Eat & Drink
From the 30-course meze feast to the world's oldest named wine, Cypriot cuisine is a 10,000-year journey through Mediterranean flavours.
A Culinary Journey
Cypriot cuisine is a rich tapestry of flavours influenced by Greece, Turkey, Armenia, Lebanon, and the wider Mediterranean.
The Meze Experience
A meze is the quintessential Cypriot dining experience — up to 30 small dishes served in a specific order, meant to be enjoyed 'siga siga' (slowly, slowly). It's not just a meal; it's a celebration of Cypriot hospitality and culinary heritage.
Dips & Salads
Tahini, Taramosalata, Talattouri (yogurt, cucumber & mint), Hummus, Horiatiki Salata (village salad), Elies Tsakistes (cracked green olives)
Appetisers
Octapodi Krasato (octopus in red wine), Karaoli Yahni (snails in tomato sauce), Zalatina (pork in aspic), Kappari (pickled capers), Moungra (pickled cauliflower)
Fish
Marida (whitebait), Barbouni (red mullet), Kalamari (deep-fried squid), Htapodi (grilled octopus)
Cheese & Meats
Grilled Halloumi, Lountza (smoked pork), Keftedes (meatballs), Sheftalia (minced pork rissoles), Loukanika (smoked Cyprus sausages)
Main Dishes
Afelia (pork in red wine & coriander), Moussaka, Stifado (rich stew), Souvlakia (kebabs), Ofto Kleftiko (slow-cooked lamb), Koupepia (stuffed vine leaves)
Desserts
Bourekia (pastry with curd cheese & honey), Loukoumades (honey doughnuts), Palouzes (grape must pudding), Soutzoukos (grape must & almonds), fresh seasonal fruit
Tip: When ordering a meze, pace yourself! It's a marathon, not a sprint. The best dishes often come last. A full meze typically costs €18–30 per person and takes 2–3 hours. Ask for a fish meze, meat meze, or mixed meze.
