Where to eat in Paphos
Paphos eats Cypriot: a table of small meze dishes, grilled halloumi, charcoal meat and fish from the harbor. The best food is rarely on the main tourist strip. Eat late, order meze to share, and ask what the fish of the day is.
The short answer
- Best area to eat
- The old town, Ktima, for local tavernas, and the harbor for fish. Skip the bar strip.
- Order this
- A meze for the table, grilled halloumi, and souvla or fresh fish.
- When to eat
- Lunch from 1pm, dinner from 7.30pm. Some old town places close on Sundays.
- Book or walk in
- Book harbor places on weekends and Laona for dinner. Most others take walk-ins.
- Tipping
- Round up the bill or leave about 10 per cent. Service is not always included.
What to eat in Paphos
- MezeA long run of small dishes, often 15 or more, shared at the table. Order it for two or more people and say if you don't eat meat or fish.
- Grilled halloumiCyprus's salty grilling cheese, served warm with bread, lemon or watermelon in summer.
- SouvlaLarge pieces of pork, lamb or chicken cooked slowly on a skewer over charcoal, served with pitta, salad and lemon.
- SheftaliaSmall sausages of minced meat and herbs wrapped in caul fat and grilled. Often part of a mixed grill.
- KleftikoLamb baked slowly in a sealed oven with potatoes and herbs, until it falls from the bone.
- Grilled fishSea bream or sea bass, grilled whole. Ask for the price per kilo before you order.
- KoupepiaVine leaves rolled around rice, herbs and sometimes minced meat. A common starter.
- LoukoumadesSmall fried dough balls soaked in honey syrup, sold in cafes and bakeries.
Where to eat in Paphos, by neighborhood
Old town (Ktima)
Local tavernas, ouzeries and brunch cafes in the lanes near the municipal market. Prices are lower than on the coast, and many places close on Sundays.
The harbor
Fish tavernas and cafes facing the boats. This is where the fish is freshest, and also where the view adds to the bill.
Kato Paphos streets
A mix of good family places and tourist menus. Walk a few streets off the harbor front and look for Cypriot customers.
Votsi
A quiet old quarter with a single well-known lunch place. Worth the short trip for traditional home cooking.
Places worth a booking or a queue
-
Laona Restaurant
€€Cypriot restaurant · Votsi
OrderStuffed cabbage, lamb or beef stew
A family-run restaurant in an old house, mainly for lunch, with home cooking and a courtyard.
- Book
- Book for dinner on the evenings it opens
- Closed
- Sundays
Confirmed open: guidetopaphos.com
-
Pelican Restaurant
€€€Harbour fish taverna · Harbour
OrderFresh fish or garlic mussels
A long-running fish taverna on the harbor, named after the pelican that wanders the front.
- Book
- Book on weekends in summer
Confirmed open: guidetopaphos.com
-
Psarou
€€€Fish restaurant · Kato Paphos
OrderFresh fish of the day or jumbo prawns
A seafood restaurant a few minutes from the harbor front, away from the busiest tables.
- Book
- Book for dinner in summer
Confirmed open: guidetopaphos.com
-
Koutourou Ouzeri
€€Ouzeri · Old town
OrderA selection of small plates to share
An evening ouzeri in the old town with shared dishes in the Greek style.
- Book
- Walk in, book on weekends
- Closed
- Sundays
Confirmed open: guidetopaphos.com
-
Agora Tavern
€€Tavern · Old town
OrderThe tapas selection, meat or vegetarian
A small tavern by the old market serving tapas-style dishes at lunch and dinner.
- Book
- Walk in
- Closed
- Sundays
Confirmed open: guidetopaphos.com
-
Christos Grill and Seafood
€€Grill and fish · Old town
OrderGrilled fish
A long-opening local place for fish and charcoal grills in the old town.
- Book
- Walk in
- Closed
- Sundays
Confirmed open: guidetopaphos.com
Food markets in Paphos
- Paphos Municipal MarketA covered market in the old town with fruit and vegetables, olive oil and local sweets, alongside crafts. Go in the morning.Monday to Saturday in the daytime. Hours differ between listings, so check before you go.Source: dom.com.cy
How Paphos eats
- Meal timesLunch from 1pm to 3pm, dinner from 7.30pm. Locals eat late, especially in summer.
- TippingRound up the bill or leave about 10 per cent. A service charge is not always included.
- SharingMeze arrives in waves, and you stop it when you have had enough. Say so early.
- SundaysSeveral old town places close on Sundays. Check opening days before you go.
- Water and breadWater and bread are often brought without asking. Check whether they are charged.
Signs of a place to walk past
A waiter standing at the door calling people in.
Laminated menus with photographs of every dish.
No prices on a board outside, especially for fish by weight.
An all-day breakfast and pizza menu next to Cypriot dishes.
Eating in Paphos: questions people ask
What food is Paphos known for?
Meze, grilled halloumi, souvla, sheftalia and kleftiko. Fresh grilled fish is common on the harbor, and Commandaria is the local dessert wine.
Where should I eat in Paphos?
In the old town for local tavernas and the harbor for fish. Walk a few streets from the main tourist strip for better value.
Is it cheap to eat in Paphos?
It can be. Old town tavernas and souvlaki shops are inexpensive, while fish by weight and the harbor cost more.
What is meze in Cyprus?
A series of small dishes shared at the table, usually in two parts, one of dips, salads and cheese, then one of meat or fish. Order it for the whole table.
Do I need to book a table in Paphos?
On weekends in summer, yes, for the harbor places, and for dinner at Laona. Otherwise walk in.