Crispy Calamari and Grilled Halloumi: Great Dining Places in Cyprus
Basking in the warm Mediterranean, the island of Cyprus enjoys more than 320 days of sunshine every year. It’s a paradise for holidaymakers, especially those with families, because of its sandy beaches, warm hospitality, and excellent restaurants. In fact, the many dining places in Cyprus are likely to be a holiday highlight. Local restaurants are always a relaxed and sociable experience, giving you the opportunity to while away an evening on the seashore, over a meze platter.
Traditional Flavours of Cyprus When Dining Out
The two key flavours of Cyprus cuisine are rich olive oil, pressed fresh from local olive groves, and zesty squeezed lemons. Local vegetables play a big part in local cookery, so expect dishes filled with okra, local green beans and tomatoes. Of course, as you’d expect, seafood is a huge part of local cooking – but that’s not to forget the meat course. Huge skewers of pork or lamb, souvlaki, are grilled over hot coals, and often served with a cooling yogurt dip.
Sharing Meze By the Sea
An essential dining experience for anyone visiting Cyprus is to share a meze platter with friends. You’ll be able to pick and choose from a mix of humous, taramasalata, olives, stuffed grape leaves… the dishes go on. A meze platter will always include halloumi – the light cheese that’s the signature dish of Cyprus and tastes great grilled, or grated over salads.
Great Dining Places for Children
Especially in the summertime, Cypriots like to eat out late in the evening – dining after 9pm isn’t uncommon. It’d take an especially patient child to wait up until that time, so it’s a better bet to head to more touristy restaurants in resorts and city centres. These places will serve food at pretty much any hour of the day, and are happy to serve chips and pizzas to younger customers, alongside more traditional Cypriot fare to their parents.
Image by perfectpreserves
