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 Polis

When it comes to enjoying local fresh food, you just have to visit one of the taverns on the Latchi beachfront. All the fish is freshly caught and one of the best gastronomic experiences has to be enjoying a leisurely fish meze, accompanied by a bottle of crisp white wine. Your meal is perfectly rounded off with a plate of fruit which is brought as dessert; more often than not it is picked fresh off the trees in the neighbouring fields.

Some restaurants in Polis:

Archontariki Tavern – Polis
Quiet and peaceful restaurant that provides the opportunity to dine alfresco. This old town house has a pretty courtyard that is set back from the road. On the menu are fresh fish and seafood dishes, along with meat and vegetable fare with a European flavour.

Sabuneri – Polis
Traditional village stone taverna, this sprawling restaurant in an extraordinary location, overlooking the Evretou Dam and a deserted village. Its menu consists mainly of mezes. Special themed evenings often held here.

Baths of Aphrodite – Polis
A simple taverna serving good fish.

Central Point Café – Polis
A good lunch stop with sandwiches and pizzas on offer. Prompt service and modest prices, and in a good spot for people watching!

Finikas – Polis
Ideal for alfresco dining with a varied menu. Wonderful for a dinner of pork marsala or the vegetarian house special. Located on the pedestrian zone.

Moustakallis Tavern Restaurant – Polis
Family-run, with an excellent choice of Cypriot food

Seafare Restaurant – Polis
The proprietor is charming and seafood second to none. The wonderful harbour setting is a bonus.

Arsinoe Fish Tavern – Polis
Atmospheric place on the south side of the pedestrian zone, housed in an old stone building. Dining is alfresco, fish the specialty. Try the succulent octopus!

Old Town Restaurant – Polis
Discreet and relaxing place south of Arsinoe with a leafy, secluded garden. Specialties include wood-grilled chicken, chicken in spicy yogurt sauce and duck breast in black-cherry sauce. There is also a children’s menu.

Alekos Restaurant – Polis
Tucked away where almost no-one notices, this budget-minded local eatery serves filling dishes such as black-eyes beans or garden beans with tomatoes and meat. There’s also a complimentary litre of house wine for each pair of diners.

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.