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The traditional café of Kostas in Sivas

The traditional café of Kostas in Sivas

Sivas is a small picturesque village at the southwest end of the plain of Messara in Crete, just 10 minutes away from Matala. Its few local residents are involved in agriculture. The village had several names throughout the years. Nevertheless, the male name of Sivas prevailed.

It is in this very village however that you will come across one of the most peculiar kafeneia (traditional cafés) of Greece. The traditional café of Kostas may be a hole in the wall but it's really something else! You get the feeling of being introduced into the deeper mysteries of the faith, yet into something familiar, witnessing an amalgam of metaphysics and tangible reality.

This café is a true museum as abundant floor-to-ceiling religious images dating back mainly to the Cretan era - wood-mounted photos that look like trues copies of religious images -, works of Domenikos Theotokopoulos and Fayum paintings adorn the walls.

The café of Kostas's small tables and the area exclusively reserved for the café owner to prepare coffee and food are painted in green, while photos of young or older people, foreign professors and intellectuals who have visited this café cover the forth wall of this joint.

This place is for everyone; art lovers, philosophers, players of the Cretan lyra and everyday people. You are definitely going to keep marveling for hours at the religious images, the sayings and the proverbs on the wall.

“No one can build on your behalf the bridge that you have to walk through to cross over the stream of life; no one can do that, but yourself. You will definitely come across countless paths, bridges and demigods willing to take you to the other side. Beware though! They will ask for a fee in return, your own self… ”.

The café owner, a humble Cretan man who looks further beyond mere facts, has been running the family business ever since he lost his family twenty years ago.

Just behind the pepper plant, so tufted that it almost hides the facade of the Costa café, many treasures wait to be disclosed to any traveler seeking unique experiences.

Ouzo Plomariou
Ouzo Plomari
  • The cafe of Kostas in Siva Messaras in Crete
  • The cafe of Kostas in Siva Messaras in Crete
  • The cafe of Kostas in Siva Messaras in Crete
  • The cafe of Kostas in Siva Messaras in Crete
  • The cafe of Kostas in Siva Messaras in Crete
  • The cafe of Kostas in Siva Messaras in Crete
  • The cafe of Kostas in Siva Messaras in Crete
  • The cafe of Kostas in Siva Messaras in Crete

Contact

Contact
  • Address
    Sivas, plain of Messara, Crete
  • Category
    Traditional Cafés
  • Location
    Crete

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The traditional café of Kostas in Sivas