Maria in Ermioni

The Tavern of Maria Staikou happily closes 50 years that is the focus of life in port of Ermioni in Hermione. Known for its delicious flavors, appetizers, traditional Greek food, sweets, coffees but mainly the intimate and friendly atmosphere.

Maria's world is special! The conventional rules of a tavern or restaurant are not observed. Having a tradition as a cafe that was old, Maria's tavern is full of morning, for the first conversations and the first coffee of the day. Retirees, fishermen, professionals start their day here. After 11 o'clock, it is the turn of the ouzos with the corresponding appetizers and towards it noon comes or meal time. Here the shop is now honored by Ermioni vacationers and of course the visitors of the place. This food-coffee-food-coffee system pulls until midnight.

The meze of beer or ouzo is a dreamy variety with grilled octopus, small shrimp, squid and sardines or anchovies in the pan.

The cooking is done by Antonia, Maria's sister, who has finished cooking school, while her mother Friday she also helps in the kitchen. We said the store is a family affair.

Served cooked, moussakas, stuffed, fava, baked aubergines, baked meatballs, roast pork and from now on red mullets, shrimp and fish.

I really like the winter place, a tasteful room full of warmth reminiscent of an old cafe. Maria's presence is decisive, I would say absolute. He tells us two conversations:

"The cafe dates back to before the war, in fact they played cards and worked like a casino. My father got it 1969, when returning from Germany where he worked as an immigrant, he gave his wife two choices, a grocery store in the center of Hermione or a coffee shop. "My mother happily chose the cafe - she says she would drown away from the sea - and so we now enjoy the life of the cafe!"

Maria started working in 1990, when she was young, and since 2015 the store is formally hers, something that can be seen on its label. At one time he had a beautiful inscription "Aktaion" that had run out of the needs of a film shot here.

Beloved by foreigners but especially by locals, Maria is here all year round - once she left in the winter for ten days and heard a thousand complaints about her absence - and is the most authentic ambassador of Hermione!