Visitors say
Food is absolutely fantastic . Wine nice . The PASTOURMADOPITA is a must . And his fish . And prices are good . Just hope he’ll stay like that . Book before going
Away from touristic spots, therefore definitely cheaper and better food. It was full of locals.
About
To Ouzeri Tou Koutsomyti is a traditional Greek ouzeri tucked away near the quiet settlement of Alyfada, offering the kind of unhurried, convivial atmosphere that has made this style of establishment a cornerstone of Aegean social life for generations. An ouzeri is far more than a place to drink — it is a ritual, a gathering point where neighbors linger over small plates of meze and the anise-scented spirit that Lesvos claims as its own. The island is widely regarded as the spiritual home of ouzo, and stopping at a local ouzeri like this one is as much a cultural experience as it is a culinary one.
Guests can expect the kind of honest, unpretentious fare that defines the ouzeri tradition: plates of grilled octopus dried in the Aegean sun, saganaki, taramosalata, olives cured in the island's celebrated olive oil, and whatever the kitchen is proud of that day. The name Koutsomytis suggests a family behind the counter, which in a village setting almost certainly means recipes and rhythms passed down through the years. The pace is deliberate, the portions meant to be shared, and the ouzo poured generously alongside a glass of cold water in the time-honored fashion.
For visitors exploring the quieter interior or northern stretches of Lesvos away from the busier resort towns, To Ouzeri Tou Koutsomyti represents exactly what makes this island so rewarding to travel slowly. It rewards those who leave the main road, sit down without a reservation, and let the afternoon stretch out over a carafe of local ouzo and the gentle hum of village life around them.
Before you go
What to expect
Pull up a chair, order a small carafe of ouzo and let the kitchen set the pace — the scent of charred octopus and sizzling saganaki soon gives way to a parade of small plates meant to be shared. The atmosphere is closer to a neighbor's kitchen table than a restaurant, unhurried and genuinely local.
Best time to visit
Late spring through early autumn; summer evenings are the sweet spot once the Aegean midday heat has eased.
How to get there
The ouzeri sits just a short walk from central Mytilene, making it one of the easiest authentic meze experiences to reach on foot from the port.
Details
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Visitor Reviews
Cem Celik
February 2026
Tried fava, boiled mountain plants, sausage and sheep chops. Fava was fesh and excellent but sheep chops were a bit stiff. Service was very nice. Location is a bit tiresome by walking.
Yelin Mckay
September 2025
Away from touristic spots, therefore definitely cheaper and better food. It was full of locals.
Teoman Alçı
August 2025
If you are looking for a place to eat local food with locals don't miss this place. The restaurant has no view but has a lovely garden, we tried lots of thing and everything was really tasty, they serve as soon as it's ready. The fried ones are always crispy and delicious. The prices are good.
Alican TAS
July 2025
We had a great experience. There was staff who speaks English, but you can also utilize Turkish menu with some basic Turkish words. The food was very delicious and fresh. Prices were competitive to city center, lower than many others. The place is very local, it was luckily near to our hotel. Kindly thank to all staff :)
Dilek A
July 2025
They take wrong and incomplete orders. We had to insist just to get napkins and salt to the table. Four of us ordered different dishes, but only two meals arrived. When we asked about the rest, the waiter just said, “I took the wrong order, sorry.” The owner doesn’t speak English, and the waiter explained something in Greek but never bothered to check on us. We came because everyone said, “You must try the octopus in wine,” but the dish was honestly terrible — we couldn’t eat it. Two of us never even got their food, so they stayed hungry. In short: don’t believe the Instagram hype. Don’t go, and warn others not to either. —- We came because we had heard good things about your place. But unfortunately, it turned out to be a major disappointment. We already voiced our complaint while we were there, but all we received was a simple apology. The owner didn’t speak English and couldn’t understand what we were saying. The waiter, who had taken our order incorrectly, translated it into Greek — but we have no idea what he actually said. Long story short, I stand by every word of my review.
Owner Response
Good evening.<br>First of all, thank you for your comment.<br>We have had very positive feedback from our fellow citizens for years.<br>The information provided is not valid. It would be best if you forwarded your complaints to the store or called and reported them.<br>Have a good day.
Vassilia S
August 2024
Food is absolutely fantastic . Wine nice . The PASTOURMADOPITA is a must . And his fish . And prices are good . Just hope he’ll stay like that . Book before going
Oliver Homa
August 2024
A great restaurant with a pleasant atmosphere in a quiet neighborhood. The menu has many local dishes including seafood. The prices are very reasonable and seem to be lower than at other restaurants. Everything we ordered was delicious and our waitress was very friendly and attentive. She spoke English well.
Sezin H.
December 2023
Nice and calm local tavern with delicious food. I've tasted Greek salad, zucchini flowers stuffed with feta, fried calamari, grilled octopus, grilled sardines. Enjoyed all, except grilled octopus. It was hard and the only plate that we didn't finish. However stray cat was happy with it:)
Onur Oguz
July 2023
One of the best meals I've had in a long while. Everything is fresh and made to order. Absolute hidden gem. Keep up the great work🔥💯
Demet Özer
August 2022
Hand made and so delicious meals. "Sardine" and "octopus cooked in wine" were perfect, kalamari was a bit tough but it was delicious. "Meat ball" was the greatest we eat ever 😋😋😋
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