Tootsie Souvlaki

Tootsie Souvlaki is the go-to address in Livadi for honest, no-fuss Greek street food. Located near the Alpha Bank branch in Livadi — Serifos's main port village — it draws a steady crowd of locals and visitors who want a proper souvlaki or grilled wrap without the sit-down formality of a taverna. With 599 Google reviews averaging 4.3 stars, it has earned a consistent reputation on an island where most food options lean toward seafood tavernas.

The place is casual by design. You come here for pork or chicken souvlaki, grilled meats, and the kind of stuffed pita wraps that travel guides in Greece simply call street food — assembled to order, eaten in hand or at a table. It fits the rhythm of a port village: quick, filling, and affordable.

For anyone staying in or around Livadi who wants a reliable lunch after a ferry arrival or a late-night bite after an evening on the waterfront, Tootsie slots in neatly. It opens at noon daily and stays open past midnight most nights of the week.

What to Expect

Tootsie Souvlaki operates as a casual grill spot, not a full-service restaurant. The format is familiar across Greece: skewers of pork or chicken cooked over a charcoal or gas grill, wrapped in soft pita with tomato, onion, tzatziki, and fries, or served as a plate alongside sides. Grilled meat options are the mainstay, alongside wraps that have become the modern standard in Greek street food.

The setting is Livadi itself — Serifos's workaday port, lined with cafés, small tavernas, and a beach that stretches south of the ferry dock. The location near Alpha Bank puts it within easy walking distance of the main waterfront and most accommodation in the Livadi area. It's the kind of place where plastic seating and paper napkins are expected and welcome.

Prices at souvlaki joints in the Cyclades typically run slightly higher than on the mainland, as everything on the islands is affected by ferry freight costs, but this category of eating generally remains one of the more affordable ways to eat out. Tootsie's rating and volume of reviews suggest the value holds up by island standards.

The atmosphere is lively rather than refined. It draws a mix of ferry passengers killing time, families with children, and younger visitors who have spent the day at one of Livadi's beaches. Late on weekends, it continues serving past midnight, which makes it one of the few kitchens in the village still running at that hour.

How to Get There

Tootsie Souvlaki is in Livadi, the port settlement of Serifos, at coordinates 37.1418°N, 24.5154°E. If you're arriving by ferry at Livadi port, the village is immediately walkable — the entire waterfront area is compact enough to cover on foot in five minutes.

From the ferry dock, walk along the main harbour road in the direction of the beach and the town centre. The spot near Alpha Bank is a well-known local landmark for orientation; Tootsie sits in its vicinity.

If you're staying up in Chora — the hilltop capital of Serifos — you'll need to come down to Livadi by road. The drive takes around five minutes, or there is a bus service running between Chora and Livadi in season. Taxis are also available. Parking is generally possible along the roads leading into Livadi, though it gets tight in peak summer.

There are no ferry connections needed; this is a land-based spot in the main village. Accessibility is straightforward for most visitors, as Livadi is flat and walkable.

Best Time to Visit

Tootsie is open year-round based on its listed hours, which is notable for Serifos — a relatively small Cycladic island where many businesses close entirely outside the June-to-September season. Lunchtime from noon onward is when service begins each day.

In peak summer — July and August — Livadi gets busy with both day-trippers and longer-stay visitors. At that time, a souvlaki joint near the port is in high demand, particularly around ferry arrival times (late afternoon and evening) and after beach hours. Coming mid-afternoon on a weekday is likely to mean shorter waits than a Friday evening in August.

The late-night hours (open until 12:30 AM on Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday) make this one of the more useful options when the island's tavernas have cleared their last tables. In shoulder season — May, June, and September — the pace is calmer and the same food comes with less of a crowd.

Serifos summers are hot and dry, with strong meltemi winds possible from mid-July. If you're eating outdoors, an afternoon breeze off the water in Livadi is common and generally welcome.

Tips for Visiting

• Arrive with a specific order in mind. Souvlaki spots move quickly when busy; knowing whether you want pork, chicken, a wrap, or a plate saves time for everyone.
• Call ahead if you want delivery. Web snippets confirm that Tootsie offers phone delivery within the local area. The number is +30 2281 051343 (note: a secondary number, 22810-51058, has also appeared in social posts — confirm when calling).
• Use it as a practical post-ferry meal. If your ferry arrives in the evening and you're not ready to commit to a taverna dinner, Tootsie is one of the easiest options near the port for a quick, satisfying meal.
• Late nights on weekends. On Friday and Saturday, the kitchen stays open until 12:30 AM, which is useful if you've been out and want something substantial before heading back to accommodation.
• Expect port-village pricing. All food on Serifos carries some island markup, but souvlaki and grilled wraps remain among the most budget-friendly categories available.
• Pair it with a walk along Livadi beach. The beach runs south from the port area; grabbing food here and eating near the water is a straightforward combination.
• Sunday opening is slightly later. The kitchen opens at 12:30 PM on Sundays rather than noon — worth knowing if you're planning an early lunch after a morning at the beach.
• It's a local staple, not a tourist novelty. The volume of reviews and local references in Greek-language social posts suggest this place functions as a genuine neighbourhood spot, not just a visitor trap near the ferry.

What to Order

The core offering at Tootsie is souvlaki — skewered pork or chicken cooked on the grill, served either as a platter with sides or stuffed into a pita wrap with the standard accompaniments: tzatziki, tomato, onion, and fried potatoes. The pita wrap format, sometimes called a gyros-style wrap depending on the preparation, is the dominant street food in this category across Greece.

Grilled meats beyond the skewer are also listed in descriptions of the place — this likely means items such as bifteki (Greek-style burger patties) or mixed grill portions, which are common at souvlaki-focused grills. These make the menu useful for people who want something more substantial than a single skewer.

Greek street food in this category almost always includes chips (fries) as a standard element, either inside the wrap or served alongside. Soft drinks, beer, and sometimes basic salads round out the typical offering at this type of grill.

Given the lack of a published menu online, it's worth checking the counter or asking what's on when you arrive — daily availability can vary, especially later in the evening.