Indulge in the Garden Restaurants of the City
Cyprus is lucky to have a warm climate most months of the year with summer lasting from the month of May until late September. The climate allows for outdoor activities when the sun isn’t too strong and there are numerous cafes and restaurants that offer beautiful gardens to enjoy a meal or a drink. Here’s our pick of lush gardens to eat in Nicosia and Limassol.
ESOBGA
It’s the English School’s small restaurant in Nicosia and if you haven’t paid it a visit just yet then now is the time. The actual name of this restaurant in its entirety is English School Boys Girls Association thus is short ESOBGA. You’ll find it behind the English School surrounded by the trees of the neighbouring Ayios Demetrios’ park. A beautiful veranda with a garden hidden within the trees while part of it is covered with synthetic grass creates perhaps the prettiest garden of the capital. You can opt for a small or a large meze depending on your appetite along with other dishes like juicy pork souvlaki, tender chicken souvlaki, fillets and many other delicacies at very good prices. With chilled white wine and good company you will have a cool summer’s eve.
(96 505060)
Zaatar
It opened almost one year ago in Nicosia in the space where the former Pi&Fi was housed in the old city. This Middle Eastern restaurant has a small beautiful backyard with greenery and flowers and a very romantic atmosphere. Here the menu includes traditional Middle Eastern dishes from Lebanon and Syria, serving a rich assortment of meze (€15), offers dishes a la carte, tasty falafel and boreks. The restaurant is particularly fond of Arabic music nights and belly dancing.
(77 776600)
To Anamma
Also in the old part of the town one can find here one of the tastiest souvlaki in Nicosia. To Anamma now housed where Chop Stick restaurant used to be offers filling portions and a variety of dishes. Coming here no one expects to find hidden behind the restaurant a small Lemon Orchard when you can sit and enjoy dishes cooked in the traditional wood burning oven. Must try’s from its menu are definitely the marinated steak and the Yaourtlu Kebab.
(22 210200)
The Winery
Though I would classify it mainly as a wintery haunt I was pleasantly surprised to discover recently that I could not be more wrong as I found myself in its tiny garden space sampling the rosé wine of their own production. What you would call a designer store with a French aesthetic, a big bar and high topped wooden tables. You will find a store with a wide range of wines, wine cocktails, and finger food. And its garden is great at night. You’ll love it!
(22 511925)
Karvounomageiremata
One of the most well-known eateries in Ledras street with Cretan music choices and Cretan cuisine, themed musical nights with Greek rock, rich meze and a mammoth juicy steak. Karvounomageremata has a secret camouflaged inner garden which makes it a good choice for your summer outings.
(22 680067)
To Spilaio
The Spilaio tavern in Deftera will welcome you into its cool yard and Michael and Costas the owners of the store will make sure all kinds of grilled goodies and baked stuff come to your table. The wood burning oven slowly cooks the traditional lamb kleftiko to perfection -perfect during the summer season- which you can enjoy with tasty potatoes and bulgur wheat, makaronia tou fournou and all sorts of stovetop cooked food from which you will absolutely love the halloumi stuffed zucchini flowers. Is meze more up your alley? No problem. You should start with the hearty salad with coriander and arugula, a bowlful of choriatika makaronakia, grilled halloumi and bacon, sausage and pork ribs, grilled mushrooms, tender chicken and pork souvlaki as well as snails, beef liver and sheftalies.
(22 622024)
LIMASSOL
Μason Bar
An unassuming little store located in the old town Limassol area with a large indoor old house yard, which loves unique music sounds like house, house tech and funk music. One element that stands out in its decoration is the wood trim in the tables, bars and walls. The classic lighting and minimal atmosphere in the space make it stand out. There are sofas to relax on from the frantic music if you need it. An outside bar is located in the inner courtyard so that the patrons don’t have any trouble when they want to order something. Additionally the outside space on the Zig Zag Street pedestrian walk way serves as Mason’s “street garden” and was specially formed for the ones that want to enjoy something different in the city. It is undoubtedly one of the most charming gardens of Limassol.
(99 775160)
LAB
The elegance of this space accompanied by lounge music makes for a beautiful combination to enjoy a glass of wine with a cheese and fruits platter in its back yard. The ideal bar for dates since its low lighting inspires romance. For the cocktail lovers out there I would suggest you try a Black Margarita. Choosing a cheese platter will not be an easy feat if you are a cheese connoisseur since there are countless options available here. The bar will impress you from the many kinds as well as brands of alcoholic beverages it uses to mix its signature cocktails.
(25 738882)
Dionysus Mansion
Something different came and has shaken up the norm changing our gastronomic landscape. The impressive Dionysus Mansion suggests and different experience, contemporary and at the same time Dionysian but especially sophisticated! Its cool yard is an oasis of relaxation and comfort where you can enjoy a feast of flavours! The same applies to its imposing interior spaces. Its kitchen praises Cypriot gastronomy but with a more contemporary mood, interspersed with Greek touches. The menu covers all tastes since besides meats it also serves vegetarian options as well as fish for the seafood lovers.
(25 222210)
