15/08/2026
The story of Achladies Taverna began with a vision.
In 1972, when Skiathos was only beginning to discover what tourism could become, Alexander Karvounis had the courage to believe in Achladies.
At that time, there were no crowds, no international beach clubs, and no established tourist industry waiting for him. Skiathos was still a quiet island, deeply connected to fishing, farming, the sea and family life. Tourism was only starting to arrive, and getting to places like Achladies was a very different experience from today.
Alexander saw something others could not yet see.
He saw the beauty of the bay.
He saw the potential of the beach.
And most importantly, he believed that people coming to Skiathos would want to experience real Greek hospitality.
The Karvounis family had already been welcoming visitors to Achladies for years. After the war, they served simple homemade food to visitors arriving by boat, including British Navy personnel in 1952. Little by little, word spread about the beautiful bay, the fresh fish, the local wine and the warmth of the family.
Then came 1972.
Alexander transformed that informal hospitality into Achladies Taverna, one of the first restaurants outside Skiathos Town. It quickly became a beloved meeting place for both locals and the growing number of visitors discovering the island. Traditional Greek food, freshly caught fish, local wines and the extraordinary setting created something special.
But behind that success was something that photographs cannot show:
hard work.
There were long days, uncertain seasons, difficult beginnings and the challenge of building a business before Skiathos had become the world-famous destination it is today.
Alexander was not following a tourism boom.
He was helping to create it.
He worked at a time when success depended on reputation, consistency, hospitality and simply being there—day after day—to welcome every guest who arrived at the beach.
That is what makes the story of Achladies Taverna so special.
It was never only about serving food.
It was about creating a place where visitors could sit beside the Aegean, taste Greek food, drink Greek wine, meet the people of Skiathos and feel, even for a few hours, that they belonged on the island.
And it worked.
What began as a family connection to a quiet piece of coastline grew into a successful and much-loved taverna, becoming part of the story of Skiathos as the island entered its modern tourism era.
More than 50 years later, that same family story continues at the very same beach.
Today, the Karvounis family carries the legacy forward through Octopus Beach Bar & Restaurant, continuing the tradition of Greek food, seafood, wine and genuine island hospitality.
But behind everything that exists there today is a man who believed in Achladies before Achladies became what it is now.
Alexander Karvounis.
A man with a vision in 1972.
A vision built with hard work, persistence and love for his island.
And perhaps his greatest achievement was not simply creating a successful taverna.
It was helping introduce a new generation of visitors to the beauty of Skiathos.
1972 → 2026
One beach. One family. Generations of hospitality.
And a story that continues.
