warm hospitality, this is the spot. Highly recommended!
M. Engin Satana
June 2025
I visited Skala Skimias 12 years ago and stayed there. I had spent a quiet week in a small hotel and dined at this beachside restaurant every day of that week. I had become quite close with the owner, Vangelis. This year, I had the chance to visit again. To be honest, even though we arrived around 6 PM, we were told the kitchen was closed. Five minutes later, they said, "Oh no, it's not closed." :) The waiter was quite inexperienced and not very familiar with the menu—although he was genuinely well-meaning. As for the food, I would say it was just standard. The place used to have a really good kitchen. I didn’t get to try much this time, but overall it didn’t feel very special.
gökhan kb (Gokhan_Kb)
April 2025
Very nice and tasty restaurant near by the sea.. fresh fish and foods are available.
Brittany
August 2024
Although it has a local importance since ancient times, it has lost a lot of its quality in the long run. Although its price was a bit higher than the surrounding places, it was really bad in terms of quality. There were ants crawling around on the table, the staff ignored you and were even very sullen. In addition to these, fava beans were used in the original, but peas are used here, and seafood such as shrimp and calamari are served with their feces without being cleaned. If you really want to come here and have a nice and enjoyable experience, take these into consideration. It was a bad experience, I hope they can bring themselves back to their old quality.
Basak Erdogan
August 2023
This traditional tavern in Skala Sykamias is one of the best places to enjoy Lesvos islands' unique local cuisine. We had ordered fried squid, sardines and eggplant saganaki and they were all absolutely amazing. The owner is also super friendly.
Ayfer Akdağ
May 2023
It was really small village but eating sea food with a cute chapel was nice. We tried grilled octopus and calamari, it was really delicious. They served us olives before meal, they were nice people. I recommend there.
Erdem Kaya
July 2022
I came after recommendations and it was well worth it. Located at such a beautiful place, can't find words to describe. Food very delicious. Found it slightly more expensive than peers but well worth to pay the premium. Owner is a very nice person as well. Highly recommended.
Pea Jay
August 2021
Everything was delicious. Regular prices. Fast service. Octopus is an absolute MUST to order; perfectly grilled, mouth watering, soft as it should be. Grilled calamari is also worth ordering too. Go for it!
Michel Meyer
April 2018
This is the best Restaurant for seafood on the whole Island! The owner Vangelis and his wife are very very Hearty and join you to tell Stories of recent and past times when myrivilis wrote his book about anatolian Diaspora, Love and life in this magical Spot around the old tree. We Hope we can soon come again and taste some special fresh seafood from the sea infront of the taverna and perhaps have some Tsipouro and more of these stories. ;) Also: try the grilled Feta and lobster it is Great!
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