Must-see restaurants in Nicosia (Lefkosia)

  • A tsipouro drink with meze and great view to the Aegean, in Tinos island, Greece

    Zanettos Taverna

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    When you've been in business since 1938 you must be doing something right. This is the real-deal meze experience and locals lap it up. We recommend you…

  • Piatsa Gourounaki

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    Incredibly popular, and for good reason: this contemporary-style souvlakeri dishes up some of the freshest Greek tastes in town, with charming service to…

  • Syrian Arab Friendship Club

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    The meze spread (minimum two people) gives your taste buds a tour of Levantine cuisine's greatest hits, but if you know your Arabic dishes, you can go à…

  • Shiantris

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    Soul food at its best, Shiantris serves traditional dishes just like a Cypriot mama makes. It's named after its ebullient owner, who cooks up a fantastic…

  • Christakis

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    This rough-and-ready canteen across from the bus station buzzes with locals tucking into cheap and cheerful souvlaki, grilled to perfection. A mixed grill…

  • Limoncello Deli-Bar

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    Deli by day, casual bar-restaurant by night, Limoncello is all about fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Its main suppliers – the grocers and butchers of…

  • Silver Pot

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    Tight on space but big on boho-urban atmosphere, Silver Pot has a menu featuring locally sourced produce which is, as far as possible, organic. Dishes…

  • Atelier

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    This intimate restaurant serves modern French cooking with what must be the best selection of French wines in Nicosia The small menu focuses on fresh,…

  • Kathodon

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    Large, noisy and touristy…but known for its authentic Greek cuisine, with fall-off-the-bone kleftiko (oven-baked lamb), crunchy salads and a range of…

  • Sham

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    Sham serves Syrian-style shawarma (meat sliced from a rotating spit), stuffed with all the salad and sauces you could want, plus falafel and haloumi…

  • Inga’s Veggie Heaven

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    Inga is a friendly Icelandic chef who prepares several homely vegan and vegetarian dishes of the day, such as stuffed peppers; eggplant and feta lasagne;…

  • Mattheos

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    As simple as it gets, this little canteen squeezed up next to the Arablar Mosque dishes up homestyle Cypriot cooking to lunching nine-to-fivers. There's…

  • Piatsa Gourounaki Express

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    Order grilled-meat skewers and your meze sides and salads at the bar, then tuck into some of the freshest, and best-priced, Greek food in town. This is…

  • D.O.T

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    From salmon marinated in maple syrup to pumpkin risotto tweaked with lavender and macadamias, D.O.T takes the sunshiny tastes of the Mediterranean and…

  • To Koultouriariko

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    We can think of no better place we'd like to stop for lunch while exploring the Mesaoria than this local meze tavern. From snails and fried zucchini…

  • Zaatar

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    Zaatar is the place to get stuck into batata harra (spicy fried potatoes) and skewers of shish tawook (chicken kebabs), and to munch on kibbeh (deep-fried…

  • Balthazar

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    This relaxed cafe-restaurant serves up a small modern-Med menu that cherry-picks influences from Cyprus, Italy and Greece. Dishes such as grilled sea bass…

  • Power House

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    Part of the Nicosia Municipal Arts Centre, this sophisticated restaurant is suitably decorated with striking paintings and sculptures. The menu includes…

  • Lahmajoun Avo

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    The khachapuri (bread stuffed with haloumi and eggs) and spanakopita (spinach, feta cheese and eggs wrapped in filo pastry) are both good, and the…

  • Sawa

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    Known throughout town for its superb Syrian dishes and a fabulous sultan’s-palace-style setting, Sawa has an elaborate carved-stone exterior, bubbling…

  • Il Forno

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    This Italian bistro bustles at weekend lunchtimes with families and couples who come here for the generous portions of pasta and pizza. Pick your pasta…

  • Mezostrati Tavern

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    This bustling contemporary-style tavern does big meze spreads (minimum two people) with live music thrown in for the full experience. This is not the…

  • Pinakkothiki

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    This contemporary space features glossy black and soothing cream decor, and a long bar with stools, perfect for sipping predinner cocktails. Dishes are…

  • Da Paolo

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    During summer this small Italian restaurant has an outdoor terrace right on the Venetian walls. There's proper wood-fired pizza and plenty of pasta on…

  • Alaadin

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    Hands up fellow Levantine cuisine fans. We've found you the best muhammara (hot red-pepper paste) flatbreads in town. The felafel sandwiches make for a…

  • Aegeon

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    Aegeon continues to draw in a faithful following of fashionable local devotees, who come here to feast on meze and drink ouzo in the vine-draped courtyard…

  • Artisan's Burgerbar

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    Burgers get a gourmet overhaul here, with pairings such as blue cheese, fig and gherkins (don't knock it until you try it) and caramelised goat's cheese…

  • Marmita

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    Squirrelled away at the back of an arcade, this bistro takes classic Mediterranean produce and gives it a fusion makeover in dishes such as haloumi with…

  • Heraclis

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    The most famous ice-cream parlour in town, in business since 1939. Get stuck into classic flavours such as coffee and Irish cream, or go completely local…

  • To Anamaa

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    Souvlaki combos, in both sandwich and plate options. Cheap, cheerful and with the added bonus of a quiet courtyard to dine in out the back.

  • Xefoto

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    If you're souvenir shopping in Laïki Yitonia, this municipality-run restaurant is one of your best bets for lunch. The menu of standard Greek dishes –…

  • Katoï

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    Katoï is advertised widely around Agia Marina and overlooks the village itself. The restaurant's lights are visible from some distance away at night, and…

  • Melissa

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    This totally old-school cafe and bakery has been in business since 1948. Come here for a slice of freshly made spinach and feta pie. Melissa also does…