Costas Spiliadis
A generous host with a vision
Costas Spiliadis is the pioneering force behind Estiatorio Milos, one of the world’s most respected fine-dining restaurant groups and an international ambassador of Greek cuisine. Born in the port city of Patras, Spiliadis grew up in a culture where food was not merely nourishment but a celebration of heritage, artistry, and togetherness. That ethos, rooted in hospitality, and uncompromising simplicity, would later define the Milos culinary philosophy.
After moving to New York to study at NYU and later to Montreal to attend Concordia University, Spiliadis found himself longing for the spirit of Greece he carried with him: the food, the warmth, the generosity. In 1979, he opened the first Estiatorio Milos in Montreal with a radical vision, to introduce the world to Greek cuisine expressed at its highest level of quality and integrity. The restaurant quickly became one of the city’s most influential dining destinations and laid the foundation for what would grow into a global institution.
Over four decades later, Milos spans North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, recognized for setting a new standard of Greek dining through meticulous sourcing, a signature market-style fish display, and an unwavering commitment to freshness. Spiliadis remains deeply involved in every facet of the brand, personally nurturing relationships with fishermen and purveyors throughout Greece and ensuring that each restaurant, whether in New York, Athens, West Palm Beach, London, or Dubai, embodies the authentic Milos ethos of respectful simplicity.
At 79, Spiliadis continues to push boundaries with the same intellectual curiosity and cultural devotion that have shaped his life’s work. He is an avid reader of poetry, a lifelong student of Greek history and literature, and a passionate advocate for cultural preservation, currently spearheading the restoration of a historic village on the island of Kythera, Greece.
Widely regarded as a global ambassador of modern Greek gastronomy, Spiliadis has been profiled in The New York Times, GQ, Forbes and other leading publications for his exacting standards, his trailblazing culinary vision, and the influence of the still family-owned Milos brand.
Costas Spiliadis remains, above all, a steward of Greek culture: honoring the past, enhancing the present, and inspiring the future of Greek cuisine.
