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Whereas the seashores are a few of the finest options of this beautiful Island, the meals in Cyprus is fairly wonderful too. A mix of Arabic, Turkish and Greek flavors makes exploring the totally different dishes and finest locations to eat in Cyprus lots 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 beloved making an attempt all the most effective meals in Cyprus. From sheftalies (meatballs) and souvlaki (grilled meat) to scrumptious cheeses. Cypriot meals is really wonderful, and tasting the normal dishes in Cyprus is certainly one in every of my favourite issues to do while there.
Finest Meals in Cyprus
I used to be lucky sufficient to have my buddies, 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 obtained an amazing perception into the frequent 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 under.
1. Souvlaki (Most Well-known Meals to Attempt in Cyprus General)
Souvlaki is likely one of the hottest meals in Cyprus. Souvlaki contains cubes of meat, of which rooster and pork are the most well-liked, which might be marinated and grilled on a skewer.
The meat is often tender and spiced to perfection and the most well-liked technique to eat it’s in a pitta, with plenty of salad and lemon. You’ll nearly definitely be served souvlaki for those who order a meat meze too.
Souvlaki is totally different from souvla which is one other fashionable 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. Primarily, souvlaki is the mini model of souvla!
You’ll discover souvlaki all over the place – it’s in all probability the most well-liked 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 inexpensive costs, and in giant parts. You actually can’t go improper.
Souvlaki.gr Data
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 fashionable in a lot of Europe however originated in Cyprus. It’s a cheese produced from a combination of goat and sheep’s milk, and generally cow’s milk too. Halloumi is usually known 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 technique to spend a day.
When it comes to the place to attempt it, it’s one other a kind of meals in Cyprus that you simply’ll discover in each restaurant or taverna serving native dishes because it’s one other of the most well-liked components on the island.
Whereas it’s often grilled and finest 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 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 right here
3. Kleftiko
Kleftiko is a standard 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 could be very tender. Usually, you’ll discover that the dish comes with potatoes which have been cooked along with the meat and soaked up the scrumptious aromas and flavors from the minimize.
For those who’re staying in Nicosia, you need to attempt the Kleftiko at Kyriacos. It’s one 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 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 finest served with a recent salad.
The sheftali is a straightforward however tasty sausage made with pork or lamb shoulder, or generally a little bit of each. What actually makes this dish particular and totally different from a standard 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 a bit salt and a very good 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 most effective sheftalies I’ve ever eaten had been from Aristos & Kikis. I like to recommend that you simply get a pitta, with souvlaki and sheftalia. They’re crispy however juicy and so they have simply the fitting stability 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 right here
5. Moussaka
Moussaka is a casserole or lasagna-type dish that’s made from layered minced meat and eggplant. The dish turned very fashionable in Greece after the chef Nikolaos Tselementes topped moussaka with a layer of béchamel sauce, which is now thought of the Greek method of constructing it. It’s completely unimaginable.
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 present it a barely cheesier, saltier style.
Moussaka is likely 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. For those who’re staying in Paphos, Argo serves a improbable Moussaka. The serving is totally big so you’ll want to 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 may view their Fb Web page right here
6. Koupepia
Koupepia are just 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 simply discover in dolmades, tomato paste, lemon juice, and onions are sometimes added to make Koupepia. Koupepia are sometimes served chilly too, in contrast to dolmades that are often served heat.
For those who go for meze at an area tavern, you’ll be served Koupepia. They’re a very fashionable meals in Cyprus, which regularly characteristic in a Sunday lunch with household in Cyprus.
If you wish to attempt Koupepia, and also you’re in Larnaca, head to To Sieradiko. It’s a improbable tavern that serves unimaginable 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 right here
7. Pilafi Pourgouri
I 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 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 frequent technique to discover it cooked is as a breakfast cereal. Generally it’s boiled with milk to kind a sort 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 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 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 produced from macaroni pasta, minced meat, spices, and béchamel sauce. It’s an oven-baked dish that appears a bit like moussaka when it’s carried out.
The Cypriot model differs from the Greek model on account of the usage of halloumi cheese and mint which provides it a recent and creamy style. It’s a vastly fashionable meals in Cyprus and varieties a part of a typical meal throughout the week.
At eating places, it’s typically a part of a meat meze, which is a superb technique to order this alongside a wide range of different scrumptious and conventional dishes in Cyprus.
For those who’re exploring the unimaginable Cypriot village of Omodos then pop into Ambelothea Tavern to attempt Makaronia tou Fournou. It’s positioned simply off the principle 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 unimaginable beef stew cooked in a pink wine and tomato sauce. It’s a preferred and well-known predominant meal in Cyprus and it’s simple to see why – it’s scrumptious.
The stew often consists of potatoes, chunks of beef, entire, small onions, greens, spices, pink wine, and cognac. The pink wine is usually Maratheftiko, an area, fashionable pink 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 excellent 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 possibility within the winter and shoulder months in Cyprus, when the temperatures are a bit cooler; it’s certain to heat you up and preserve you glad.
For those who’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 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 record. It’s fashionable around the globe and particularly so in Cyprus, the place it’s served with most meals.
Tzatziki is a must-try dish in Cyprus for those who haven’t tried it earlier than. It’s a deliciously mild 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 for those who’re feeling puckish. For those who’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 beloved it as half of a giant meze within the glorious Meze Taverna Restaurant in Previous 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 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 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 often eaten by itself as a snack with pitta bread, or as a part of a meze meal. It’s finest when unfold on heat pitta bread and has develop into one in every of my favourite meals in Cyprus.
For those who’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 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, smooth bread that’s historically eaten at Easter.
It’s additionally known as Lambrosomo or Lambrojouloura with Lambri that means Easter. It’s completely scrumptious and for those who’re visiting round Easter, you’ll have the ability to 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 for those who’re in Limassol and fancy a scrumptious 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 standard Greek recipe makes use of feta cheese whereas the Cypriot model, after all, makes use of halloumi along with feta.
Each are broadly obtainable 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.
Considered one of 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 luxuriate in some people-watching.
La Croissanterie Data
Deal with: Vasileos Georgiou, 95 Germasogeia, 4048, Cyprus, (and plenty of others obtainable throughout Cyprus).
Working Hours: 6 am – 11 pm every day
Common Price of Dish: €3
14. Baklava
Baklava is a vastly fashionable 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 might be then soaked in syrup or honey. It units to make a scrumptious, sticky chew. Baklava is usually served in small squares for simply the correct quantity of sweetness.
Baklava is fashionable 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 lots of baklavas have cinnamon and lemon juice added to present it its personal distinctive taste.
For those who’re in Limassol, you’ll be able to attempt 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 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, daily
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 smooth, 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 Candy’s Loukoumades in Limassol.
They high them with all kinds of scrumptious toppings together with melted chocolate, ice cream, pâtisserie cream, cinnamon sugar… actually any deal with you would think about. You must do that place you probably 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 right here
Meals Excursions in Cyprus
Among the best methods to attempt the unimaginable meals of Cyprus is by taking a tour. These unimaginable day journeys take you into the center 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 probably one of the simplest ways to attempt a few of the finest fashionable meals in Cyprus, in addition to some native wine. An unimaginable 1-day mountain tour during which you’ll go to conventional Cypriot villages.
You’ll attempt do-it-yourself halloumi, honey, village bread, and wines, and also you’ll take pleasure in a full meze lunch too.
Halloumi Making Tour
That is the last word conventional meals tour for these eager to get again to fundamentals and actually perceive the artwork of constructing what’s fairly probably essentially the most well-known dish in Cyprus.
The improbable 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
For those who’re visiting Nicosia, then this unimaginable 3-hour meals tour alongside the Inexperienced Line is a novel and unforgettable expertise. Guided by the superb Eleni, you’ll study life on this divided capital metropolis and the distinctive mixture of cultures and meals it produces.
You’ll attempt Armenian avenue meals, go to one of many oldest bakeries in Nicosia and luxuriate in lunch in a standard 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 superb technique to expertise native traditions.
You’ll go to an area smokehouse for home-smoked meats, a chocolate manufacturing facility in Platres, cease at a few of the finest native villages in Cyprus, and go wine tasting at an area vineyard – the total works and a very good cultural expertise!
Cyprus Meals FAQs
Listed below are some generally requested questions on Cyprus meals.
Halloumi, olives, and souvlaki are a few of the most conventional (and scrumptious) meals in Cyprus.
Cypriots, like many within the Mediterranean, are likely to eat dinner later as soon as the solar has set. Anticipate eating places to open from round 7 pm and to get busy from 8 pm onwards.
Lunch is usually served and eaten between noon and a pair of.30 pm. It might probably both be a lighter snack, as a result of 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, however it’s optional. Typically, a tip of 10% for a restaurant meal is the norm and is drastically appreciated by the workers.
Grilled kebabs equivalent to souvlaki are arguably the most well-liked meals in Cyprus, along with their well-known halloumi cheese, stifado beef stew, and scrumptious baklava desserts.
A conventional cooked Cypriot breakfast consists of eggs, halloumi cheese, lountza meat (pork), cucumber, and tomato. You could discover figs and jams on raw variations of breakfast.
Cyprus has unimaginable meals. For me, Cyprus meals is a few of the finest within the Mediterranean due to its distinctive geographical location which gives a mix of recent Med seafood and Center Jap influences.
In Conclusion
There’s some wonderful meals in Cyprus to be tried, examined, and devoured. Cyprus delicacies is various with plenty 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 totally different dishes to attempt; my recommendation is to order a couple of totally different mezes from some native tavernas. It’s a improbable technique to attempt plenty of the totally different meals in Cyprus that characteristic on this record in a single sitting. Completely different tavernas will embrace totally 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!
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