Restaurants in Lefkosia (South Nicosia)
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Syrian Arab Friendship Club
Apart from being one of the best places to eat in Lefkosia, this is the ideal place for vegetarians. The meze is massive, so approach it with respect, and if you come for lunch, you won't be eating dinner. The large garden is laden with cooling fans and greenery, and children are welcome to play.
The service is superfriendly, and the wonderful food is an experience of its own: green beans, chick peas, tabouleh (bulgur-wheat and parsley salad) and plenty of meat too. Try the delicious mahalabia (a light, rice custard, served cold) dessert and, once you're so stuffed you can't move, puff on a nargileh.
reviewed
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Zanettos Taverna
This place has a great reputation in the city, as it is allegedly one of the oldest traditional taverns. The locals flock here in their dozens, and it's definitely worth joining them. A great place for meze, it's hidden away in a slightly shady part of town, where the painted ladies sit in their doorways, waiting for business.
reviewed
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Tziellari
You won't have to look hard to find this place. All you have to do is open your ears as you get to the murky night-time Plateia Achiepiskopou Kyprianou, then follow the sound of the bouzouki down a dark alley and push the heavy doors into Tziellari. There is such a distinct atmosphere in this restaurant that you might feel as if you'd walked onto a film set from the 1930s: dark wooden walls, demure lighting, and often entire families dining and Greek dancing, arms outstretched.
The meze is as typical as you get, starring the Cypriot favourites such as olives, grilled haloumi, souvlaki and seftalia (grilled Cypriot sausage). There is house wine, zivania (local firewater) a…
reviewed
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Da Paolo
A small Italian place with pizza that smells so divine you will throw caution to the wind and forget all about your low-carb diet. The interior (only used in winter) is a red-brick room, with high ceilings and tall, wooden-shuttered windows. Everything smells of the herbs and garlic that dangle above the ovens. Waiters risk their lives carrying your food across the street to the summer garden, which sits right on top of the Venetian walls.
Wood-fired brick ovens bake your pizza, and the pasta is always al dente.
reviewed
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Bonsai
The best Japanese place in town. Sitting deep inside the Holiday Inn, Bonsai serves tasty sushi that goes around the counter, as you sit on high stools and get hypnotised by the moving choice. Nigiri sushi consisting of raw tuna, hamour, sword fish, omelette, salmon, mackerel, octopus, shrimp, squid and California rolls is a delicacy. An all-you-can eat sushi buffet is on offer every Monday and Thursday lunchtime, and Tuesday dinner time.
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Odos Othellou
This small Greek blue-and-white house is like an apparition on the dimly lit street. The little wooden tables outside are the perfect spot for a quiet dinner or drink, away from the traffic and the people. Like most traditional outfits, this place serves meze, but the emphasis is on the mainland Greek version, which is all about grilled meat. For a set price, you can eat, have one free drink and listen to bouzouki (inside the restaurant only).
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1900 Paei Kairos
The only place in the tourist part worth going to. It's a pretty little Greek-style mezedopolio (a small restaurant specialising in mezedes). It serves mix-and-match mezedes such as stryftari (a pie made up of five cheeses), eggplant stuffed with cheese in filo pastry, and eggplant patties. Have a tipple of tsipouro (a clear, distilled spirit) or try a selection of the mainly Greek wines on offer.
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Double Six Coffee Bar
This great café is decked out in smooth ebony furniture, hauled all the way from Bali by Vassos, the owner. The atmosphere is relaxed, there are cushions to recline on and delicious fresh juices to boost your system. Try the sweet Cypriot prickly pear, hydrating watermelon, or delicious kiwi juice. Breakfast on haloumi, tomato and lountza (pork-loin sausage) sandwiches, and a delicious cappuccino.
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Plaka Tavern
If you have plenty of time in the city and fancy a change, head west of the centre and dine at this superb little taverna. It's best visited during the summer months when dinner is served on the square. The mezedes are best here but be warned: there are many of them and you'll need a big appetite.
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Zoo
Great for romantic dining, the restaurant overlooks the Old City from the 4th floor, and serves a modernistic, Mediterranean menu. Laid out in chrome and steel, it has a reputation for being one of Lefkosia's better places to eat. After dinner, for a bit of indigestion, go dancing in the club downstairs.
reviewed
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Arheon Gefsis
'The root of all pleasures is the satisfaction of the stomach' said Epicurus (341-270 BC). The owners of this place have taken this to heart and offer up foods that the ancient Greek philosopher himself may have feasted upon. Dine on dishes featuring figs, nuts, honey, beets, chickpeas and olives.
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China Spice
Chinese cuisine like they eat it in the posh parts of Shanghai or Hong Kong perhaps. The décor is minimalist, with black wood, white walls, and beige cushions, and a plant adorns the centre of each table. The delicious, elegantly presented dishes are prepared by nine Chinese chefs.
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Le Café
This is the place to be seen for everyone who's anyone in Lefkosia's fashionable elite. Witness the Prada and Gucci brigade nibble on salads, or businessmen deep in conversation on their mobiles while eating pasta dishes, as you sip your frappé. No alcohol is served.
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Date Club Restaurant
Flashy and a little hard to find, this place is really popular with the well-heeled of Lefkosia, including prime ministers and presidents who come for the casserole lunches. The vanilla-white interior is a little glitzy, so dress up before you come to eat here.
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Finbarr's
This Irish pub is an up-market version of its more 'earthy' clones around the world. The menu is all Irish cuisine: either traditional, or 'fusion', such as beef-and-stout pie, or a jazzed up basil-and-chicken boxty (traditional stuffed potato pancake).
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Orfeas
A sprawling taverna with tables in the park, always packed full of Cypriots coming to eat their national favourite: souvlaki. An old solitary mama observes the evening activity from inside, reading a newspaper, unperturbed by her successful business.
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Loukoullos
The management of Cleopatra Hotel may be stuffy, but it doesn't stop its in-house restaurant from being considered one of Lefkosia's better hotel restaurants. In summer, dine on mezedes or European cuisine next to the pool.
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Swiss Cottage
On the corner of Theokritou close to the Old City, this place is great for late-night coffee and cake. The Swiss-trained pastry chef makes some exquisite European-style tarts and flans, but prices tend to be a little steep.
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Pago Pago
Get your grass skirt on and grab a pineapple and umbrella-adorned cocktail as you wait for a table. Pago Pago is located in Castelli Hotel. Tahitian duck is recommended, as is lots of dancing to live Cuban music.
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Egeon
The ever-so-discreet yet very popular Egeon draws a faithful following of mainly local devotees. You dine in an atmospheric old house on a rich platter of imaginative mezedes. Bookings are essential.
reviewed
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Mondo
A spacious café and bar with an upstairs terrace, catering for all types and not only the usual blonde-highlights and plenty of lip-gloss girls, or muscle and designer-wear boys.
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Da Capo
The mother of all trendy Leoforos Arhiepiskopou Makariou III cafés. This is the place that started the sipping-coffee-outdoors trend. It also has wi-fi internet points.
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Pahit Ice
So many ice-cream flavours, so little time. A local ice-cream maker whose outside tables are always full of kids, families and just about anyone on the hot summer days.
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Erodos
This is certainly the loveliest front yard in the Old City, on Plateia Tyllirias, abutting the Omeriye Hammam. The food is reasonable, although by no means exquisite.
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Café La Mode
Believe it or not, Marks & Sparks hosts one of the city's most stylish cafés. Alongside delicious coffee, this place also serves rather swish food.
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