Where locals eat & drink
Our honest, personal picks across the island — the tavernas, the seafood, the kleftiko and the coffee we actually send friends to. Growing all the time.
Paphos
Great after the Aphrodite’s Rock, Paphos Harbour or Akamas walks.
7 St. Georges Tavern
A legend: no menu, everything home-grown and organic, and dish after dish keeps arriving until you surrender.
Try: The set meze — dozens of little plates
Agora Tavern
Traditional meat-and-veg meze on a rustic terrace of antiques, with views out to sea.
Try: Pork souvla and the full meze
Koutourou Ouzeri
Intimate spot with vintage decor and an open kitchen turning out seasonal shared plates cooked to order.
Try: Oven-baked halloumi with honey
Oniro by the Sea
Mediterranean fusion in a dramatic clifftop cove — the sunset-and-cocktails special-occasion pick.
Try: Tiger-prawn linguine
The Commissary
Easy daytime breakfast-and-brunch cafe with proper coffee.
Limassol
Perfect after the Molos seafront or Ancient Kourion walks.
Kavourotripa
No-menu fresh-fish tavern where you pick the catch — the local seafood spot in the know.
Try: Fried calamari and grilled octopus
Sykaminia Cook Shop
A proper old-school cook shop — daily oven-cooked dishes and honest meze.
Try: Whatever’s cooking that day
Syrian Restaurant
Generous Syrian and Middle-Eastern home cooking, famously good value.
Try: Shish tawouk and kabab kafta
Nomad Bread & Coffee
Modern artisan bakery known island-wide for its sourdough and pastries.
Try: The sourdough loaf and viennoiserie
Giagkini Mageirio Tavernaki
Traditional Cypriot grill and home cooking, with live music at weekends.
Try: Souvla with homemade dips
Marios Snacks
Casual local go-to for made-to-order sandwiches, salads and fresh juices.
Try: A build-your-own sandwich and a juice
The Shopkeeper & Co
Hip specialty-coffee and brunch spot in town.
Astry
Cosy bakery-bistro for coffee, pastries and a relaxed brunch.
Angel’s Cup
Small specialty-coffee shop for espresso and filter done right.
Bike & Bean Coffee Station
Cyclist-themed specialty coffee station — a friendly caffeine stop.
On the road · Larnaca district
A worthy detour between Limassol and Larnaca.
Pentadaktilos Kleftiko House
The roadside kleftiko specialist locals swear by — slow-cooked lamb, the traditional way.
Try: Lamb kleftiko
Nicosia
Beba Restaurant
Effortlessly cool, wine-led spot doing modern Greek-Cypriot small plates under exposed brick.
Try: Loukoumades with feta & thyme honey