Those who enjoy Cypriot food will find Limassol to be a delight. Cypriot cuisine most resembles Greek food; however the location of the island has allowed it to be influenced by Europe, Africa and the Middle East in it's culinary development.
Fresh local ingredients are emphasised, and the use of natural olive oil and regional herbs and spices give it a quintessentially Mediterranean character, with a just a hint of the exotic.
Our Limassol restaurant guide below will tell you everything about the food and cuisine in Limassol. Enjoying the culinary delights of Limassol are a perfect way to end the day after a long day of shopping. We have also provided more general information and suggestions on enjoying a meal in Cyprus.
Food & Cuisine in Limassol
Meze is the mainstay, and consists of a number of little dishes of food (which can number up to 30!), encompassing everything from simple vegetables and dips, to fish and meat plates. No suprise, then, that meze is an abbreviation of mezedes, which means "little delicacies". Many of the tavernas or restaurants in Limassol will give you the option of ordering either seafood or meat meze. Some of the best places to find traditional meze restaurants in Limassol are the town centre and the eastern quarters - many of these you will stumble across while doing some shopping in Limassol. Some popular items to be found as meat meze dishes are:
- Afelia - pork marinated in coriander and wine - Koupepia - minced meat and rice stuffed in grape leaves - Loukanika - sausages seasoned with coriander - Lountza - smoked pork - Ofto Kleftiko - lamb chunks cooked in a clay oven and seasoned with bay leaves - Sheftalia - grilled pork sausage - Stiphado - rabbit or beef casserole with wine vinegar
Seafood meze dishes include:
- Calamari - Octopus in red wine - Barbouni (red mullet) - Sea bass
Finally are those which are common with almost every meal, including:
- Taramosalata - fish roe, blended with pureed potatoes, parsley, lemon juice and onion - Talatouri - similar to tzatziki, it is a cool mint and cucumber flavoured yogurt with a hint of garlic - Greek salad - tomatoes, lettuce, peppers, feta cheese, green olives and local herbs - Moussaka - minced meat and eggplant covered in bechamel sauce - Souvlakia - pork, lamb or chicken kebabs
Cypriot desserts will often consist of fresh fruit, served alone or perhaps with an assortment of sweet pastries or fruit preserved in syrup. Speciality desserts include:
- Loukoumades - Cypriot doughnuts with honey syrup - Daktyla - ladyfingers with almonds, walnuts and cinnamon - Shiamali - orange semolina cakes cut into squares - Kolokoti - a pastry triangle stuffed with red pumpkin, cracked wheat and raisins - Pastellaki - a sesame, peanut and honey syrup bar - Galatopoureko - a cream-stuffed phyllo pastry - Loukoumia - cubes of gelatin flavored with rose water and dusted with powdered sugar.
The restaurants listed below are a small selection of what is on offer in Limassol.
Restaurants List
Kokkalakia
Superb, quality cuisine guaranteed to set your taste buds in orbit. Experience the ultimate in dinning: imaginative starters, exquisite dips, irresistible home-made soups, spicy curries, succulent steaks, finger-licking-good spare ribs, and many more unique tastes.
Whilst Alourgida is one of the island's newest restaurants its surroundings are unmistakably Eastern Mediterranean, based in a traditional Cypriot town house - keeping all its original features - in the heart of old Lemessos. The restaurant boasts four separate dining rooms, which can be isolated for private functions. Weather permitting, diners can chose to enjoy Alourgida's enclosed garden, tastefully designed to allow for a relaxed evening al fresco.
A traditional restaurant in Limassol with Cyprus specialties made with pure Mediterranean ingredients and over 40 years of experience that gives you our unique and delicious flavours. The interior is warm and friendly; earth colours and wood dominate the decoration, presenting an ideal environment for romantic dinners, professional meetings, friendly conversations, birthdays and anniversaries. Private parking is reserved for our customers.
Fresh fish, cooked on a traditional charcoal BBQ in the Old Harbour area of Limassol. Open daily.
Fish Restaurant
Limassol Old Harbor
25 365 760
19:00
to 00:00
La Forestiere
The restaurant offers a pleasant and inviting dining setting; the taste and quality of the food, combined with the relaxing atmosphere will surely impress you. The menu features a wide variety of selections. Entrees stem from family recipes that have been enjoyed for over two generations. All guests are encouraged to sit back and relax.
This successful French Restaurant is an establishment that celebrates the art of gastronomy, continuing to invent, create and most important of all, share its creativity with all of us. The presentation of all plates is done skilfully, which is surely fitting in a quality French restaurant such as La Maison Fleurie.
The present site of the Kamares Taverna was one of nine cafeneons in the olden days. The cafeneon belonging to Xenios' grandfather was handed down to him and in 1994 Xenios returned to Lofou to reopen it. It is in the centre of this most beautiful, traditional village. Slowly, over several years, the building was added to until it is now undoubtedly one of the most beautiful traditional tavernas in Cyprus. Kamares was recently awarded the Certificate of Local Authentic Cuisine by the Cyprus Tourism Organisation. The award ceremony was attended by various dignitaries and by Miss Greece Tourism and Miss Cyprus Tourism winners.
Kato Chorio has been established for over 8 years in the heart of Limassol and is a traditional Cypriot Taverna which provides not only great food, but great entertainment to go with it. The meze is very rich with over 20 dishes of traditional Cypriot food. You are assured of a great night out eating, drinking and dancing the night away till the early hours of the morning. The dancers will treat you to a series of traditional moves that will leave you mesmerised, you can even join in and try them out. The Taverna is open every night except Tuesdays, with live music every night and a live Cypriot dance show on Wednesdays and Sundays.
Traditional Cyprus Taverna
Viotias & Trapezountas St. Germasoyia Limassol
25316656
18:00
to 00:00
Piatakia
Piatakia Restaurant, which translated means Little Plates, is a unique experience. The only thing little is the plates because you will need a big appetite when you visit this delightful restaurant. The meze theme comes of age as you look through the extensive menu and choose your own personal meze. But this is no ordinary meze. It is something totally different as your host Roddy will explain the specials of the evening. There is a wide selection of wines both imported and local and after your meal be sure to try the dessert, so leave a little room or you will miss out.
Greek Restaurant
7 Nikodimou Mylona St.
25745017
18:00
to 00:00
The Old Fox
An excellent restaurant to suit all tastes from an English style breakfast and dinner to a traditional Greek fare. The owners were really friendly and offered a wonderful, cosy, warm, and friendly atmosphere. I highly recommend it.
Meet Tommys and George, your local connection in Limassol.
We are a Father and Son team with a vast collection of experince in the hotel and tourism industry. Passionate about Cyprus we will be happy to assist with all your travel arrangements.
