Among the area’s few dining options Adonis Greek Taverna offers finest quality Greek food outside Greece itself. Adonis conveniently located at downtown Vancouver near Yaletown area. Whether you are picking up or coming in to try our irresistible tender and flavorful souvlaki kababs or one of our fulfilling dishes you are guaranteed to leave pleased! 

Hospitality is the hallmark of the traditional Greek culture and at Adonis Greek Taverna it is our pleasure to offer this unique dining experience to our customers. Unlike the usual big and noisy Greek restaurants, Adonis with its informal atmosphere is a fine destination for those who enjoy good food and environment.

Adonis mythology

Adonis is one of the complex Greek Mythology figures, a fine masculine looking God of Desire and the favorite of Aphrodite goddess, and has had multiple role, meaning and purpose in Greek religious beliefs going back to 600 BCE. 

Aphrodite was so much charmed with the beauty of the infant born out of Myrrha (who was turned into a tree) trunk. She handed Adonis care over to the queen of the underworld Persephone who afterward refused to give up the treasure she had in her keeping. Aphrodite desperately in love with the beautiful youth entered into a dispute over who can keep Adonis. The dispute was brought before Zeus, who decided that during four months of every year Adonis should be left to himself, during four months he should belong to Persephone, and during the remaining four to Aphrodite. However Adonis preferably spent the four months which he had control over with Aphrodite.

When Adonis died from a wound received while hunting a wild boar, Aphrodite pleaded with Zeus to bring him back to life. Zeus agreed to get the young man back, but he had to stay in the underworld during winter and be with Aphrodite in summer.

In the ancient Greek women would worship Adonis and grieve over his death as they surround his statue with pots with flower seeds in them. In summer the flowers would grow but die in winter. Adonis symbolizes the death of nature in winter and its revival in spring. His death and his return to life were celebrated in annual festivals (Adonia) at different places. In spring there would be festivals where wild celebrations of joy would take place, and in autumn there would be mourning processions.