Paphos Restaurants

Meals are a very important part of Paphos social life, and the local cuisine is varied and sumptuous. The city has many eating establishments, with cafés and restaurants offering both Cypriot and international dishes. Most bars also have decent menus for hungry patrons.

Local cuisine

Cypriot cuisine is based on that of Greece, but it also successfully blends elements of Turkish, Italian and British cooking due to its historical background. Being on the coast, Paphos specialises in seafood versions of local dishes, but it also has a wide variety of meat dishes as well as vegetarian choices.

The most famous local food is meze, where you are served numerous small delicacies that are tiny versions of main Cypriot dishes. Up to 30 or more individual plates can be in one meze, so plan to eat long and slowly if you want to finish. Mezes are great ways of sampling the local cuisine, so that you can identify your favourite Cypriot dishes before your subsequent trips to restaurants and cafés.

Popular main courses include loukanika (seasoned sausages in wine); koupepia (meat and rice wrapped in vine leaves); lountza (smoked pork); afelia (marinated pork); stiphado (beef or rabbit stew); ofto kleftiko (a lamb dish); barbouni (red mullet broiled in wine); calamari (octopus) and sea bass. Locally-grown vegetables include potato, cauliflower, beetroot, zucchini, sweet potato and asparagus.

Where to eat

Most of Paphos’ cafés, tavernas and restaurants are located along the waterfront promenade and have great views across the harbour. Some excellent establishments can be found at the foot of the Medieval Castle and by Saranta Kolones, with quality seafood restaurants serving up the catch of the day. Bar street has a number of outlets selling meze and other light meals.