Cypriot food is a colourful world where Greek, Turkish and Middle Eastern influences meet. Fresh ingredients, aromatic spices, meze and halloumi.
Cypriot food is a colourful and tasty world where Greek, Turkish and Middle Eastern influences meet. It offers a rich palette of fresh ingredients, aromatic spices and delicious dishes that will delight even the most demanding gourmets.
At the heart of Cypriot food is meze – the tradition of sharing small plates of all kinds of specialities. You can look forward to a colourful mix of salads, dips, grilled meats, vegetable dishes and seafood. Meze is the ideal way to taste as much as possible and enjoy the variety of flavours.
Greek, Turkish and Middle Eastern
Halloumi cheese
Local wine, Cypriot beer, strong coffee
In a traditional taverna
The most popular Cypriot specialities include:
Halloumi – a cheese that doesn’t melt even when grilled. Try it with olives and watermelon, in a salad or grilled.
Souvlaki – grilled skewers, most often pork or chicken, with pitta, vegetables and tzatziki.
Kleftiko – lamb baked in a clay oven with potatoes and vegetables.
Moussaka – a layered dish of aubergine, minced meat and béchamel.
Dolmades – vine leaves stuffed with rice and minced meat.
Wine from local vineyards – with your meal; Cypriot beer and strong coffee are popular too.
Cypriot food also boasts excellent sweets – and a few tips on how to enjoy it:
Loukoumades – fried doughnuts soaked in honey and sprinkled with sesame.
Baklava – filo pastry filled with nuts and honey.
Galaktoboureko – a creamy dessert made of semolina and milk.
Try meze – and don’t be afraid to taste unfamiliar dishes.
Local markets – taste fresh produce.
A traditional taverna – with an authentic atmosphere.
The best way to get to know Cypriot food is in traditional tavernas. You will find tips on resorts in the article Resorts in Cyprus.
The tradition of sharing small plates of all kinds of specialities – salads, dips, grilled meats, vegetables and seafood.
A Cypriot cheese that doesn’t melt even when grilled.
Lamb baked in a clay oven with potatoes and vegetables.
Loukoumades, baklava or galaktoboureko.
Local wine, Cypriot beer and strong coffee.
Cypriot food is sure to captivate you with its colourful flavours and aromas – a culinary experience you will remember for a long time.
