Whereas the seashores are a number of the greatest options of this pretty Island, the meals in Cyprus is fairly wonderful too. A mix of Arabic, Turkish and Greek flavors makes exploring the totally different dishes and greatest locations to eat in Cyprus numerous enjoyable, whether or not you’re a foodie or not.
I traveled round Cyprus as a digital nomad for round 4 months, and I cherished making an attempt all the perfect meals in Cyprus. From sheftalies (meatballs) and souvlaki (grilled meat) to scrumptious cheeses. Cypriot meals is actually wonderful, and tasting the normal dishes in Cyprus is unquestionably one in every of my favourite issues to do while there.
Finest Meals in Cyprus
I used to be lucky sufficient to have my pals, who had been raised in Cyprus, present me round and suggest totally different dishes to me throughout my time on the island. From this, I acquired an amazing perception into the widespread dishes in Cyprus, in addition to what the locals prepare dinner at house.
They offered some glorious suggestions for what to eat in Cyprus and the place to go. So, let me share what I realized beneath.
1. Souvlaki (Most Well-known Meals to Strive in Cyprus Total)
Souvlaki is without doubt one of the hottest meals in Cyprus. Souvlaki includes cubes of meat, of which rooster and pork are the preferred, which are marinated and grilled on a skewer.
The meat is normally tender and spiced to perfection and the preferred solution to eat it’s in a pitta, with a lot of salad and lemon. You’ll nearly actually be served souvlaki in the event you order a meat meze too.
Souvlaki is totally different from souvla which is one other common dish consisting of bigger items of meat cooked over a charcoal barbecue. The distinction between the dishes is the dimensions of the meat, the size of time it’s cooked, and the space from the grill. Primarily, souvlaki is the mini model of souvla!
You’ll discover souvlaki all over the place – it’s most likely the preferred dish in Cyprus. For lunch, my favourite place to eat souvlaki is Souvlaki.GR in Larnaca. It serves scrumptious tender souvlaki (together with different native dishes), at reasonably priced costs, and in giant parts. You actually can’t go mistaken.
Souvlaki.gr Info
Deal with: 67 Archiepiskopou Makariou Road, 7550 Larnaca, Cyprus.
Telephone: +357 24 650670
Working Hours: 11 am – 11.30 pm (Mon-Fri)
Common Price of Dish: €7
Web site: View their Fb web page right here
2. Halloumi
Halloumi is common in a lot of Europe however originated in Cyprus. It’s a cheese constituted of a mix of goat and sheep’s milk, and typically cow’s milk too. Halloumi is commonly known as squeaky cheese due to its texture.
It’s made domestically in Cypriot villages, and taking a tour to observe the locals making the cheese, having a go at making it your self, and all importantly tasting some samples, is a extremely enjoyable solution to spend a day.
When it comes to the place to strive it, it’s one other a kind of meals in Cyprus that you just’ll discover in each restaurant or taverna serving native dishes because it’s one other of the preferred substances on the island.
Whereas it’s normally grilled and greatest eaten as a part of a meze, I as soon as had it in pasta at Forsos Tavern in Limassol. It was tremendous scrumptious – I’d positively suggest including it to your order!
Forsos Tavern Info
Deal with: Αγίου Ελευθερίου 49, Mouttagiaka, Cyprus
Telephone: +357 25 329490
Working Hours: 7.30 pm – Midnight (Mon-Solar)
Common Price of Dish: €7
Web site: View their Fb web page right here
3. Kleftiko
Kleftiko is a conventional Greek recipe that includes marinating lamb in olive oil, onion, garlic, and lemon after which cooking in greaseproof paper to ensure the meat takes all the flavour and moisture from the liquid.
Cypriots make Kleftiko utilizing a leg of lamb, which may be very tender. Typically, you’ll discover that the dish comes with potatoes which were cooked along with the meat and soaked up the scrumptious aromas and flavors from the reduce.
When you’re staying in Nicosia, you could strive the Kleftiko at Kyriacos. It’s probably the most well-known locations in Cyprus to eat Kleftiko and is a well-liked place within the metropolis. It’s near Famagusta gate, their meats are melt-in-your-mouth, and the potatoes are undeniably scrumptious.
Kyriacos Info
Deal with: 6 Vernardaki St, Palouriotissa, Nicosia
Telephone: +357 22 432750
Working Hours: 7 pm – 12:30 am (Mon-Solar)
Common Price of Dish: €15
Web site: View their Fb web page right here
4. Sheftalia
Sheftali or sheftalia (singular) or Sheftalies (plural) are a must-try meals in Cyprus. Sheftali goes completely with souvlaki and is greatest served with a contemporary salad.
The sheftali is a straightforward however tasty sausage made with pork or lamb shoulder, or typically a little bit of each. What actually makes this dish particular and totally different from a traditional sausage, is the herbs and spices used.
Normally, they function parsley, cinnamon, and mint which makes for a really fragrant and flavorful sausage.
The key to consuming sheftalies, is to sprinkle a little bit salt and squeeze of lemon on them. This cuts by the oil and actually brings out the flavors.
Once more, you’ll discover sheftalies in most taverns and native eating places, however the perfect sheftalies I’ve ever eaten had been from Aristos & Kikis. I like to recommend that you just get a pitta, with souvlaki and sheftalia. They’re crispy however juicy and so they have simply the correct stability of herbs.
Aristos & Kikis Info
Deal with: Αριάδνης, Germasogeia, Cyprus
Telephone: +357 25 323769
Working Hours: 12 pm-12 am (Tues-Solar) closed Mondays
Common Price of Dish: €6
Web site: View their Fb web page right here
5. Moussaka
Moussaka is a casserole or lasagna-type dish that’s made from layered minced meat and eggplant. The dish turned extremely popular in Greece after the chef Nikolaos Tselementes topped moussaka with a layer of béchamel sauce, which is now thought-about the Greek method of creating it. It’s completely unimaginable.
In Cyprus, the minced meat is normally floor pork which is cooked with salt, pepper, and cinnamon. Halloumi or anari (one other native Cypriot cheese) can be added to the béchamel too to provide it a barely cheesier, saltier style.
Moussaka is without doubt one of the hottest meals in Cyprus, and also you’ll discover it all over the place, whether or not in vacationer eating places or native taverns. When you’re staying in Paphos, Argo serves a unbelievable Moussaka. The serving is totally big so make sure to arrive with an urge for food.
Argo Info
Deal with: 21 Paphias Aphrodites, Paphos, Cyprus
Telephone: +357 26 933327
Working Hours: 6-10 pm
Common Price of Dish: €10
Web site: You possibly can view their Fb Web page right here
6. Koupepia
Koupepia are much like dolmades, stuffed vines, or cabbage leaves. Nonetheless, the Cypriots have modified the recipe barely.
Along with the rice, minced meat, and spices that you just discover in dolmades, tomato paste, lemon juice, and onions are sometimes added to make Koupepia. Koupepia are sometimes served chilly too, not like dolmades that are normally served heat.
When you go for meze at a neighborhood tavern, you’ll be served Koupepia. They’re a extremely popular meals in Cyprus, which frequently function in a Sunday lunch with household in Cyprus.
If you wish to strive Koupepia, and also you’re in Larnaca, head to To Sieradiko. It’s a unbelievable tavern that serves unimaginable Koupepia in addition to different meze dishes.
To Sieradiko Info
Deal with: Pavlou Valsamaki 14-16, Larnaca Cyprus
Telephone: +357 99 314723
Working Hours: 5 pm – 11:45 pm (Mon-Solar)
Common Price of Dish: €5
Web site: View their Fb web page right here
7. Pilafi Pourgouri
I really like this dish. It’s actually easy, but additionally fairly tough to get proper – (I converse from expertise!). This dish is constituted of bulgar (wheat), tomato purée or sauce, and onion.
It’s normally a facet dish that goes properly with souvlaki or sheftalies, and also you’ll discover it in lots of mezes. It’s a standard meals in Cyprus and one which locals make typically.
A much less widespread solution to discover it cooked is as a breakfast cereal. Generally it’s boiled with milk to kind a form of oatmeal and eaten with honey or sugar.
You’ll discover the tomato model of this dish in most native tavernas. One which sticks in my thoughts for this explicit dish in Cyprus is Militzis Tavern in Larnaca. You will get this on the facet of some scrumptious grilled meat or select it as a starter with some yogurt dip.
Militzis Tavern Info
Deal with: Piale pasha 42, Larnaca 6029 Cyprus
Telephone: +357 24 655867
Working Hours: 12:30 – 11:30 pm (Mon-Fri)
Common Price of Dish: €6
Web site: View their Fb web page right here
8. Makaorionia Tou Fournou
Makaronia tou Fournou, or Cypriot Pastitsio, is one in every of my favourite conventional meals in Cyprus.
It’s constituted of macaroni pasta, minced meat, spices, and béchamel sauce. It’s an oven-baked dish that appears a little bit like moussaka when it’s executed.
The Cypriot model differs from the Greek model because of the usage of halloumi cheese and mint which provides it a contemporary and creamy style. It’s a massively common meals in Cyprus and types a part of a typical meal in the course of the week.
At eating places, it’s typically a part of a meat meze, which is a wonderful solution to order this alongside a wide range of different scrumptious and conventional dishes in Cyprus.
When you’re exploring the unimaginable Cypriot village of Omodos then pop into Ambelothea Tavern to strive Makaronia tou Fournou. It’s situated simply off the primary sq. and is an genuine taverna to do that typical meals in Cyprus.
Ambelothea Tavern Info
Deal with: E601 a1 Omodos 50225, Omodos, Cyprus
Telephone: +357 2542 1366
Working Hours: Each day, 12 pm to 10.30 pm
Common Price of Dish: €10
9. Stifado
Stifado is an unimaginable beef stew cooked in a purple wine and tomato sauce. It’s a well-liked and well-known primary meal in Cyprus and it’s simple to see why – it’s scrumptious.
The stew normally contains potatoes, chunks of beef, complete, small onions, greens, spices, purple wine, and cognac. The purple wine is commonly Maratheftiko, a neighborhood, common purple wine. There’s typically a sweetness to the sauce from the usage of cinnamon and cloves.
Initially, it’s believed that Stifado was introduced over to Cyprus by the Venetians. The Cypriots then added tomatoes to good their tackle this hearty dish.
Stifado is historically served in a clay pot, straight from the oven. It’s served with rice or bulgar wheat and is a scrumptious staple meals of Cyprus.
It’s an amazing choice within the winter and shoulder months in Cyprus, when the temperatures are a little bit cooler; it’s certain to heat you up and maintain you glad.
When you’re in Paphos, do that dish at any of the native, Cypriot tavernas. Hondros, (claimed because the oldest conventional taverna in Paphos), gives this scrumptious specialty down by the harbor.
Hondros Info
Deal with: Apostolou Pavlou Ave, Paphos, Cyprus
Telephone: +357 2693 4256
Working Hours: Each day, 12 pm to 9 pm
Common Price of Dish: €15
10. Tzatziki
Once I consider typical Cyprus meals, Tzatziki is prime of the checklist. It’s common around the globe and particularly so in Cyprus, the place it’s served with most meals.
Tzatziki is a must-try dish in Cyprus in the event you haven’t tried it earlier than. It’s a deliciously gentle yogurt dip mixed with cucumber, garlic, salt, oil, and normally lemon juice.
In Cyprus, it’s served with pitta bread and makes a scrumptious starter or perhaps a bar snack in the event you’re feeling puckish. When you’re ordering a meze, there’ll nearly positively be Tzatziki as a part of the procession of conventional Cypriot meals delivered to your desk.
You’ll discover Tzatziki on each menu of each Greek and Cypriot restaurant in Cyprus. I cherished it as half of a big meze within the glorious Meze Taverna Restaurant in Outdated City Limassol.
Meze Taverna Restaurant Info
Deal with: Agiou Andreou 209, Limassol 3036, Cyprus.
Telephone: +357 2536 7333.
Working Hours: Monday to Saturday, 12 pm to midnight, closed on Sundays
Common Price of Dish: €2 – €4
Web site: www.mezetaverna.com
11. Tirokafteri
One other widespread meals in Cyprus, and one other dip. Tirokafteri is one in every of my favourite snacks in Cyprus and it’s scrumptious with some pitta bread and a chilly beer.
Tirokafteri is a cheese dip or unfold constituted of feta cheese, yogurt, garlic, chili pepper, and olive oil. It has a sure degree of spice to it which might be why I prefer it a lot.
Tirokafteri is usually eaten by itself as a snack with pitta bread, or as a part of a meze meal. It’s greatest when unfold on heat pitta bread and has turn into one in every of my favourite meals in Cyprus.
When you’re in Protaras, I’d suggest the classically named, Conventional Cypriot Taverna Protaras which serves Tirokafteri as a starter or as a part of a meze.
Conventional Cyprus Tavern Protaras Info
Deal with: Leoforos Ksenodoxeion 26, 5289, Protaras, Cyprus.
Working Hours: Each day throughout summer time, 10 am till 11 pm
Common Price of Dish: €2 – €4
12. Tsoureki Bread
Tsoureki is a candy bread, like a brioche, that’s flavored with substances like mahlab, cardamom, and vanilla. It’s a scrumptious, tender bread that’s historically eaten at Easter.
It’s additionally known as Lambrosomo or Lambrojouloura with Lambri which means Easter. It’s completely scrumptious and in the event you’re visiting round Easter, you’ll be capable of discover it simply in all of the bakeries.
I attempted Tsoureki bread at Pier One in Limassol. It’s served as a breakfast dish with feta and scrambled eggs. Whereas I wouldn’t have put it collectively myself, I’m so glad they did, because it’s unimaginable. I wholeheartedly suggest a go to in the event you’re in Limassol and fancy a scrumptious brunch.
Pier One Info
Deal with: Limassol 3042, Cyprus
Telephone: +357 25 022375
Working Hours: 9am-11:30pm (Mon-Solar)
Common Price of Dish: €4 from a bakery, €16 for brunch
Web site: http://pierone.com.cy/
13. Spanakopita
Spanakopita, or spinach pie, is a scrumptious, baked delicacy in Cyprus. This pie has been impressed by Greek cusine and is constituted of layers of buttery filo pastry with a spinach and cheese filling.
The normal Greek recipe makes use of feta cheese whereas the Cypriot model, in fact, makes use of halloumi along with feta.
Each are extensively out there in Cyprus and are sometimes present in bakeries and occasional retailers. They arrive in both squares or rolls and are scrumptious with espresso as a mid-morning snack.
One among my favourite issues to do in Limassol is to go to La Croissanterie for a frappé espresso and a slice of Spanakopita. There are many Croissanterie cafes in Cyprus, however my favorites are alongside the seaside highway in Limassol. Take a drink, and a slice of pie, and revel in some people-watching.
La Croissanterie Info
Deal with: Vasileos Georgiou, 95 Germasogeia, 4048, Cyprus, (and lots of others out there throughout Cyprus).
Working Hours: 6 am – 11 pm day by day
Common Price of Dish: €3
14. Baklava
Baklava is a massively common meals in Cyprus, typically eaten on the finish of a meal accompanied by Cypriot tea or espresso.
It’s a extremely candy dish, constituted of layers of filo pastry and crushed nuts (normally pistachios) which are then soaked in syrup or honey. It units to make a scrumptious, sticky chew. Baklava is commonly served in small squares for simply the correct quantity of sweetness.
Baklava is common all through the Center East and dates again to Roman instances. Most international locations add their very own aptitude to this tasty dish and in Cyprus, you’ll discover numerous baklavas have cinnamon and lemon juice added to provide it its personal distinctive taste.
When you’re in Limassol, you possibly can strive a variety of various and scrumptious flavors of baklava on the unimaginable Zorbas Bakery. This native chain has an amazing choice of every kind of candy treats which can maintain you coming again for extra.
Zorbas Bakery Info
Deal with: Georgiou Griva Digeni 109, Avenue 3101, Cyprus, (but additionally discovered throughout Limassol).
Telephone: +357 2536 0031
Working Hours: Open 24 hours a day, day-after-day
Common Price of Dish: €1 – €6 (relying on whether or not you’re in a restaurant or a bakery).
Web site: www.zorbas.com.cy/en
15. Loukoumades
Loukoumades are small spherical doughnuts served with honey, syrup, cinnamon, nuts, or simply plain in Cyprus. It’s one in every of my favourite dessert meals in Cyprus. An indication of excellent loukoumades is once they have a tough exterior and a tender, doughy inside.
They’re normally served as a dessert in native tavernas, however there are additionally retailers and bakeries that promote them throughout Cyprus. My favourite is My Candy’s Loukoumades in Limassol.
They prime them with all types of scrumptious toppings together with melted chocolate, ice cream, pâtisserie cream, cinnamon sugar… actually any deal with you would think about. You need to do that place when you’ve got a candy tooth.
My Candy’s Loukoumades Info
Deal with: Kitiou Kyprianou 51, Limassol 3041, Cyprus
Telephone: +357 25 762555
Working Hours: 2-11 pm (Mon-Solar)
Common Price of Dish: Between €3-€8 (relying on topping and amount).
Web site: View their Fb web page right here
Meals Excursions in Cyprus
The most effective methods to strive the unimaginable meals of Cyprus is by taking a tour. These unimaginable day journeys take you into the guts of Cyprus to expertise really conventional meals and wine that maybe you wouldn’t discover in any other case.
Troodos Village Meals and Vineyard Tour
Fairly presumably one of the best ways to strive a number of the greatest common meals in Cyprus, in addition to some native wine. An unimaginable 1-day mountain tour wherein you’ll go to conventional Cypriot villages.
You’ll strive do-it-yourself halloumi, honey, village bread, and wines, and also you’ll get pleasure from a full meze lunch too.
Halloumi Making Tour
That is the final word conventional meals tour for these eager to get again to fundamentals and really perceive the artwork of creating what’s fairly presumably essentially the most well-known dish in Cyprus.
The unbelievable native Cypriot hosts will information you into the Troodos Mountains and to a cheese-making workshop. You’ll make your personal cheese in addition to stopping at numerous different locations for olive oil, honey, conventional sweets, wine, and extra.
Inexperienced Line Meals Tour
When you’re visiting Nicosia, then this unimaginable 3-hour meals tour alongside the Inexperienced Line is a novel and unforgettable expertise. Guided by the wonderful Eleni, you’ll study life on this divided capital metropolis and the distinctive mixture of cultures and meals it produces.
You’ll strive Armenian avenue meals, go to one of many oldest bakeries in Nicosia and revel in lunch in a conventional Taverna. A extremely rated and glorious tour.
Style of Cyprus Tour
If you wish to mix making an attempt some conventional native meals in Cyprus with an introduction to Cypriot artwork and wine, then this 1-day cultural tour from Paphos is a wonderful solution to expertise native traditions.
You’ll go to a neighborhood smokehouse for home-smoked meats, a chocolate manufacturing unit in Platres, cease at a number of the greatest native villages in Cyprus, and go wine tasting at a neighborhood vineyard – the complete works and a very good cultural expertise!
Cyprus Meals FAQs
Listed here are some generally requested questions on Cyprus meals.
Halloumi, olives, and souvlaki are a number of the most conventional (and scrumptious) meals in Cyprus.
Cypriots, like many within the Mediterranean, are inclined to eat dinner later as soon as the solar has set. Count on eating places to open from round 7 pm and to get busy from 8 pm onwards.
Lunch is mostly served and eaten between noon and a pair of.30 pm. It may both be a lighter snack, because of the warmth, or a full meal.
Breakfast is taken anytime between 7 am and 10 am in Cyprus.
As with many elements of Europe, tipping is appreciated, nevertheless it’s non-compulsory. Typically, a tip of 10% for a restaurant meal is the norm and is significantly appreciated by the workers.
Grilled kebabs reminiscent of souvlaki are arguably the preferred meals in Cyprus, along with their well-known halloumi cheese, stifado beef stew, and scrumptious baklava desserts.
A conventional cooked Cypriot breakfast contains eggs, halloumi cheese, lountza meat (pork), cucumber, and tomato. You might discover figs and jams on raw variations of breakfast.
Cyprus has unimaginable meals. For me, Cyprus meals is a number of the greatest within the Mediterranean because of its distinctive geographical location which gives a mix of contemporary Med seafood and Center Japanese influences.
In Conclusion
There’s some wonderful meals in Cyprus to be tried, examined, and devoured. Cyprus delicacies is numerous with a lot of wonderful flavors, and my favourite factor about it’s that you’ve got tastes from all around the world.
There are such a lot of totally different dishes to strive; my recommendation is to order a number of totally different mezes from some native tavernas. It’s a unbelievable solution to strive a lot of the totally different meals in Cyprus that function on this checklist in a single sitting. Totally different tavernas will embrace totally different dishes and takes on every plate, so that they’re nice enjoyable to check out.
I hope this helps you resolve what to eat in Cyprus and provides you a place to begin on the place to start with all of the scrumptious meals!
