Food and drink

Food and drink (places to eat)

Eating out has become a local habit and is part of entertainment in Cyprus. There is a wide variety of restaurants, catering for all tastes. Along with taverns, which provide local and Greek dishes, there are restaurants that offer international cuisine such as French, Chinese, Italian, Indian, Lebanese, Japanese, Russian, Mexican and others.

The old staples of Greek cuisine – moussaka, stifado, kebab and Greek salad – will be much in evidence. The meze is perhaps a good way to get an insight into Cypriot food. Meze, or mezedhes, is a series of small different dishes that are provided throughout an evening, and may cover absolutely everything or pursue a fish or a meat theme. In a good restaurant the meze can contain up to 30 different dishes and it is important to pace yourself throughout the meal.

Kebab (souvlaki) appears in all menus and lamb is another common dish, either lamb chops or the more traditional kleftiko, which consists of large pieces of lamb baked slowly in traditional kleftiko ovens. Cypriots also have a taste for smoked meats, most notably the traditional loukanika sausage.

Fish is expensive, although kalamari – squid cooked in batter – is good value and widely available. Other fish options include swordfish, red mullet (Barbouni in Greek), whitebait and sea bass. Alternatively, fresh farmed trout is on the menu in some of the mountain villages.

Halloumi cheese is the main dairy product distinctive to the island. It is made from goat’s milk and is often served grilled. The cheese is now available in most supermarkets.

Visitors should seek out some of the cake shops that attract local custom. The traditional Greek desserts such as baklava and cadefi may be too sweet for some tastes, but the wide range of custard bakes should appeal to us all, as will the biscuits, which can be bought by weight in these shops.

Places to eat in Pissouri
Bunch Of Grapes Inn – Pissouri
Located in the heart of the pretty hilltop village of Pissouri, in a small street of traditional Cypriot stone cottages, this small family-run restaurant offers its guests the chance to immerse themselves in village life. The restaurant Specialises in home-made local dishes.

Dionysos, Pissouri
A pleasant restaurant with a refined atmosphere. Inside the décor is elegant, while outside the terrace overlooks a long pool and the Mediterranean. Live music plays gently in the background and the menu is classic Cypriot with an international twist, accompanied by fine wines.

The Vineleaf Tavern
Caters for locals and tourists and features traditional Cyprus Night music and dancing with a self-service buffet on Friday evenings from May to October.

There is also a Cyprus Night in Pissouri Village Square on Wednesday evenings. A visit to this is recommended, for the food and atmosphere, as well as the entertainment.

The Columbia Beach Hotel and Columbia Resort have a range of restaurants and bars.

Limanaki serves Lebanese/Cypriot cuisine, and is very popular, so book early

Kastro's has reopened after an extensive refurbishment

Yialos Tavern specialises in fish dishes

Pissouri Bay Garden is a new Indian restaurant

Other restaurants include:
Perry's, Captain's Bay, Ambrosia, Artemis, Ammos, Ampeli and Pizza Venetto. Agamemnon and The Old Customs House offer beachside snacks. Skipper's Bar offers satellite TV coverage of major sporting events, including UK football.

Wine, brandy and beer
Cypriot wine is plentiful and inexpensive, and it is claimed that is has been made in Cyprus since 2000BC. The main wineries are at Limassol, but, increasingly, smaller producers are developing and some of the villages and monasteries now produce their own wines. It is an important business that is now worth €20 million a year in exports.

Commandaria sweet wine is one of Cyprus’s best known wines and it is said that is was drunk during the ancient festivals of Aphrodite. However its origins can only be definitively traced back to the estate of the Knights Hospitaller at Kolossi, 700 years ago.