Food
Where to Eat in Paphos
Short answer
Eat at least one full meze, ideally at a taverna slightly away from the harbour front. Order the dishes Cyprus does best — grilled halloumi, sheftalia, souvla, kleftiko — and drink local Xynisteri. The harbour is for the view; the best value is a few streets back or up in the villages.
What to order
| Dish | What it is |
|---|---|
| Meze | A procession of small dishes for the table — the meal to have at least once. |
| Halloumi | Cyprus' signature cheese, best grilled and eaten hot. |
| Sheftalia | Small grilled sausages of minced pork wrapped in caul fat. |
| Souvla | Large chunks of meat slow-roasted on a rotisserie over charcoal. |
| Kleftiko | Lamb slow-baked until it falls off the bone. |
| Afelia | Pork braised in red wine with crushed coriander seeds. |
| Koupepia | Vine leaves stuffed with rice and minced meat. |
| Fish meze | The coastal version of meze; best in Latchi and fishing harbours. |
| Loukoumades | Small fried dough balls soaked in honey syrup. |
Where to eat, by area
- [Kato Paphos](/areas/kato-paphos/) — the most choice, and the most tourist menus. Walk a block or two back from the seafront.
- [Paphos Old Town](/areas/paphos-old-town/) — cafés, lunch spots around the market and more locals in the evening.
- [Geroskipou](/areas/geroskipou/) — traditional tavernas a short drive east of the centre.
- [Latchi](/areas/polis/) — fish tavernas on the harbour; combine with a Blue Lagoon trip.
- [Wine villages](/wine/wine-villages-near-paphos/) — village tavernas for long lunches with a view.
How to avoid the tourist traps
- Be wary of laminated picture menus in five languages and staff pulling you in from the street.
- Look for tables of Cypriot families, especially at weekends.
- Ask what is cooked today — the best tavernas have dishes that are not on the printed menu.
- Book ahead in July and August, and on Friday and Saturday nights year-round.
Our restaurant shortlist
We only recommend restaurants we have verified. None are verified yet, so we are not publishing a ranked list — see best restaurants in Paphos for the current status. These places are on our verification list; we are not recommending them yet:
7 St Georges Tavern
Cypriot, Meze · Geroskipou
Hondros
Cypriot, Taverna · Kato Paphos
Fettas Corner
Cypriot, Grill, Meze · Paphos Old Town (Ktima)
Mandra Tavern
Cypriot, Taverna · Kato Paphos
Frequently asked questions
What food is Paphos known for?
Cypriot meze, halloumi, grilled meats such as souvla and sheftalia, slow-cooked kleftiko, fresh fish on the coast and loukoumi from nearby Geroskipou.
How does meze work?
You order a meze for the table (usually a minimum of two people) and a long series of small dishes arrives — dips and salads first, then grilled and slow-cooked dishes. Pace yourself; it keeps coming.
Are harbour restaurants in Paphos worth it?
You pay for the setting. For food and value, look a few streets inland in Kato Paphos, in the Old Town, or in villages such as Geroskipou.