Where to Eat in Cyprus: Best Restaurants by City
Limassol has Cyprus's most ambitious dining, including Sera by Ettore Botrini (from a Michelin-starred Greek-Cypriot chef) and the sea-view Steak House in the Old Port. Larnaca does old-school seafront tavernas well — Hobos Steak House has held its spot on Finikoudes for almost 30 years. Nicosia's scene, away from any harbor, leans Italian and international (Pinolo, Pralina Experience). Expect €15–25 ($16–27) for a solid taverna meal, €40–70+ ($43–76+) for a special-occasion table.
Our food-culture guide covers what to order; this one covers where to actually sit down and order it, city by city, with real names instead of 'try a local taverna.'
Limassol: the most ambitious food on the island
Limassol has genuinely outgrown its reputation as a business-and-nightlife city when it comes to food. Sera by Ettore Botrini, inside the City of Dreams Mediterranean resort, is the work of a Greek-Cypriot chef with a Michelin star at his own restaurant in Greece — expect a tasting-menu approach to Cypriot ingredients rather than a traditional taverna spread. For something more straightforward, Wolfgang's Steakhouse does exactly what the name promises, and Oshi has built a strong reputation for pan-Asian food in a city better known for meze. Ladas, set inside a converted 19th-century carob factory in the Old Port, pairs genuinely good Cypriot cooking with one of the more atmospheric dining rooms on the island.
Larnaca: seafront tavernas done right
Hobos Steak House has held a prime spot right on the Finikoudes promenade for close to 30 years, with the panoramic sea view that implies — a safe bet for a first or last night in Cyprus. Takis Kebab House is the more traditional pick: a family-run taverna serving genuinely authentic Cypriot grills and meze rather than a tourist-menu version, at noticeably friendlier prices than the harbor-front spots.
Nicosia: where the food is for locals, not cruise crowds
Nicosia has no harbor to build a tourist-restaurant strip around, which is exactly why its food scene skews toward what actual residents eat on a night out. Pinolo is a well-reviewed Italian spot inside the walled Old Town; Pralina Experience covers a broader international menu with a similarly strong reputation. Neither is aiming at a passing beach crowd, which shows in both the pricing and the quality.
Paphos: the harbor view you're paying for
See our full Paphos guide for the detail, but the short version applies here too: the harbor-front seafood restaurants around the castle are unapologetically touristy and priced accordingly (€25–40/$27–43 for a main), and you're paying as much for the sunset as the food. For a better-value, equally good meal, walk a few streets back from the water.
| City | Standout pick | Style |
|---|---|---|
| Limassol | Sera by Ettore Botrini | Fine dining, Michelin-trained chef |
| Limassol | Ladas | Cypriot cooking in a converted carob factory |
| Larnaca | Hobos Steak House | Seafront steakhouse, Finikoudes promenade |
| Larnaca | Takis Kebab House | Traditional family-run taverna |
| Nicosia | Pinolo | Italian, Old Town |
| Nicosia | Pralina Experience | International |
Book ahead for weekend dinners at any of the higher-end names above, and especially if your trip overlaps Limassol's Wine Festival (late September–early October) — the city's better restaurants fill up fast on top of the usual demand.
What a meal actually costs, city by city
| Meal type | Approx. price per person |
|---|---|
| Traditional taverna, any city | €12–20 ($13–22) |
| Seafront/harbor-view restaurant | €25–40 ($27–43) |
| Fine dining (Sera by Ettore Botrini-tier) | €70–120+ ($76–130+) |
Mistakes worth avoiding
- Assuming the best food is always on the water — Nicosia has no coastline at all and arguably the most genuinely local dining scene on the island precisely because of that.
- Judging a harbor restaurant by its menu photos and prices alone — you're paying for the view as much as the food; walk a street or two back for the same quality at a lower price.
- Skipping a reservation at a genuinely popular spot (Sera by Ettore Botrini, Ladas) and assuming you can walk in — both regularly book out on weekends and during festival season.