the avli ethos
The story behind Avli
Change brings opportunity. We names our new beginning Avli. The keys being handed down from one generation to the next. After growing up in the kitchen of the very popular original Mythos restaurant, then leaving to see the world, it was always on my mind to one day come back and add my own personality on the family's place. Little did I know I would be bringing a special someone along to share the ride.
When our individual worlds became one infused journey over five years ago we have made sure taking trips was always top priority. Soaking up the experiences from all of these places, we always talked about starting our own project. Many ideas came and went. Until one felt right. Recent world events helped make the decision an easier one, packing up our London life and moving to Samos looking for something more meaningful and enjoyable. Aphrodite and Andy aka Andreas headed to Greece's Island of Legends for a new start.
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Welcome to Avli, a restaurant by Aphrodite and Andy, also known as Aphro and Andreas. Both as a couple and as individuals we have spent over a decade working within the hospitality and events industry across the world in places like London, Melbourne, Bangkok and more.
Our Avli journey started when Covid-19 hit and the events industry was put on hold. We were living in London at the time before spending nearly the entire summer of 2020 in Samos. Avli, which was previously Mythos restaurant, was owned and run for decades by Aphrodite’s family. In its last year Mythos was closed due to the pandemic. Spending some time on the island and seeing the offerings, we got inspired and decided to follow our hearts. The keys were then handed down to us and Avli was born. Avli refers to a courtyard garden area in Greek, a place where people get together to eat, drink , laugh and dance. A place which feels warm and welcoming, a place where friends become family.
We’ve always had a passion for sustainable cooking, choosing to work with as many local products as possible. We love everything that our beautiful island has to offer, as it provides a wide variety of delicious products. We grow our own BIO vegetables in the back of Avli, which are the base of many of our dishes. We have different kinds of tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, herbs, figs and other delights growing in the back.
Our menu is inspired by creative and flavourful dishes from around the world whilst also trying to elevate the traditional delicious Greek ones. We believe that food should not only be delicious but also nourishing for the body and the soul.
The concept of Avli is shared dining. We offer a variety of mezedes and larger plates for you to explore our take on Greek cuisine. These shared dishes will leave some room for you to try our delicious homemade desserts and cocktails.
We host a variety of live music nights in our courtyard throughout the week with various styles to suit every taste. Please check out our weekly schedule or speak to a member of the team for more information. For some of the music nights booking is essential.
We look forward to welcoming you in our Avli and introducing you to our flavours. Sit back, relax and enjoy this journey in our beautiful courtyard and let’s be friends!
