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Travel

The Best Food in Nicosia, Cyprus

written by Brenna Holeman October 16, 2014

Food in Cyprus

I recently returned from a short but amazing holiday in Cyprus on behalf of the Cyprus Tourism Organisation. With a few days in Nicosia and a day in the Troodos Mountains, I had just enough time to visit a few museums, do a bit of hiking, and, of course, visit a hamam. However, what really stood out for me, above anything else, was the incredible quality of Cypriot food. No word of a lie, Cypriot food was consistently some of the best food I’ve ever tasted.

Warning: I finally got a digital SLR, which I went a bit nuts with while in Cyprus. Apologies for the abundance of close-up shots of delicious food! I hope that you see a difference in my photos, though… this food deserved macro shots, let’s put it that way.

Market Company Cyprus 1

The first meal that made me fall in love with Cypriot food was lunch at Market Company in Nicosia. This would turn out to be one of our most non-traditional meals, with an assortment of salads, fried calamari and chicken, incredible potatoes (Cyprus is known for its quality of potatoes), and, of course, halloumi. Halloumi is a famous Cypriot cheese made of goat’s and sheep’s milk; quite salty, and beautiful when grilled, I believe it is heaven on earth. Not only was the food some of the very best I tasted while in Cyprus, the restaurant itself was ridiculously cool, with exposed brick walls, perfect passionfruit mojitos, and great service.

Market Company Cyprus 2

Market Company Cyprus 5

Market Company Cyprus 6

Market Company Cyprus 4

Market Company Cyprus 3

If I could eat that fried halloumi with fig jam every day of my life, I would be a very happy person. I might also die from halloumi consumption, but I believe it would be worth it.

Coffee Cyprus

We also stopped for coffee quite a few times while in Cyprus; one of my favourites was at the little café called Spitiko tis Loukias in Onasagorou Street (where there are many other cafés). Extremely strong and meant to be sipped slowly, Cypriot coffee is not for the faint of heart. Make sure not to drink the thick layer of grinds left on the bottom… instead, turn your cup over onto your plate, wait a few minutes, and then have a local read your fortune in the pattern left behind. Apparently, according to my fortune, I’m due for a fight…?

Nicosia Food 1

We also sampled a traditional meze dinner at Chronoperpatimata (try saying that five times fast) in Nicosia. Meze is an assortment of small dishes to share, mostly savoury ones. We started with the classic salad with feta and then moved on to nearly two dozen dishes; everything from hummus to pork chops to stuffed aubergine to liver. Meze-style eating is my favourite way to eat, as I love sampling a variety of dishes. It also means that you get extraordinarily full. Our meze dinner combined with copious amounts of wine and ouzo meant we had to waddle to the town square for drinks.

Nicosia Food 2

Nicosia Food 3

Nicosia Food 4

Nicosia Food 6

Nicosia Food 5

And of course, no meal would be complete without halloumi… this time wrapped in filo and covered in honey.

Baklava Cyprus

For dessert, the classic baklava / coffee combination is a must when in Cyprus. Made with layers of filo and chopped nuts, it is held together by honey – not to be missed in this part of the world.

Ouzo Cyprus

And when in Cyprus… drink as Cypriots drink! Ouzo is an anise-flavoured aperitif that I first tried in Greece many years ago; I actually couldn’t stand it then. Now, with older tastebuds and the knowledge to mix it with water and ice, I quite enjoyed it.

These were just a few meals I tried in Nicosia, but throughout my time in Cyprus I had outstanding food. I was blown away by the flavours, the variety, and the quality of each meal, and Cypriot food just shot to the top of my “favourite food” list.

Have you ever been to Cyprus or tried Cypriot food? Which food looks best to you?

Many thanks to the Cyprus Tourism Organisation for inviting me to their beautiful country. 

CyprusEuropeFoodPhoto Essay
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Brenna Holeman

Brenna Holeman has travelled to over 100 countries in the past 15 years, many of them solo. She's a big fan of whisky and window seats.

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22 comments

Camille October 17, 2014 - 12:58 am

Everything looks amazing! I had to google halloumi, but upon discovering that it’s a cheese I concur that it looks heavenly.

I can definitely tell a difference in the shots.

Reply
Brenna Holeman October 17, 2014 - 1:45 am

I added a definition of halloumi – thanks for the heads up! It really is amazing, I hope you can try it soon.

And thanks for the note about the photos, I had a lot of fun with the new camera and hope to develop my photography skills!

Reply
Ashley October 17, 2014 - 3:44 pm

I love halloumi, and the fried halloumi with fig jam and halloumi wrapped in filo with honey both sound unbelievable!

Great photos- I can definitely see a difference!

Reply
Brenna Holeman October 20, 2014 - 10:56 pm

I honestly think I’m going to fly back to Cyprus just to eat those dishes again! Thanks a lot for the kind words, I’m glad that you like the photos.

Reply
Katrinka October 18, 2014 - 8:39 am

This food looks so amazing. I only went to North Cyprus, and the food was pretty much the same as what I eat in Turkey. And the halloumi (helim, in Turkish) was not in fig jam and now I feel very cheated. Your pictures are making me hungry!

Reply
Brenna Holeman October 20, 2014 - 10:57 pm

We will have to find some amazing meals in Athens together!

Reply
Anna @ shenANNAgans October 18, 2014 - 11:10 pm

Ouzo…. shudder, now that was a long and yuk night. Haha! 🙂
Its breakfast time and Im craving a plate of kebab. What an amazing spread.

Reply
Brenna Holeman October 20, 2014 - 10:56 pm

Yeah, I really didn’t like ouzo when I tried it in Greece years ago… but I really enjoyed it with water and ice in Cyprus!

Reply
Laura October 19, 2014 - 5:08 pm

I’ve never been to Cyprus and know very little about the cuisine, but it looks so delicious! The meze, the desserts and definitely the ouzo! Looks like you had a great time!

Reply
Brenna Holeman October 20, 2014 - 10:55 pm

I didn’t know much about the food either, but it was definitely a highlight of the trip! Thanks for your comment, Laura.

Reply
Taylor Hearts Travel October 22, 2014 - 12:55 pm

That halloumi in fig sauce was so good!

Reply
Brenna Holeman October 24, 2014 - 10:10 am

I want more…….

Reply
Zalie Holeman November 9, 2014 - 6:17 am

Seriously, after seeing these pictures and reading about the food I want to go on a “stuff our faces” holiday with you…just pure gluttony!!! I laughed so hard when you talked about your halloumi consumption haha!!

Reply
Brenna Holeman November 9, 2014 - 3:45 pm

I would love that! Where should we go?! So many options around Europe… or maybe Thailand… 😉

Reply
Mimi November 14, 2014 - 11:15 am

I was first introduced to halloumi when I moved to Australia and New Zealand, simply delicious. I haven’t delved into Cypriot food enough, but all of this food looks scrumptious! Kudos on the photos.

Reply
Brenna Holeman November 14, 2014 - 1:48 pm

Thanks Mimi! I am obsessed with halloumi now… I can’t get enough.

Reply
2014: A Year in Review - This Battered Suitcase December 28, 2014 - 1:31 am

[…] The Best Food in Nicosia, Cyprus […]

Reply
Andrea Anastasiou January 2, 2015 - 1:31 pm

As a Cypriot, I drooled over all your food photos! Love the sound of Market Company and will most definitely try it out seeing as I’m here for the next two weeks…

Reply
Brenna Holeman January 2, 2015 - 4:55 pm

I’m sure you’ll love it! Cypriot food is absolutely amazing, isn’t it? I’m eating a halloumi sandwich right now!

Reply
Another Reason to Visit Nicosia: The Zampelas Art Museum - This Battered Suitcase January 4, 2015 - 9:54 pm

[…] city. While I am a beach bum through and through, give me a city filled with fascinating history, delicious food, and cobblestoned streets, and I’ll be very happy. Give me a modern art museum and I’ll […]

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Where To Travel in 2015 - This Battered Suitcase January 13, 2015 - 12:23 am

[…] stunning. I recommend taking some time to explore the capital city of Nicosia, though; it has unbelievable restaurants and a ton of really cool things to do. The nearby hills are also worth exploring, with hiking and […]

Reply
A Perfect Day in Nicosia - This Battered Suitcase March 30, 2015 - 11:37 pm

[…] heading to Cyprus, I definitely recommend checking out Nicosia. Full of history, culture, and great food, it’s the kind of place you could easily spend a week or two. If you only have one day, […]

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About Me

About Me

Hi, I'm Brenna

My name is Brenna Holeman and I drink a lot of whisky. No, wait. That’s not how I want to start. After travelling to more than 100 countries over the past 15 years, many of them solo, I tend to write about travel a lot, but I write about other things, too: getting dumped, buying way too much jewellery, and yeah, OK, whisky (none of those things are related, I swear). You’ll find a mix of advice, opinion pieces, and stories on this blog, but either way, I hope to make you want to read more. And up next? I'm about to become a single mom to a beautiful baby boy, the biggest solo adventure I've ever been on. For more about me and what you'll find on This Battered Suitcase, click here .

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Originally from Canada, all I've ever wanted to do is travel. After eleven years of solo travel and over 90 countries, I'm currently living in London and fulfilling my other dream of becoming a writer. If I'm not travelling, I'm writing about it, either for my blog, my job, or my book. I firmly believe there is adventure everywhere, so long as you keep your eyes (and your mind, and your heart) open. Join me as I continue to look for these adventures. Hopefully you'll find your own, too.

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