15 Should-Attempt Meals in Cyprus

Whereas the seashores are a few of the greatest options of this beautiful Island, the meals in Cyprus is fairly wonderful too. A mix of Arabic, Turkish and Greek flavors makes exploring the completely different dishes and greatest locations to eat in Cyprus a number of 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 attempting all the perfect meals in Cyprus. From sheftalies (meatballs) and souvlaki (grilled meat) to scrumptious cheeses. Cypriot meals is really wonderful, and tasting the standard dishes in Cyprus is certainly certainly one of my favourite issues to do while there.

Finest Meals in Cyprus

I used to be lucky sufficient to have my mates, who have been raised in Cyprus, present me round and advocate completely different dishes to me throughout my time on the island. From this, I received an awesome perception into the frequent dishes in Cyprus, in addition to what the locals prepare dinner at dwelling.

They offered some glorious suggestions for what to eat in Cyprus and the place to go. So, let me share what I realized under.

1. Souvlaki (Most Well-known Meals to Attempt in Cyprus Total)

Souvlaki is likely one of the hottest meals in Cyprus. Souvlaki contains cubes of meat, of which rooster and pork are the preferred, which are marinated and grilled on a skewer.

The meat is often tender and spiced to perfection and the preferred strategy to eat it’s in a pitta, with a lot of salad and lemon. You’ll virtually definitely be served souvlaki in the event you order a meat meze too.

Souvlaki is completely different from souvla which is one other standard 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 gap from the grill. Basically, souvlaki is the mini model of souvla!

You’ll discover souvlaki in all places – 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 unsuitable.

Souvlaki.gr Data

Deal with: 67 Archiepiskopou Makariou Street, 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 here

2. Halloumi

Halloumi is standard in a lot of Europe however originated in Cyprus. It’s a cheese produced from a mix of goat and sheep’s milk, and generally cow’s milk too. Halloumi is commonly referred to as squeaky cheese due to its texture.

It’s made regionally in Cypriot villages, and taking a tour to look at the locals making the cheese, having a go at making it your self, and all importantly tasting some samples, is a extremely enjoyable strategy 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 components on the island.

Whereas it’s often 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 undoubtedly advocate including it to your order!

Forsos Tavern Data

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 here

3. Kleftiko

Kleftiko is a conventional Greek recipe that entails marinating lamb in olive oil, onion, garlic, and lemon after which cooking in greaseproof paper to verify the meat takes all the flavour and moisture from the liquid.

Cypriots make Kleftiko utilizing a leg of lamb, which could 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 lower.

When you’re staying in Nicosia, it’s essential to strive the Kleftiko at Kyriacos. It’s some of the 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 Data

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 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 an easy however tasty sausage made with pork or lamb shoulder, or generally a little bit of each. What actually makes this dish particular and completely different from a traditional sausage, is the herbs and spices used.

Often, they characteristic parsley, cinnamon, and mint which makes for a really fragrant and flavorful sausage.

The key to consuming sheftalies, is to sprinkle just a little salt and an excellent 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 have 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 fitting steadiness of herbs.

Aristos & Kikis Data

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 here

5. Moussaka

Moussaka is a casserole or lasagna-type dish that’s manufactured from layered minced meat and eggplant. The dish grew to become very fashionable in Greece after the chef Nikolaos Tselementes topped moussaka with a layer of béchamel sauce, which is now thought-about the Greek manner of constructing it. It’s completely unbelievable.

In Cyprus, the minced meat is often floor pork which is cooked with salt, pepper, and cinnamon. Halloumi or anari (one other native Cypriot cheese) can also be added to the béchamel too to provide it a barely cheesier, saltier style.

Moussaka is likely one of the hottest meals in Cyprus, and also you’ll discover it in all places, whether or not in vacationer eating places or native taverns. When you’re staying in Paphos, Argo serves a incredible Moussaka. The serving is completely enormous so you should definitely arrive with an urge for food.

Argo Data

Deal with: 21 Paphias Aphrodites, Paphos, Cyprus
Telephone: +357 26 933327
Working Hours: 6-10 pm
Common Price of Dish: €10
Web site: You’ll be able to view their Facebook Page right here

6. Koupepia

Koupepia are much like dolmades, stuffed vines, or cabbage leaves. Nevertheless, 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 often served heat.

When you go for meze at a neighborhood tavern, you’ll be served Koupepia. They’re a very fashionable meals in Cyprus, which frequently characteristic 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 incredible tavern that serves unbelievable Koupepia in addition to different meze dishes.

To Sieradiko Data

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 here

7. Pilafi Pourgouri

I really like this dish. It’s actually easy, but in addition fairly troublesome to get proper – (I communicate from expertise!). This dish is produced from bulgar (wheat), tomato purée or sauce, and onion.

It’s often a aspect dish that goes nicely with souvlaki or sheftalies, and also you’ll discover it in lots of mezes. It’s a typical meals in Cyprus and one which locals make typically.

A much less frequent strategy to discover it cooked is as a breakfast cereal. Typically it’s boiled with milk to type 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 specific dish in Cyprus is Militzis Tavern in Larnaca. You will get this on the aspect of some scrumptious grilled meat or select it as a starter with some yogurt dip.

Militzis Tavern Data

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 here

8. Makaorionia Tou Fournou

Makaronia tou Fournou, or Cypriot Pastitsio, is certainly one of my favourite conventional meals in Cyprus.

It’s produced from macaroni pasta, minced meat, spices, and béchamel sauce. It’s an oven-baked dish that appears just a little like moussaka when it’s performed.

The Cypriot model differs from the Greek model as a result of the usage of halloumi cheese and mint which provides it a contemporary and creamy style. It’s a massively standard meals in Cyprus and kinds 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 superb strategy to order this alongside quite a lot of different scrumptious and conventional dishes in Cyprus.

When you’re exploring the unbelievable Cypriot village of Omodos then pop into Ambelothea Tavern to strive Makaronia tou Fournou. It’s positioned simply off the primary sq. and is an genuine taverna to do this typical meals in Cyprus.

Ambelothea Tavern Data

Deal with: E601 a1 Omodos 50225, Omodos, Cyprus
Telephone: +357 2542 1366
Working Hours: Every single day, 12 pm to 10.30 pm
Common Price of Dish: €10

9. Stifado

Stifado is an unbelievable beef stew cooked in a purple wine and tomato sauce. It’s a preferred and well-known important meal in Cyprus and it’s straightforward to see why – it’s scrumptious.

The stew often contains potatoes, chunks of beef, complete, small onions, greens, spices, purple wine, and cognac. The purple wine is commonly Maratheftiko, a neighborhood, standard 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 awesome possibility within the winter and shoulder months in Cyprus, when the temperatures are just a little cooler; it’s positive to heat you up and preserve you glad.

When you’re in Paphos, do this dish at any of the native, Cypriot tavernas. Hondros, (claimed because the oldest conventional taverna in Paphos), provides this scrumptious specialty down by the harbor.

Hondros Data

Deal with: Apostolou Pavlou Ave, Paphos, Cyprus
Telephone: +357 2693 4256
Working Hours: Every single day, 12 pm to 9 pm
Common Price of Dish: €15

10. Tzatziki

After I consider typical Cyprus meals, Tzatziki is high of the listing. It’s standard world wide 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 often 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 virtually undoubtedly be Tzatziki as a part of the procession of conventional Cypriot meals dropped at your desk.

You’ll discover Tzatziki on each menu of each Greek and Cypriot restaurant in Cyprus. I cherished it as half of a giant meze within the glorious Meze Taverna Restaurant in Outdated City Limassol.

Meze Taverna Restaurant Data

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 frequent meals in Cyprus, and one other dip. Tirokafteri is certainly one 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 produced from 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 develop into certainly one of my favourite meals in Cyprus.

When you’re in Protaras, I’d advocate the classically named, Traditional Cypriot Taverna Protaras which serves Tirokafteri as a starter or as a part of a meze.

Conventional Cyprus Tavern Protaras Data

Deal with: Leoforos Ksenodoxeion 26, 5289, Protaras, Cyprus.
Working Hours: Every single day throughout summer season, 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 components like mahlab, cardamom, and vanilla. It’s a scrumptious, mushy bread that’s historically eaten at Easter.

It’s additionally referred to as Lambrosomo or Lambrojouloura with Lambri meaning 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 unbelievable. I wholeheartedly advocate a go to in the event you’re in Limassol and fancy a delicious brunch.

Pier One Data

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 produced from layers of buttery filo pastry with a spinach and cheese filling.

The normal Greek recipe makes use of feta cheese whereas the Cypriot model, after all, makes use of halloumi along with feta.

Each are broadly out there in Cyprus and are sometimes present in bakeries and low retailers. They arrive in both squares or rolls and are scrumptious with espresso as a mid-morning snack.

One in all 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 street in Limassol. Take a drink, and a slice of pie, and revel in some people-watching.

La Croissanterie Data

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 standard meals in Cyprus, typically eaten on the finish of a meal accompanied by Cypriot tea or espresso.

It’s a extremely candy dish, produced from layers of filo pastry and crushed nuts (often pistachios) which are then soaked in syrup or honey. It units to make a scrumptious, sticky chunk. Baklava is commonly served in small squares for simply the correct quantity of sweetness.

Baklava is standard all through the Center East and dates again to Roman occasions. Most international locations add their very own aptitude to this tasty dish and in Cyprus, you’ll discover a number of baklavas have cinnamon and lemon juice added to provide it its personal distinctive taste.

When you’re in Limassol, you’ll be able to strive a variety of various and scrumptious flavors of baklava on the unbelievable Zorbas Bakery. This native chain has an awesome choice of every kind of candy treats which is able to preserve you coming again for extra.

Zorbas Bakery Data

Deal with: Georgiou Griva Digeni 109, Avenue 3101, Cyprus, (but in addition discovered throughout Limassol).
Telephone: +357 2536 0031
Working Hours: Open 24 hours a day, every single 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 certainly one of my favourite dessert meals in Cyprus. An indication of fine loukoumades is once they have a tough exterior and a mushy, doughy inside.

They’re often served as a dessert in native tavernas, however there are additionally retailers and bakeries that promote them throughout Cyprus. My favourite is My Sweet’s Loukoumades in Limassol.

They high them with all types of scrumptious toppings together with melted chocolate, ice cream, pâtisserie cream, cinnamon sugar… actually any deal with you possibly can think about. You must do this place in case you have a candy tooth.

My Candy’s Loukoumades Data

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 here

Meals Excursions in Cyprus

Probably the greatest methods to strive the unbelievable meals of Cyprus is by taking a tour. These unbelievable day journeys take you into the guts of Cyprus to expertise actually conventional meals and wine that maybe you wouldn’t discover in any other case.

Troodos Village Meals and Vineyard Tour

Fairly presumably the easiest way to strive a few of the greatest standard meals in Cyprus, in addition to some native wine. An unbelievable 1-day mountain tour wherein you’ll go to conventional Cypriot villages.

You’ll strive home made halloumi, honey, village bread, and wines, and also you’ll take pleasure in a full meze lunch too.

Halloumi Making Tour

That is the final word traditional food tour for these desirous to get again to fundamentals and actually perceive the artwork of constructing what’s fairly presumably probably the most well-known dish in Cyprus.

The incredible native Cypriot hosts will information you into the Troodos Mountains and to a cheese-making workshop. You’ll make your individual cheese in addition to stopping at varied different locations for olive oil, honey, conventional sweets, wine, and extra.

Inexperienced Line Meals Tour

When you’re visiting Nicosia, then this unbelievable 3-hour food tour along the Green Line is a novel and unforgettable expertise. Guided by the superb Eleni, you’ll find out about life on this divided capital metropolis and the distinctive mixture of cultures and meals it produces.

You’ll strive Armenian road 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 attempting some conventional native meals in Cyprus with an introduction to Cypriot artwork and wine, then this 1-day cultural tour from Paphos is a superb strategy to expertise native traditions.

You’ll go to a neighborhood smokehouse for home-smoked meats, a chocolate manufacturing facility in Platres, cease at a few 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 below are some generally requested questions on Cyprus meals.

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 everywhere in the world.

There are such a lot of completely different dishes to strive; my recommendation is to order a couple of completely different mezes from some native tavernas. It’s a incredible strategy to strive a lot of the completely different meals in Cyprus that characteristic on this listing in a single sitting. Totally different tavernas will embrace completely different dishes and takes on every plate, in order that they’re nice enjoyable to check out.

I hope this helps you resolve what to eat in Cyprus and offers you a place to begin on the place to start with all of the scrumptious meals!