History of Pelaïsos

Kostas Katsas was called “Pelaïsos” (man of the open sea) because he ran a sponge fishing boat which he took out into the Aegean sea, where he left the boat for days out in the deep, so as to keep his crew from getting drunk in the ports and neglecting their tasks. The boat would come back to land only after a long time.

In 1932 Vangelis Katsas, son of “Pelaïsos”, set up a shop that sold wine, earthenware jugs, cooking ware from Sifnos and fishing gear.

In 1965 Pelaïsos’ grandson, named Kostas after him, joined the family business and gradually the shop became a tavern and then a restaurant. For several decades Vangelis’ wife, Maria, did the cooking.

Over the 70 odd years of the shop’s existence some famous people have visited it to taste the retsina, fried fish and cheese and Maria’s home-style cooking. Among the well-known are the poet Nicholas Lisvas, who first recited his “Garoufiada” in a corner of the tavern, the contemporary poet Katerina Anghelaki-Rooke, many artists and both Greek and foreign intellectuals. And lots of unnamed people who enjoy the morning light, the beautiful sunset and the great food.

Nowadays, Pelaïsos’ greatgrandson, Vangelis, runs the restaurant following the simple and pleasant tradition he learned from his grandparents and his father.

Fisherman’s House, as the taverna is called in English, is on the seafront next to the City Hall. Open from 7.00 to 1.30. Except for various salads, appetizers, fresh fish and seafood there are our Greek cuisine specialties, some of which are: stifado, tirokafteri, filled tomatoes, mousaka and kolokithokeftedes.