Welcome to my guide to the best restaurants in Limassol! Having spent 3 months in Limassol, and with our Limassol native friends as excellent guides, we were treated to some of the best Limassol restaurants.
In this blog post, I’ve picked out my favourite restaurants in Limassol to help you choose where to eat when you visit this amazing city!
If you are looking for dining options earlier in the day then check out my guide to the best brunch in Limassol.
For my recommendations of the best restaurants in Limassol, read on!
The Best Restaurants in Limassol
Limassol is a very cosmopolitan city. As a result has a great diversity of restaurants which means you really are spoiled for choice when you visit!
In this guide, I have tried to pick out different restaurants in Limassol depending on what food and experience you want. From oysters whilst overlooking the sea to fantastic souvlaki on plastic chairs; hopefully, there is something for everyone!
Best Cypriot Taverns in Limassol
Let’s start with the most traditional restaurants in Limassol! You have to travel slightly out of the centre of Limassol, but the drive/taxi is most certainly worth it!
In my view, these two are the best restaurants in Limassol for authentic Cypriot food and atmosphere! Take your time, eat plenty and people watch to your heart’s content in beautiful, traditional surroundings!
Taverna Forsos
Set in the suburb of Mouttagiaka in Limassol, Taverna Forsos is a beautifully traditional tavern. It is a short drive outside of Limassol, so you’ll need a car or to hire a taxi to reach it.
Parking is a bit of a pain, but you’ll be able to find somewhere on the street to park your car but leave some extra time to find a space!
Whilst it is based in the middle of what appears to be a residential area, and it doesn’t look like much from the outside, the outdoor dining area is super special.
The outdoor area was large, full of long tables with people enjoying their weekend. In classic Cypriot fashion, we ordered meze for the table, which included halloumi, souvlaki, Cypriot rice, sheftalia and chicken livers along with tzatziki and bread of course!
As is always the case in Cyprus, the food kept on coming and we enjoyed every course.
Taverna Yialousa
Right next door to Forsos is Taverna Yialousa, which has a more traditional feel to it, as the interiors aren’t as fancy, but rather more traditional.
The outside area is spectacular, and we enjoyed our mezze sitting under a pergola wrapped in grape vines with sweet, checked tablecloths.
As is popular in Cypriot culture, we ordered meze for the table and we all dug in, passing around plates, sharing and enjoying food together.
The food was similar to that in Forsos, with a couple of different plates but all the classics still there. We particularly enjoyed the pasta, which was stuffed with cheese, like a halloumi ravioli! Absolutely delicious!
It’s a great place to go at the weekend and eat and socialise like a local. Great food and a great atmosphere.
Best Fish Restaurants in Limassol
Despite Cyprus being an island and Limassol being a large port and marina, there are not as many fish restaurants in Limassol as we expected!
At the same time, fish is relatively expensive in Limassol. Whether bought in a restaurant or in the supermarket, it is something of a luxury.
That being the case, when you do go for fish, you want to try the best! So I have singled out the two, in my opinion, fish restaurants in Limassol.
Puesta Oyster Bar and Grill
In my opinion, Puesta is one of the best restaurants in Limassol. Not only is the seafood great, but the ambience and its location make it a special place.
Puesta is located in the tourist area of Limassol, at Aphrodite Beach and near the Four Seasons Limassol. It is one of the few Limassol restaurants by the sea, as in it is actually on the beach. It is perched just above the beach path with uninterrupted views of the beach and the sea beyond.
As you would expect, there is a lot of outdoor seating to take advantage of those views. It is open all day but is especially cosy in the evening with lots of soft lighting, a cool breeze and the sound of the sea in the background!
And then there is the food! Puesta refers to itself as an oyster bar and so, as you would expect, there is a large selection of oysters! We are not oyster connoisseurs, but these went down very well with a beer and a glass of wine!
As well as oysters, there is incredible grilled seafood on the menu and an impressive wine list. Whilst predominantly a fish restaurant, there are pasta and meat dishes on the menu for anyone in your group that may not be so keen on seafood.
Puesta is one of the more expensive restaurants in Limassol owing to its location and the fact that it is a fish restaurant. I would definitely recommend trying it and it is the perfect place for a special occasion!
Taverna Kissos
Our other favourite fish restaurant in Limassol is Kissos Taverna. Kissos is located in the tourist area of Limassol not far from Puesta.
It is on the opposite side of the beach road and so it doesn’t have the views over the sea that Puesta can boast. It does have a beautifully and traditionally decorated interior though.
As it is more in the style of a local taverna, the prices are also more reasonable than in Puesta.
The menu is less extravagant than in Puesta (no oysters in here!). But there is plenty of fantastic fish options to try.
I would recommend the fish meze if you want to try a bit of everything. As with all mezes in Limassol, there is plenty of food so you will not go hungry!
Expect a good mix of white fish, prawns, squid, fried fish and a few added extras to give you a real flavour of the fish of Cyprus!
Again, if some of your group are not so keen on fish then there are other equally great options. The moussaka comes highly recommended!
The combination of great fish and the more local setting makes this one of the best fish restaurants in Limassol, in my humble opinion!
Best Limassol Marina Restaurants
There are lots of restaurants in Limassol Marina and they are always busy as this is a popular part of town. The food can vary but if you are heading to Limassol Marina for a special occasion, we have a great option for you!
Pier One
One of my favourite places serving up a fantastic brunch in Limassol, Pier One offers a fantastic day-to-night menu, making it a great place to hang out no matter the time of day.
Pier One has previously been voted a favourite amongst Cypriots in the Cyprus Eating Awards so it knows how to rustle up a great meal.
It has a great selection of seafood, but its main dishes, including the sea bream and salmon, are really tasty, as well as the chicken skioufixta (a traditional Greek pasta dish).
If you fancy something a little more lowkey, they also have a great burger menu so there is always something that will take your fancy at Pier One.
Check out the full menu on their website. They also do fantastic sushi if you are looking for something a little different for dinner.
Did we mention it is based right on the water? Its epic location affords it a panoramic view of the coastline to the tourist area, to the new marina. Just look at the view! It’s worth a meal there just for the atmosphere.
Best ‘fast food’ Restaurants in Limassol
Sometimes you don’t want to go out for a fancy dinner. Sometimes you just want some quick, cheap but delicious. Fortunately, Limassol has plenty of excellent options.
As you may expect, grill houses are very popular in Limassol and all over the island. And the food is generally fantastic in all of them! So avoid the usual fast-food chains and try the local alternative!
Having spent 3 months in Limassol with our friends, here are our picks of the best restaurants in Limassol for local delicacies!
Aristos & Kikis Kebab House
If you are from the UK, put aside any preconceptions of a kebab house! Aristos & Kikis is not your 4 am stop-off after a few too many drinks! Although, if it was, it would be the best 4 am stop-off ever!
This is what fast food should be. Freshly cooked food is served quickly and inexpensively. Some evenings when we didn’t want to go to an expensive restaurant in Limassol, but equally didn’t want to cook, this was the perfect solution.
Think plastic chairs and tables, super friendly staff and a very relaxed atmosphere!
The speciality souvlaki is excellent, freshly cooked and very filling! For most kebabs, you can choose from 1 to 3 ‘sticks’ of meat which then come with plenty of pitta and salad. Have it wrapped or separate, to eat in or take away.
As an aside, souvlaki translates as a kebab but here we are talking cubes or marinated meat, placed on a skewer and grilled. The shaved meat variety is known as a gyro or shawarma (and is equally delicious in Limassol!).
If you don’t want a kebab then you can order various grilled meat chops or go the whole hog and try the mixed grill!
Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are served to complete your meal. We loved this place for a quick bite, for lunch or dinner. It really feels like an authentic local gem rather than a tourist trap.
To Kokoraki
Another fantastic local grill house is To Kokoraki. This great little place is located on the beach road near Dasoudi beach. It is equally popular for eating in or takeaway and is a similar vibe to Kikis above.
To Kokoraki is probably the best restaurant in Limassol for grilled chicken, its speciality. Again I would suggest the chicken souvlaki which will come loaded with pitta, salad, pickles and fries. Plenty of food for one person!
You can either eat in at one of the few tables out the front or order the food to take away. The staff are really friendly and the prices are very reasonable. It can get very busy so there may be a slight delay on your food; it is not as quick as Kikis above.
The wait is worth it though. Grab a beer or a cold drink and a table and watch the world go by.
As with Kikis, if you are after some quick, healthier fast food then avoid the golden arches and head for one of these two great grill houses!
Best Meze in Limassol
Can you come to Limassol and not have a meze at least once?! For us, these types of meals are a great way to try a lot of local delicacies at once. Fortunately, in Limassol, meze is very popular and many restaurants in Limassol will offer these.
The locals warn that these can be hit and miss. So with the help of our Cypriot friends, we have picked out our favourites for the best restaurants in Limassol for meze.
Syrian Restaurant Limassol
This was the first restaurant in Limassol that we visited and we did so by chance. Only afterwards did we learn it is extremely popular with locals and we can see why!
Syrian restaurant is located behind the beach road, down a fairly dark and quiet back street. But you will know once you arrive! The outside is a grand, almost theatrical display of middle eastern grandeur in the form of columns and archways!
Once inside, you are welcomed by friendly faces and a large restaurant. There is an outdoor area which is beautiful with vines growing overhead.
This middle eastern restaurant aims to serve Lebanese and Syrian food with a modern twist and it certainly delivers.
Whilst the menu is plentiful with small dishes and traditional Syrian and Lebanese mains, I would definitely recommend the meze. We shared the two-person meze and the amount of food was insane! This is a theme in Limassol so be warned that you may struggle to finish what you order!
As well as being plentiful, the food was incredible. It gave a great introduction to food in Cyprus. Whilst being Lebanese and Syrian, the style of food is very similar to Greek and Cypriot meze.
If you do somehow manage to have enough room, do take a look at the delicious desserts! If the food defeats you, do ask to take it home with you. Meze is one of the best things to have cold the next day (or at the beach!).
Meze Taverna Restaurant
You have to try this place! We stumbled upon Meze Taverna in the Old Town during our first visit to Limassol in 2020 and can confirm it is still amazing two years on.
I would recommend the fish meze, but make sure you arrive with an appetite because there is so much food! We had red snapper, octopus salad, sea bream and shrimp as well as bread, hummus, tzatziki, and veggies. All of it was cooked so well and it was delicious.
This place is always so busy so I would 100% recommend booking a table to avoid disappointment. It’s a must-try in Limassol in my opinion.
Best Bars for Food in Limassol
If you want a more relaxed dining atmosphere then there are some great pub/bar restaurants in Limassol.
Nearly all bars in Limassol offer food. Most of it is great and so if you find yourself in one of the many bars, then definitely try the food. Here though, I have picked out two of the best restaurants in Limassol for food and drinks.
Chesters Limassol
Chesters Limassol is a bit of an institution in this part of the world. It started life as a pub back in the 1990s to now is a well-regarded restaurant at the far end of Limassol.
The popularity of Chesters is reflected in the amount of seating. The expansion has created three sections for dining. Inside, the outdoor deck and an additional lower-level outdoor seating area. Notwithstanding the number of tables, you should book ahead for groups.
As you may expect with a restaurant bar, the menu is extensive and varied. You can choose from high-end steaks, burgers, pasta, pizzas, salads, seafood and grilled meats.
If you are a fan of grilled meat then I would definitely recommend the Mongolian pork chop. Those of us from the UK, or at least me (!), have a fairly low opinion of a pork chop.
Not only is the chop enormous, but it is incredibly tasty, well-seasoned and perfectly cooked. It is not to be missed by any meat lovers!
For something lighter, the pasta and salads are all excellent and freshly made.
The prices at Chesters do reflect both the quality of the food and its growing reputation. These prices do seem to increase fairly regularly and are certainly not cheap. But as they say, you do get what you pay for.
Once you have eaten, stick around for some drinks. Watch the sport if that is your thing or check their listings for live music. Shisha is also available for those that wish to relax after dinner.
A great venue with great food. It is also a great option for larger groups or families given the number of tables and the variety on the menu. Just book ahead to ensure you get your table, particularly at the weekends.
Let’s Eat!
You’re not short on amazing places to eat in Limassol, with new places opening every year and existing restaurants constantly evolving and updating their menus.
Limassol really does give Nicosia a good run for its money on the gastronomy scene, and if you love your food, you won’t be disappointed with the vast array of restaurants in Limassol.
Check out the Cyprus Eat Awards to keep up to date with newly awarded restaurants if you’re in need of more inspiration for where to eat.
If you do eat in any of the restaurants featured in this blog, then let us know what you thought! Equally, if you find another gem, we want to hear about it. We’re likely to spend more time in Cyprus so we’d love to hear your recommendations too!
For more Limassol inspiration then check out our blogs on the best Bars in Limassol, the best Brunch in Limassol and the best Beaches in Limassol – all below!
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