Nicosia Restaurants and Dining

(Nicosia, Cyprus)

Visitors to North Cyprus will certainly find that dining out in Nicosia is something of an unexpected treat. Nicosia is home to a fairly high caliber of restaurants, particularly when compared to the more touristy seaside resorts of Ayia Napa, Larnaca and Paphos.

Although Nicosia is very much bereft of restaurants targeting tourists and does not pander to the palates of foreigners, North Cyprus is becoming more and more international when it comes to its cuisine and dining establishments. As a direct result of this, there have never been more ethnic eateries in the city than at present, with both Chinese and Indian cuisines being well represented.

Where to Eat

Worth noting, some restaurants in Nicosia do close for a fortnight in August for their annual holiday, so always check that they are open before you arrive, if you are visiting at this time. If you prefer familiar fast-food chains, then you won't have far to look to find burger bars, Pizza Hut and KFC.

There really are three main areas in South Nicosia where you should consider dining - the Old City, the New City and also around the easterly, westerly and southerly suburbs. In particular, the suburbs of both Engomi and Strovolos deserve a mention and features their very own culinary clusters.

In South Nicosia's Old City, the rather touristy Laiki Yitonia area is popular with lunchtime diners, who often choose to spend the rest of their day at the nearby beach of Kyrenia. The Famagusta Gate strip is quite a different dining spot, being filled with bars, cafes and restaurants, and attracting crowds of local Cypriots in the evenings. Look out for Greek Cypriot tavernas in Nicosia, where 'meze' meals allow diners to sample an array of tasty small portions of different dishes. Kebab houses are always close by and ideal for inexpensive snacks.

North Nicosia is known for its Turkish taverns (meyhane), kebab houses and stylish, modern restaurants. Lunchtime here tends to be a much bigger event than evening dining, since there is just so much choice at midday. In the evening, the Old City area of North Nicosia can become rather quiet, with little to offer prospective diners.