Restaurants

The range and types of restaurants now available in Northern Cyprus are innumerable and constantly changing. The North Cyprus diner has seen the most incredible increase in the number of restaurants catering particularly to European tastes . The opening of a growing number of Indian, Chinese and European restaurants has expanded the variety of meals on offer and supplemented the already wide range of restaurants focusing on Turkish and Turkish Cypriot dishes.

We believe that the sharp increase in the number of visitors seen in the past three years, combined with the rising population of resident and holiday homes owned by foreigners, has provided the incentive for more specialist restaurants that have broadened the variety of food on offer.


As new areas of the island become developed, the infrastructure of restaurants and shops needed to supply them has also expanded. The beautiful hill villages to the West of Kyrenia, the sea shore, Kyrenia old town have all seen the influx of new restaurants that have added to the pleasure of outdoor dining in the summer.
The impact of new residents and holiday makers has also been seen in the surge of new restaurants to the east of Kyrenia and on the East coast. Towns such as Esentepe are being discovered by visitors as new places to relax and enjoy a meal and pass the time.

Selected Restaurants and Bars in Nicosia - (Lefkosa)

Kushabbi Nicosai, Tel: 234 6415  
Excellent steaks, and chicken dishes are Kushabbi's specialties in an autenhentic environment. You can also watch a belly-dancer performing at the restaurant
 
Pasta Villa Mehmet Akif Avenue, Nicosia Tel: 228 4878  
It is a self-service restaurant situated on Mehmet Akif Avenue, opposite the Forestry Department Nursery garden in Nicosia, only a short distance from the British High Commission building.
 
Saricizmeli 174, Kyrenia Avenue, Nicosia Tel: 227 3782  
You can choose your composite meal from any dozen freshly cooked trays. A filling lunch for two costs for under UK£5.
 
Yakamoz Bedrettin Demirel Avenue, Nicosia Tel: 227 1728  
Yakamoz is an authentic Cypriot restaurant, popular by the locals. It serves a varied meze followed by grilled fish for UK£5 per person.
 
Kibris Ashevi (The Cyprus Kitchen) Atatürk Avenue, 39A, Gönyeli, Nicosia Tel: 223 1751  
Equal attention is paid to the repertoire of Cypriot dishes; you will need to order the pot roasts, which are cooked outside in a traditional clay-sealed oven, in advance. Although a modern building, it has been decorated with such a rich collection of traditional furniture, tools, embroideries.Open for lunch and dinner and favourite with visiting delegations and local politicians. Dinner for two with wine costs about UK£10.
 
Mr Laugh's(Bay Kahkaha) Nicosia - Tel: 228 7264  
This cosy and very friendly restaurant specializes on chicken dishes; you can sample from your favourite chicken kievs to chicken doner, chicken dolmas, to many other chicken dishes, even chicken desserts!
 
Guneydogu Kebab House Near the Green Line, Nicosia - Tel: 228 1271  
This is a small but popular lunchtime kebab house that backs onto the Green Line with tables overlooking the bazaar street-life. A mixed plate of kebabs with salad for two costs UK £7
 
Cafe Lebon Mehmet Akif Ave., Nicosia  
One of the premier street cafes in Nicosia. You can try from the delicious pastries, cakes, sandwiches, and variety of tea and coffees.
 
Music Bar Bedrettin Demirel Avenue, Nicosia  
This is a cosy little pub, bustling with young businesspeople at rush hour time around 6-7pm. It has live jazz music on certain nights of the week.
 

 

Selected Restaurants and Bars in Krenia - (Girne)
Niazi's Restaurant & Bistro Opposite Dome Hotel, City Centre, Kyrenia Tel: 0392 815 2160  
Niazi's has been serving the local community for over 40 years! In addition to the various types of kebab, the restaurant also serves superb steaks -and, for a little extra atmosphere, all the grilling is done by the chef in the centre of the restaurant over charcoal-filled braziers beneath a huge copper canopy. For dessert, you can choose from a tempting selection of traditional sweets from a self-service buffet. Niazi's is right in the centre of Kyrenia and for around UK£5 a head for 4 courses, you can mingle with the locals and sample some of the best food on the island
 
Chinese House Karaoglanoglu Ave, Kyrenia (near the mosque), Tel. +90 392 8152130 & 8514080  
The restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating arrangements. Reservation is advised. Closed on Sundays. Authentic Peking and Cantonese dishes served at Kyrenia's very popular
 
Carob Café Kyrenia Harbour Tel. +90 392 815 6277  
On visiting the Carob club, one can sense the rich history of the surroundings and on looking out, enjoy the magnificent view of the famous Kyrenia Yacht Harbour with its beautiful sounds and spectacles - this is indeed a most extraordinary place. Since the 1800's this historic building functioned as a carob store and shipment point. - indeed the old ships' morning posts are still functioning to this day. The first and second floor entrances lead to cafes and bars, and on the third floor, the Ocakbasi restaurant serves authentic Cypriot food, mezes and sweets. The splendid interior of the building surpasses even its magnificent exterior. The decoration provides unaccustomed beauty with its carefully selected chairs, armchairs and tables.
 
Efendi's House Kyrenia, Tel: 0392 815-1149  
A favourite with the locals and visitors is the Effendi's House, run by Cliff and Kay Morgan in an old Ottoman House in the Turkish quarter with a delightful courtyard garden and giant apricot tree - a must visit for all. Call 815-1149 for reservations.
 
Café 34 Kyrenia Harbour  
An alternative café-bar in the old harbour of Kyrenia. Café 34 combines a congenial atmosphere, with its comfortable furnishing and nostalgic decoration, with modern upbeat music, thus appealing to a wide range of local population and tourists.
 
Ali Pasha Taverna Near to Celebrity Hotel, Lapta Tel: 0392 821 8942 / 821 8329  
If you are looking for a fun night and are prepared for a little of the unusual, try Ali Pasha Beach Restaurant, a terraced taverna restaurant which overlooks the sea. Ali, an infamous eccentric welcomes you in classic Basil Fawlty style providing a very informal and humorous atmosphere and offers a variety of Cypriot, Turkish, and English cuisine from 8 until late. On Wednesday and Sunday nights, dinner and entertainment with traditional Cypriot food, belly dancing, and as much as you can drink costs just UK£8.
 
Hideaway Club On the road to Karaman, Edremit Tel: 0392 822 2620  
The newly built poolside restaurant serves full English breakfast, lunches, snacks and evening meals of international and Ottoman cuisine. The menu includes mixed kebabs, Traditional Cypriot Dishes, Fresh Fish, Fillet steak, Griddled chicken, Vegetarian Sis Kebab etc Sundays -Mediterranean Fish Night only UK£7.50 3 courses Tuesdays- Kleftiko Night only UK£7.00 3 courses Fridays- Barbeque Night with Belly Dancer only UK£10 (Great Fun for all ages)
Open all day and closing when the last person leaves, the friendly poolside bar offers delicious cocktails, hot and cold refreshments and is the perfect place to make new friends and acquaintances, mixing traditional Cypriot hospitality with European standards.
 
Güler's Fish Restaurant Kyrenia, Tel: 0392 822 2718 /851 1410  
Güler's is just west off the main road west of Kyrenia, beside the well- signposted Serif Hotel Apartments, but with a good position on the edge of a broad cove and directly above a 50 m. strech of sand. Güler's is discreetly and locally esteemed and is somewhat considered to be able to serve the best fresh fish in Kyrenia.
 
Antis Taverna Kyrenia Tel: 0392 822 2256 /2412 /228 3200  
One of Kyrenia's favourite tavernas, excellent local food, lively atmosphere, and live music makes it a good choice for those who want to enjoy a good night dining out in Kyrenia.
 

 

Selected Restaurants and Bars in Famagusta - (Gazi Magusa)
Petek Restaurant Across the E. M. University, Salamis Rd  
Located on the Salamis Road, opposite the Eastern Mediterranean University, Petek provides a quality food on a self service basis. Recommended for vegetarians as well.
 
Cyprus House Opposite Famagusta County Courts  
Cyprus House is probably the one of the most authentic restaurants in North Cyprus providing delicious, home made local delicacies, in a very authentic setting, decorated as 1930s old Cypriot village house. A must for gourmets visiting the island. Booking recommended
 
Eyva Salamis junction, Yeni Bogaziçi Tel: 378 8235 /378 8799  
Eyva is very popular with the locals. Delicious mezes, village pies, kebabs, and fresh fish. Not to be missed is the famous Cypriot "Hirsiz Kebab" [literally the Thief's Kebab]. A very typical Cypriot village-style taverna in Famagusta
 
Mr Li's Chinese Restaurant Long Beach Country Club, Iskele Tel: 378 8282  
Situated at the very exclusive Long Beach Country Club on its private beach in Iskele Mr Li's serves authentic Chinese and Malaysian food at very reasonable prices. Open daily from 12 noon until midnight, the restaurant seats up to 100 guests and has been lavishly decorated. The setting here is superb and after dinner, guests may stroll along the beach and take the warm summer breezes.
 
Erich's Pub Salamis Rd., Famagusta Tel: 366 6214  
One of the oldest pubs in the town. You can sample traditional pub food while having a pint of local lager Gold Fassl.
 

 

Selected Restaurants in Morphu - (Guzelyurt)
Iskele Restaurant City centre, Güzelyurt Tel: 714 2099 /1906  
A friendly restaurant in Güzelyurt. Iskele serves seafood and meat menus, as well as a wide variety of vegetable mezes. There is live music at the restaurant during the weekend. Good food, in an enchanting atmosphere.
 

 

Selected Restaurants in Lefke
The Soli Inn Restaurant Gemikonagi, Lefke Tel: 727 7575 /7695  
A friendly restaurant in Lefke, serving traditional Cypriot as well as English dishes. A rare treat in the region
 

 

Selected Restaurants in Iskele
Karsel Bogaz, Iskele  
It is difficult to choose from the restaurants in the Bogaz fishing village but Karsel hass an edge over its rivals and provides an ample meze, enhanced by herbs cut freshly from those growning around the terrace, followed by grilled fish (review by Cyprus Cadogan Guides).
 
Cyprus Gardens Restaurant Bogaz, Iskele  

Part of the Cyprus Gardens Holiday Village Complex, the restaurant is famous for its sea-food and chicken menu. Excellent choice in beautiful surroundings.