Food in Cyprus is a celebration of tradition, family, and flavour. The island sits at the crossroads of Greece, Turkey, and the Middle East, so Cypriot food is a glorious mix of influences, stitched together with olive oil, lemons, and plenty of charcoal smoke.

A Cypriot baked dish of meat (kleftiko) potatoes, vegetables, and cheese served in aluminum foil on a plate, with a fork, napkin, and glass of beer on a white tablecloth.
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Hi, I’m Hazel 👋 I spent 20 years in professional kitchens, including a 5 year stint as a Head Chef in a Mediterranean restaurant.

Food is always the first thing I want to understand about a place.

In Cyprus, that meant tasting halloumi straight from the pan, sipping Commandaria wine in the Troodos mountains, and losing track of time over mezze feasts.

Here are the flavours you have to try when you visit Cyprus.

1. Halloumi Cheese (Χαλλούμι) 🧀

Let’s start with the obvious. Cyprus is the birthplace of halloumi, and trust me, it tastes nothing like the squeaky supermarket version you might be used to.

A hand holding a piece of white cheese with a blue napkin in a tiled kitchen or dairy processing room. Stainless steel tables and equipment are visible in the background.
Six rectangular pieces of grilled halloumi cheese arranged in a row on a white oval plate, placed on a patterned tablecloth.

I visited a family producer in the Troodos mountains, watched them stretch and fold the curds, and then ate it warm from the pan. Creamy, salty, and almost buttery… it ruined the mass-produced stuff for me forever.

You’ll find halloumi everywhere in Cyprus: grilled, fried, shaved into salads, or even raw alongside watermelon.

2. Sheftalia (Σιεφταλιά) 🥩

Sheftalia are small sausages made of pork or lamb, wrapped in caul fat (the lacy membrane that keeps them juicy).

Six grilled sausages are arranged on a white plate, placed on a patterned tablecloth.

They’re rustic, rich, and taste like they’ve come straight from someone’s backyard barbecue. Best eaten in a warm pita with salad and a squeeze of lemon.

3. Mezze 🍽️

Ordering mezze in Cyprus is an event in itself. It isn’t just a meal – it’s an evening.

A plate with pita bread, salad, and dips sits on a table next to a glass of beer, a can, and additional plates of food in the background.
A plate of grilled meat pieces garnished with chopped onions and fresh herbs, served on a white dish, in Cyprus on a Troodos day trip.

Expect wave after wave of small plates: creamy tzatziki, smoky tahini, taramasalata, grilled meats, octopus, olives, and (of course) halloumi.

It’s the best kind of dining style: unhurried, generous, and designed for sharing.

4. Fresh Fish & Seafood 🐟

By the coast, you’ll find tavernas with nets drying outside and menus that change with the catch of the day.

A plate of assorted fried fish with lemon wedges, a small bowl of tartar sauce, and a garnish of microgreens.

Grilled sea bream, octopus drizzled with lemon, and calamari fried to golden perfection. It’s simple food, but that’s what makes it beautiful.

5. Kleftiko 🍖

Kleftiko is lamb slow-cooked until it practically melts off the bone.

A Cypriot baked dish of meat (kleftiko) potatoes, vegetables, and cheese served in aluminum foil on a plate, with a fork, napkin, and glass of beer on a white tablecloth.

Traditionally, it was sealed in clay ovens or buried underground so that bandits (“kleftes”) could cook without smoke giving them away.

Today, it’s one of the most beloved Sunday dishes in Cyprus. Tender, fragrant, and often served with potatoes that soak up all the juices.

6. Souvlaki 🍢

Cyprus’s ultimate street food. Skewers of marinated pork or chicken, grilled over charcoal and stuffed into warm pita bread with salad, tzatziki, and sometimes a slice of halloumi.

A plate with grilled meat skewers, salad, potato wedges, pita bread, a lemon wedge, and a small bowl of dip on a wooden table.

You’ll find it everywhere from busy cities to mountain villages, with a street food version where it’s served with chips tucked right inside the wrap.

7. Koupepia (Stuffed Vine Leaves) 🍃

Known elsewhere as dolmades, koupepia are vine leaves wrapped around a mixture of minced meat, rice, onions, and herbs.

A platter of stuffed vine leaves arranged in a circular pattern, garnished with cucumber and carrot slices, with carved vegetables in the center.

They’re simmered slowly in tomato or lemon sauce until everything fuses into one fragrant bite. Comfort food, Cypriot style.

8. Stifado 🍲

If Cyprus had a dish that sums up slow living, it might just be stifado.

A plate of stir-fried beef and broccoli, reminiscent of a modern stifado, mingles with tomatoes and onions on a checkered cloth, while leafy greens in the background add a fresh flourish.
Stifado

This rich stew, usually made with beef or rabbit, simmers for hours with red wine, tomatoes, tiny pearl onions, and a fragrant kick of cinnamon and cloves. The result? Tender meat that practically melts on the fork and a sauce so flavourful you’ll want to mop up every drop with hunks of fresh village bread.

9. Loukoumades 🍩

Golden dough balls, fried and drizzled with honey syrup. Sometimes sprinkled with cinnamon, sometimes sesame.

A large metal pan filled with small ring-shaped doughnuts frying in oil, with a person stirring them using a metal tool.

Either way, they’re the kind of sweet you can’t stop at just one (speaking from experience, obvs).

10. Commandaria Wine 🍷🏰

Cyprus lays claim to one of the oldest named wines in the world: Commandaria.

A glass of red wine on a wooden table with a vineyard and the Troodos mountains in Cyprus in the background under a clear sky.

This sweet dessert wine dates back to the Crusaders and is still produced in the Troodos region. Pair it with cheese or sip it slowly after dinner.

11. Zivania 🥃🔥

If you’re offered a small glass of zivania, brace yourself – it’s strong.

A tall frosted bottle with a silver label and a shot glass sit on a wooden table outdoors in sunny, rustic surroundings.

This traditional Cypriot spirit is distilled from grape pomace (the leftovers from winemaking). Families still make their own, and it’s often shared as a gesture of hospitality.

12. Cypriot Sweets (Soujouko & Pastelli) 🍬

Two classics worth hunting down:

  • Soujouko – almonds or walnuts dipped repeatedly in grape must, forming a chewy, nutty sweet that looks like a candle. I went to see these being made in a farmhouse in the Troodos – they taste amazing.
  • Pastelli – sesame seed brittle bound with honey. Sticky, crunchy, and perfect with coffee.
A hand holds a sliced piece of churchkhela, a traditional Georgian candy with a nut center, with whole churchkhela strands hanging in the background.
Soujouko, at a producer in the Troodos Mountains.

Final Thoughts

Food in Cyprus is more than just fuel; it’s the heart of the culture. It’s about generosity, time spent together, and flavours that speak of history and tradition.

FAQs About Food in Cyprus 💡

What is Cyprus’s national dish?

Halloumi is often considered the national dish of Cyprus, and you’ll find it everywhere from breakfast tables to beachside grills. Slow-cooked lamb kleftiko is another strong contender.

What is a traditional Cypriot meal?

A typical Cypriot meal often revolves around mezze, a series of small dishes shared across the table. Expect dips, salads, grilled meats, seafood, and bread, all served in generous portions.

What do people drink in Cyprus?

Local drinks include Commandaria wine (a sweet dessert wine with ancient roots), zivania (a strong grape-based spirit), and plenty of Cypriot coffee, served thick and strong in small cups.

Is Cypriot food similar to Greek food?

Yes, Cypriot cuisine shares many similarities with Greek food. Think stuffed vine leaves, grilled meats, and feta-style cheeses. But it also borrows from Turkish and Middle Eastern influences, giving it its own unique twist.

Where’s the best place to try authentic Cypriot food?

Skip the big tourist restaurants and head to a family-run taverna, especially in smaller villages or the Troodos mountains. You’ll get home-cooked meals, often based on family recipes passed down for generations. If you’re in Paphos, there are some restaurant recommendations in my Paphos itinerary.

Related Posts You Might Like 📚

If you enjoyed learning about food in Cyprus, you might also like:

🍕 Food from Naples, Italy: Neapolitan Classics.
🍮 Food in Madeira: What to Eat & Drink.
😋 Food of Mallorca: What to Eat on the Island.
🏛️ 2 Days in Paphos: A Myth & History-Filled Itinerary.
🌲 Troodos Day Trip: Villages, Wine & Nature in the Cyprus Mountains.

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