20 Best Places to Eat in Cyprus: The Ultimate Culinary & Dining Guide

Cypriot gastronomy is a Mediterranean celebration influenced by Greek, Turkish, and Middle Eastern culinary traditions. From generous meze platters and charcoal-grilled halloumi to slow-roasted kleftiko lamb, dining in Cyprus is a joyful social feast.

Must-Try Traditional Dishes

When traveling across Cyprus, make sure to sample these iconic national specialties:

Halloumi: The famous PDO-certified Cypriot semi-hard cheese made from goat's and sheep's milk, served fresh, grilled, or fried.
Cypriot Meze: An elaborate feast of up to 20 to 30 small sharing plates including dips, grilled meats, sausages, and salads.
Kleftiko: Tender lamb marinated in wine and lemon juice, slow-baked for hours in a traditional clay oven until falling off the bone.
Souvlaki & Sheftalia: Skewered grilled pork or chicken paired with sheftalia (juicy spiced minced meat sausages wrapped in caul fat) inside warm pita.
Afelia: Tender pork pieces marinated in red wine and crushed coriander seeds, braised in olive oil.

20 Best Places to Eat in Cyprus

1. 7 St. Georges Tavern

Cuisine: Organic Farm-to-Table Cypriot Meze
Location: Yeroskipou, Paphos
Must-Try Dish: Seasonal Organic Surprise Meze Feast
About the Place: A legendary family-run tavern serving no set menus—just endless homemade meze dishes crafted daily from their own organic farm produce, baked breads, and local meats.
Explore More: Read our full guide to 7 St. Georges Tavern

2. To Kafeneio

Cuisine: Traditional Cypriot Taverna
Location: Nicosia Old Town
Must-Try Dish: Grilled Halloumi & Slow-baked Kleftiko
About the Place: Set inside a restored historic stone building in Nicosia's walled city, serving traditional village meze plates under grapevine canopies.
Explore More: Read our full guide to To Kafeneio

3. Columbia Steak House

Cuisine: Modern Steakhouse & International
Location: Old Town, Limassol
Must-Try Dish: USDA Prime Ribeye & Truffle Potato Puree
About the Place: Limassol's flagship fine dining destination, offering premium dry-aged steaks, fresh sushi, and craft cocktails in an elegant courtyard setting.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Columbia Steak House

4. Pyxida Fish Tavern

Cuisine: Fresh Seafood & Fish Meze
Location: Nicosia & Limassol Marina
Must-Try Dish: Full Fresh Fish Meze & Charcoal Sea Bass
About the Place: Widely regarded as the top seafood tavern in Cyprus, serving ocean-fresh Mediterranean catches, red mullet, and grilled calamari.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Pyxida Fish Tavern

5. Laona Restaurant

Cuisine: Authentic Home-Style Cypriot
Location: Paphos Old Town
Must-Try Dish: Stuffed Vine Leaves (Koupepia) & Stifado Beef Stew
About the Place: A charming family diner hidden in the cobbled streets of Paphos Old Town, serving comforting home-style cooked stews and stuffed vine leaves.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Laona Restaurant

6. Vassos Psarolimano Fish Tavern

Cuisine: Coastal Seafood & Fish Meze
Location: Ayia Napa Harbor
Must-Try Dish: Charcoal-Grilled Red Mullet & Ocean Prawns
About the Place: Perched right along Ayia Napa harbor since 1962, serving ocean catches directly from local fishermen's pirogues.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Vassos Psarolimano

7. Mousikos Taverna

Cuisine: Traditional Country Meze
Location: Sotira Village, near Ayia Napa
Must-Try Dish: Fresh Warm Halloumi & Kolokouthkia me ta afka
About the Place: Set in a restored traditional stone house with a garden courtyard, famous for making fresh warm halloumi cheese on-site.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Mousikos Taverna

8. Dionysus Mansion

Cuisine: Modern Cypriot Fusion
Location: Limassol City Center
Must-Try Dish: Slow-cooked Pork Belly with carob glaze
About the Place: Blends traditional Cypriot ingredients with modern culinary techniques inside a romantic garden courtyard in central Limassol.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Dionysus Mansion

9. To Kypriakon

Cuisine: Traditional & Reimagined Cypriot
Location: Limassol Old Port
Must-Try Dish: Souvla Lamb & Sheftalia in Pitta
About the Place: Located along the Old Port waterfront, offering views of the sea alongside authentic charcoal-grilled souvla and homemade pitas.
Explore More: Read our full guide to To Kypriakon

10. Ocean Basket

Cuisine: Casual Mediterranean Seafood
Location: Paphos, Larnaca & Limassol
Must-Try Dish: Grilled Calamari & Prince Prawn Platter
About the Place: A popular coastal chain offering high-quality seafood platters, fried calamari, and shellfish at reasonable prices right by the sea.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Ocean Basket

11. Karas Fish Tavern

Cuisine: Seafood & Traditional Meze
Location: Kapparis, Protaras
Must-Try Dish: Fresh Sea Bream & Homemade Taramasalata
About the Place: A family-run coastal staple operated by three brothers, serving fresh fish platters and classic Cypriot dips.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Karas Fish Tavern

12. To Pantopoleio Kali Orexi

Cuisine: Modern Greek & Cypriot Bistro
Location: Central Nicosia
Must-Try Dish: Baked Feta in Filo with Honey & Sesame Seeds
About the Place: A trendy bistro in central Nicosia combining fresh seasonal local market ingredients with modern Mediterranean bistro presentation.
Explore More: Read our full guide to To Pantopoleio Kali Orexi

13. Yiannis Kebab House

Cuisine: Traditional Cypriot Souvlaki
Location: Kato Paphos
Must-Try Dish: Mixed Pork Souvlaki & Sheftalia in Warm Pita
About the Place: A local favorite for authentic charcoal-grilled souvlaki, tender sheftalia sausages, and crisp Cypriot fried potatoes.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Yiannis Kebab House

14. Stou Kir Yianni

Cuisine: Mountain Village Gastronomy & Wine
Location: Omodos Village, Troodos
Must-Try Dish: Slow-cooked Afelia Pork & Commandaria Wine
About the Place: Set inside a restored 150-year-old stone house in Omodos wine village, serving mountain stews, local cheeses, and regional wines.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Stou Kir Yianni

15. Elia Restaurant

Cuisine: Chic Mediterranean & Seafood
Location: Protaras
Must-Try Dish: Zesty Zucchini Salad with Xynisteri White Wine
About the Place: Stylish outdoor patio venue in Protaras serving Mediterranean dishes, fresh salads, and local Cypriot wines with sea views.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Elia Restaurant

16. Porto Latchi

Cuisine: Harbor Seafood & Grill
Location: Latchi Harbor
Must-Try Dish: Grilled Swordfish & Fresh Calamari
About the Place: Set right along the fishing harbor in Latchi, offering panoramic views of Chrysochou Bay and ocean-fresh catches.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Porto Latchi

17. Militzis Tavern

Cuisine: Traditional Larnaca Meat Taverna
Location: Finikoudes Coastline, Larnaca
Must-Try Dish: Clay-Oven Baked Kleftiko Lamb
About the Place: Operating since 1982 along the Larnaca seafront, famous for slow-roasted kleftiko cooked daily in traditional outdoor clay ovens.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Militzis Tavern

18. Symposio Tavern

Cuisine: Mountain Village Meze
Location: Pelendri Village, Troodos
Must-Try Dish: Traditional Village Sausage (Loukaniko) & Stifado
About the Place: A rustic mountain tavern serving homemade sausages cured in red wine, seasonal wild mushrooms, and traditional breads.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Symposio Tavern

19. Kypriaki Gonia

Cuisine: Charcoal Barbecue & Meze
Location: Deryneia, near Paralimni
Must-Try Dish: Charcoal-Grilled Pork Chops & Tzatziki
About the Place: A beloved local grill house famous for generous portions of charcoal-grilled meats, village salads, and warm hospitality.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Kypriaki Gonia

20. Artio Brasserie

Cuisine: European & Cypriot Bistro
Location: Limassol Old Town
Must-Try Dish: Seared Sea Bass with Mediterranean herbs
About the Place: A cozy brasserie in central Limassol offering fine wines, artisanal salads, and fresh seafood in a relaxed urban courtyard setting.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Artio Brasserie

Featured Image

Traditional Cypriot Meze and Grilled Halloumi Feast