![\"Louisa](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1_Zorbas.jpg\")
Louisa co-owns the restaurant with her husband, Haralambos(Image: Liverpool Echo)<\/p>\nThe family-run restaurant celebrated its 50th year in business last yearLouisa co-owns the restaurant with her husband, Haralambos(Image: Liverpool Echo)<\/p>\n
Despite having only opened its doors half an hour before I arrived, Zorba’s <\/a>was already starting to fill up as the staff started preparing for a busy evening ahead. Over the years the restaurant on the corner of Leece Street<\/a> has come to be known as something of a Liverpool institution since it first opened its doors back in 1974 by Haralambous Michael.<\/p>\n However, despite having celebrated its 50th year in business last year, the name behind one of the city’s oldest restaurants<\/a> still remains something of a mystery to most of those who walk through its doors. While some have wondered whether it could simply be the name of the restaurant’s owner, the real identity of Zorba has its origins in Hollywood<\/a>, as co-owner, Louisa Michael, 67, said: “Everybody asks me about those (photos). A lot of people come in and they go ‘who is this guy then?’ “<\/p>\n As she proudly looked up at the hand painted artwork that covers the restaurant’s walls, she explained: “The artwork is from the film, Zorba the Greek. It was (originally) a book actually by Nikos Kazantzakis.”<\/p>\n Looking back to its 1964 cinema release, Louisa revealed how it was the performance of the American actor Anthony Quinn that inspired her husband to name the restaurant after his character in the film, Zorba: “It was filmed in Chania, Crete, and Anthony Quinn was the main part, he was Zorba.<\/p>\n “The director (Michael Cacoyannis) introduced Anthony Quinn when he danced on the beach. Zorba the Greek is from then, but the music and also the film became very famous.”<\/p>\n While Louisa explained how the reference to the Hollywood film goes somewhat unnoticed by new visitors to the restaurant, the film was a major success following its release over 60 years ago.<\/p>\n Adding to its huge box office success, Zorba the Greek was also a major hit at that year’s Academy Awards<\/a>, with seven nominations and three awards for Best Supporting Actress, Best Art Direction and the Best Cinematography.<\/p>\n Besides sharing a glimpse into their Hollywood connections, Louisa opened up about how there’s more than one thing that sets their restaurant apart: “People have good memories here, happy memories here. People come and ask me for recipes. They ask to take me to their homes and cook for them.”<\/p>\n Having grown up in Cyprus, Louisa made the move to Liverpool in 1981 after her husband had set up the business years earlier.<\/p>\n And it was her early days in Cyprus that helped her gain an appreciation and understanding for the Greek-Cypriot cuisine.<\/p>\n![\"Zorbas](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1761624197_383_1_Zorbas.jpg\")
The restaurant is covered with references to Zorba the Greek(Image: Liverpool Echo)<\/p>\n![\"Louisa](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1761624198_376_1_Zorbas.jpg\")
Louisa revealed the little-known connection that the restaurant has with Hollywood(Image: Liverpool Echo)<\/p>\n![\"Inside](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1761624199_217_1_Zorbas.jpg\")
Louisa explained how the artwork was specially commissioned for the restaurant (Image: Liverpool Echo)<\/p>\n