What and where to eat in Cyprus?

Cyprus is a dreamy European island for a beach holiday. And thanks to its collection of top hotels there’s a luxury experience to be had there too.

With many of our favourite Been & Seen hotels on the island, and many of our team having visited it personally, we thought we’d compile a gastronomic guide for travellers to Cyprus…

What to eat in Cyprus?

The climate of Cyprus is just the ticket for growing olives and citrus fruits, so expect dishes heavily influenced by fresh ingredients sourced on the island.

As well as its own traditional fare, there’s plenty of influence from Greece and Turkey on its menus too.

“The traditional meal in Cyprus consists of many small courses called mezes,” says Instagram traveller and Cypriot nazh_s. “Even in the most modern restaurants you usually have this option. 

Such as:

·       Halloumi is almost always served in traditional taverns as an appetizer, either raw or grilled.

·       Ofton Kleftiko is a traditional dish cooked from lamb leg meat. It is marinated in olive oil, lemon, garlic and onion.

·       Souvlaki or Souvla is a true blessing for anyone who is a fan of barbecued meat.

·       Moussaka is as sacred to the Cypriots as lasagna is to the Italians. It is a main dish that mainly consists of eggplants (aubergine), beef (or lamb) meat, spices and cheese.

·       Sheftalies, this aromatic mixture of spices and minced meat is wrapped in omentum and cooked on a barbeque grill-rack.

·       Koupepia is a must-have in a meat meze as its mouth-watering smell cannot leave you indifferent. A mixture of minced meat, onion, rice, and spices is stuffed in fresh grape leaves and cooked in an oven with water and virgin olive oil.”

 

Where to eat in Cyprus?

There’s plenty to whet your appetite on Cyprus, from laidback tavernas to world-class fine dining.

“My stand out dining experience in Paphos was at the Antasia Beach Club whilst watching the beautiful sunset and listening to live music,” says Travel Seen’s Lydia. “At Antasia they use local Cypriot ingredients which makes the dining experience feel extra special.  I would highly recommend the sharing sushi platters here, they were delicious.”

One of the many discerning criteria for a Travel Seen hotel is its restaurants. So in our collection of Cyprus hotels expect many of the island’s best eateries.

Like Matsuhisa Limassol at Amara where renowned chef Nobu Matsuhisa brings his signature Japanese-Peruvian cuisine to Cyprus. Think black cod with miso and new style sashimi accompanied by a vast selection of sake.

Or over at Asimina Suites there’s the Mediterranean fare on the menu at Kymata. Jess Sheppard recently stayed at the hotel with Travel Seen and had dinner there: “The grilled tuna steak was cooked to perfection,” she reported back.  

Looking for a restaurant that’s great for kids in Cyprus? Travel Seen recommends the Elysium hotel which has a great choice of children’s menus across its eateries. As a treat, the Princess and Prince Children’s Afternoon Tea at Café Occidental is a dining experience just for them. It features sandwiches, caramelized popcorn, white and milk chocolate lollipops, a sweet macaroon ‘burger’, candyfloss and a milkshake. Oh and a cone of sweets to take away with them too!

For the best local restaurants, Cypriot Instgrammer nazh_s recommends Kiproakon in Limassol for its island cuisine; the epic patisserie Pralina; the Cypriot dining experience at Byzantino; and the two fish taverns, Kalamies in Protaras and Vassos Psarolimano in Ayia Napa.

 

Take a look at our Been & Seen hotels in Cyprus, and call a member of the team for hotel offers and huge savings.