13 Best Restaurants in Cyprus

In what is surely one of the most convivial atmospheres in Limassol, with a wide patio attached to the Limassol Nautical Club and overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, take your pick from an extensive menu of seafood. The set-menu lunch is always great value, but there are also a handful of catches of the day to choose from. It's the perfect locale for gawking at the scene around you—both the other enthusiastic diners, often celebrating birthdays and other special events, and the beautiful sea. Spend time perusing the fantastic wine list with over 250 labels from wineries both within Cyprus and around the world.

At Ladas, you will enjoy an elegant lunch and dinner in a historic carob factory sitting smack in the center of Limassol's Old Port; where the pleasant waitstaff bring you the freshest fish and seafood on offer that day. You'll always start off with a fresh Greek salad tossed tableside and a selection of dips served with warm pita, followed by an appetizer like grilled calamari with lemon, before reaching the main course of a simply prepared yet succulent fish, such as whole sea bass for two, already deboned. Ladas's sophisticated air and polished presentation provide a welcome break after a morning of shopping and strolling on Agiou Andreou, just a block away.

In an ornate dining room with beautiful filigree metalwork screens and painted walls and ceilings, authentic Syrian cuisine is prepared by a brigade of hard working chefs. Dips such as moutabbal (grilled aubergine with tahini and yogurt), prepare the palate for the stars from the charcoal grill. Shish tawouk, marinated chicken breast, and shukaf, the lamb equivalent, are tender and smoky, infused with spices, while the kebabs are the best in the city. Leave some room for their baklava and mastic-flavored ice cream.

This restaurant has not only the most delicious food in Paphos, but it is also the most charming place to dine. Everyone from locals to tourists in the know come to experience owner George's inventive Cypriot cooking, which includes a preponderance of fresh, seasonal, and often organic ingredients, and lots of options for vegetarians and vegans. St. Georges has no written menu, just a prix-fixe offering of mezedes—a seemingly endless parade of small plates from cheeses to vegetables from the restaurant's own garden to meats smoked in-house, along with tasty homemade wine. The friendly servers will keep bringing the food until you tell them to stop.

There is a large Arab community in Limassol and they come here for a taste of home. Traditional Lebanese dishes are well presented and are delicately spiced and meat and fish are expertly handled—grilled over charcoal, with a smoky perfume. Salads are fresh and herby, jeweled with pomegranate, and vegetarians are well catered for with a huge selection of dishes. The easiest option is to choose the full meze; a seemingly never ending series of plates showcasing the skill of the kitchen.

Legend has it that Leonardo Da Vinci visited the village in 1481 to purchase some lace and this pretty little eaterie keeps up the Italian connection. A shaded courtyard serves up Italian classics like lasagna, and spaghetti Bolognese, but also local salads and grills, as well as some more off-beat international dishes like Lebanese kebab. It would be a shame to miss the Pizza though—the fresh dough is handmade everyday and topped with the best ingredients, some local on the Cyprus Special.

If you're looking for a simple, inexpensive meal with pretty views and friendly service, you can't do much better than Matthaios, a tiny family-run lunch-only spot near Faneromeni Church. Relax in the square at one of their five or six tables or inside if the weather is poor, and choose from a short menu of fresh offerings that may include a vegetable plate (white beans, celery, parsley, potatoes, zucchini, and onion, or whatever is available) or tender lamb served with okra and spinach. The smiling family owners will bring you a complimentary dessert of the day as a final treat. Though tourists have definitely discovered Mattheos, it still remains a respite of calm within the often-frenetic Old City.

This meat-centric restaurant is popular with locals for both lunch and dinner; hidden away from the well-beaten tourist path, it serves up unassuming, authentic Cypriot food. You can't go wrong with the tavas—pieces of lamb and beef cooked with potatoes, onions, tomatoes, and spices; the souvla (roasted pork in wine); or the moussaka, but best of all for those with hearty appetites is the mezedes—plate after plate of salad, olives, cheese, seafood, and meats, all for a reasonable fixed price. Sit on the terrace for lovely views of the sea.

Less picturesque than the restaurants ringing the harbor, this family-owned place serves better food with excellent grilled fare, including şeftali kebab (meatballs), a Turkish Cypriot specialty. The "Full Kebab" has been their star dish since 1949; a selection of mezes accompany lamb chops, doner, kofte, chicken kofte, and shish kebabs. There is also a surprisingly good selection for vegetarians.

The name translates as "the place where the pigs meet," and this street corner establishment is surely where they would end up in the search for the best grillhouse in town. Souvlaki is the name of the game—either chicken, pork, lamb, or even calamari. Throw in some kebabs, lamb chops, and pork belly, and accompany them with fresh traditional salads and you have a must visit. Centrally located, there are tables inside, under a covered terrace and at the front of the restaurant, and local bands often play impromptu concerts on the street outside.

If you're simply looking for a relaxing, well-designed place to lunch, eat a casual dinner, or get a quick snack, perhaps while checking your email, Pingouino Cafe fits the bill. This modern, airy café, a block in from the beach, offers free Wi-Fi and seating on cushioned wicker chairs and comfy couches. The menu features a mixture of international standards sprinkled with a few Mediterranean specialties, plus lots of veggie, gluten-free, and vegan choices. Try the halloumi salad, the poached eggs on toast topped with avocado and salmon, or the chicken tandoori wrap. Alternatively, dig into a scrumptious waffle or just order a cocktail and watch the world go by.

The Limassol Marina is where it is happening; superyachts dock and tenders zip in and out of the harbor, their wealthy clientele perusing the big, international brands on offer at the shops that sit cheek by jowl here. At the heart of it all is Pyxida, directly on the water with a pleasant, airy, wooden terrace overlooking the water. The freshest fish and seafood is the strategy here; aquariums bubble with live lobsters and oysters imported from France, cockles and clams sit on ice alongside the catch of the day. Choose to have your fish freshly grilled, or, more theatrically, wrapped in vine leaves, baked in salt and then cracked open at your table.

The fare is Italian at this well-regarded and distinctly friendly spot, and those who dine here will also find no shortage of advice available on any topic relating to Cyprus. Choose from an extensive selection of pasta, fish, and meat dishes, and enjoy service in the lush courtyard outside in nice weather (which is most of the time in Cyprus). Complimentary antipasti such as proscuitto and vegetables are offered every day from 6 to 8 pm when you order wine or a cocktail. It's open from 12 pm until late for drinks.