Food & drink
Food and drink (places to eat)
Eating out has become a local habit and is part of entertainment in Cyprus. There is a wide variety of restaurants, catering for all tastes. Along with taverns, which provide local and Greek dishes, there are restaurants that offer international cuisine such as French, Chinese, Italian, Indian, Lebanese, Japanese, Russian, Mexican and others.
The old staples of Greek cuisine – moussaka, stifado, kebab and Greek salad – will be much in evidence. The meze is perhaps a good way to get an insight into Cypriot food. Meze, or mezedhes, is a series of small different dishes that are provided throughout an evening, and may cover absolutely everything or pursue a fish or a meat theme. In a good restaurant the meze can contain up to 30 different dishes and it is important to pace yourself throughout the meal.
Kebab (souvlaki) appears in all menus and lamb is another common dish, either lamb chops or the more traditional kleftiko, which consists of large pieces of lamb baked slowly in traditional kleftiko ovens. Cypriots also have a taste for smoked meats, most notably the traditional loukanika sausage.
Fish is expensive, although kalamari – squid cooked in batter – is good value and widely available. Other fish options include swordfish, red mullet (Barbouni in Greek), whitebait and sea bass. Alternatively, fresh farmed trout is on the menu in some of the mountain villages.
Halloumi cheese is the main dairy product distinctive to the island. It is made from goat’s milk and is often served grilled. The cheese is now available in most supermarkets.
Visitors should seek out some of the cake shops that attract local custom. The traditional Greek desserts such as baklava and cadefi may be too sweet for some tastes, but the wide range of custard bakes should appeal to us all, as will the biscuits, which can be bought by weight in these shops.
Places to eat in Cyprus
Here is a selection of lovely places to eat in Cyprus:
Los Bandidos – Ayia Napa Square
A lovely, fresh and authentic Mexican restaurant with a lively yet romantic ambience. This child-friendly restaurant has outdoor seating. It’s recommended that you make reservations.
Limanaki – Ayia Napa Harbour
A waterside eatery specialising in fish with dishes. This restaurant offers Cypriot and International dishes and you can dine alfresco on the terrace.
Esperia – Ayia Napa Harbour
Another waterside location but with slightly nicer décor. Here you get enormous meat and fish dishes for similar prices to Limanaki. Esperia is open for lunch and dinner.
Taverna Napa - 15 Democratias Street, Ayia Napa
This Taverna is perfect for a family dinner. North of the main action it offers a broad range of dishes at mid range prices. Open evenings only.
Arcadia – 1 Odos Belogianna
Family run taverna on a side street uphill from the centre of Ayia Napa which serves good meze, steaks and grills.
Hokkaido – 35 Odos Agias Mavris
Distinctly Traditional Japanese food of high standard, well designed interior with dishes such as Sushi, Tempura, Chicken Teriaki, Saki wine and other popular Japanese combinations. More importantly the personal contact between the customer, cooks and staff through the traditional Teppanyaki make the dinning at Hokkaido an unforgettable experience.
Limelight Taverna – Odos Liperti
Another taverna but not ideal for vegetarians! A high rep for Greek dishes and grills, steak, lobster, fish and chicken as well as succulent lamb and pork.
Vassos Fish Harbour Tavern – Makariou 51, Ayia Napa
Popular with locals and visitors, Vassos is located right at the harbour. The menu offers fresh caught lobsters which you can choose from the tanks and well as seafood meze. Open for lunch and dinner, Vassos offers good service and is very romantic in the evening.
Odyssos – Nissi Avenue, Ayia Napa
Menu offers burgers and grilled meat dishes, fish including swordfish, halloumi and meze. A hive of activity.
Maistralia Beach Restaurant – Kyrou Nerou 42, Ayia Napa
Serves local Cypriot dishes such as afelia and souvlaki along with international fare. Emphasis here is mainly on fish and seafood but with plenty of meat choices. Close to all attractions in the heart of Ayia Napa
Sage restaurant and wine bar – Kyrou Nerou 10, Ayia Napa
Beautifully presented dishes such as smoked salmon with avocado or prawns, prime steak, fresh fish or pasta and tempting desserts. Upmarket restaurant ideal for a romantic meal or special event.
Tsambra - Dionysiou Solomou 9, Ayia Napa
A Lebanese-Cypriot restaurant serving good shish kebabs, barbecued lamb and tablouleh (bulger-wheat and parsley salad).
Potopoieion to Elliniko - Theodosi Pieridi 2, Ayia Napa
A small, evenings-only Greek-style mezedopolio (a small restaurant specialising in mezedes) with grilled-meat meze, and zivania (local firewater), ouzo or wine as accompaniment. There's usually some live music too.
Hondros – Kato Paphos
Hondors boasts a lovely terrace, great service and traditional and delicious food. There is a simple kids menu available. Open for lunch and dinner.
Koh-i-Noor– Kato Paphos
North Indian cuisine, lovely tandoori dishes and good wine list! Everyone recommends this place. Open for dinner only.
Mothers Restaurant – Kato Paphos
Mothers serves lovely seafood and vegetarian food. Open for dinner only.
Argo – Kato Paphos
Lovely kleftiko made on Tuesdays and Saturdays when it’s advisable to book.
The moussaka is recommended. Argo claim to offer the best meze in town which visitors say is warranted. It has a small terrace and is in a relatively quiet area. Open for dinner only.
Almond Tree – Kato Paphos
One of Paphos’ better-kept culinary secrets. Almond Tree features Cypriot fusion cuisine – Thai-Cypriot tastes and stock Cypriot and international dishes. Open only for dinner.
Nikos Tyrimos Fish Taverna – Kato Paphos
The place to come for fish – caught daily by the owners own boats. You can choose from the fish on display or enjoy an enormous helping of a 22 dish fish meze.
Gina’s Place – Kato Paphos
Bistro-café and wine bar serving gourmet sandwiches and salads with superior imported wines.
Kings Aphrodite Restaurant – Kato Paphos
Greek restaurant offering excellent souvlaki, suckling pig and the usual Greek offerings. Music played live several nights a week.
Cavallini – Kato Paphos
A fount of tasteful modern Italian cuisine with a stylishly rustic interior.
Bunch Of Grapes Inn – Pissouri
Located in the heart of the pretty hilltop village of Pissouri, in a small street of traditional Cypriot stone cottages, this small family-run restaurant offers its guests the chance to immerse themselves in village life. The restaurant Specialises in home-made local dishes.
Dionysos, Pissouri
A pleasant restaurant with a refined atmosphere. Inside the décor is elegant, while outside the terrace overlooks a long pool and the Mediterranean. Live music plays gently in the background and the menu is classic Cypriot with an international twist, accompanied by fine wines.
Archontariki Tavern – Polis
Quiet and peaceful restaurant that provides the opportunity to dine alfresco. This old town house has a pretty courtyard that is set back from the road. On the menu are fresh fish and seafood dishes, along with meat and vegetable fare with a European flavour.
Sabuneri – Polis
Traditional village stone taverna, this sprawling restaurant in an extraordinary location, overlooking the Evretou Dam and a deserted village. Its menu consists mainly of mezes. Special themed evenings often held here.
Baths of Paphrodite – Polis
A simple taverna serving good fish.
Central Point Café – Polis
A good lunch stop with sandwiches and pizzas on offer. Prompt service and modest prices, and in a good spot for people watching!
Finikas – Polis
Ideal for alfresco dining with a varied menu. Wonderful for a dinner of pork marsala or the vegetarian house special. Located on the pedestrian zone.
Moustakallis Tavern Restaurant – Polis
Family-run, with an excellent choice of Cypriot food
Seafare Restaurant – Polis
The proprietor is charming and seafood second to none. The wonderful harbour setting is a bonus.
Arsinoe Fish Tavern – Polis
Atmospheric place on the south side of the pedestrian one, housed in an old stone building. Dining is alfresco, fish the specialty. Try the succulent octopus!
Old Town Restaurant – Polis
Discreet and relaxing place south of Arsinoe with a leafy, secluded garden. Specialties include wood-grilled chicken, chicken in spicy yogurt sauce and duck breast in black-cherry sauce. There is also a children’s menu.
Alekos Restaurant – Polis
Tucked away where almost no-one notices, this budget-minded local eatery serves filling dishes such as black-eyes beans or garden beans with tomatoes and meat. There’s also a complimentary litre of house wine for each pair of diners.
The Woodman, Limassol
More decorous and family orientated than some of its rivals, this pleasant pub-restaurant serves substantial meals.
Aliada, Limassol
This attractive garden behind an elegant mansion is a delightful place to dine on a summer evening, there are also four dining rooms inside. Much favoured by locals in the know, the food is some of the best in the region, especially the char grilled dishes.
Neon Phaliron, Limassol
Something of a local legend for its combination of traditional recipes with an up-to-date twist. Game features heavily in season, and the seafood is well worth trying also.
Pasalimani, Limassol
Sea views, maintains it’s long established reputation as one of Limassol’s best fish restaurants.
Xydas, Limassol
Make reservations well in advance if you want a table at Limassol’s best fish taverna # 25 72 83 36
Akamas Fish Tavern, Agios Georgios
Perched above a tiny fishing harbour, this delightful restaurant serves fish, naturally as well as excellent meze and kebabs.
Wine, brandy and beer
Cypriot wine is plentiful and inexpensive, and it is claimed that is has been made in Cyprus since 2000BC. The main wineries are at Limassol, but, increasingly, smaller producers are developing and some of the villages and monasteries now produce their own wines. It is an important business that is now worth €20 million a year in exports.
Commandaria sweet wine is one of Cyprus’s best known wines and it is said that is was drunk during the ancient festivals of Aphrodite. However its origins can only be definitively traced back to the estate of the Knights Hospitaller at Kolossi, 700 years ago.
