Village Restaurants in Cyprus Worth the Drive

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Our village picks at a glanceThere are no price signs here because most of them do not publish a current priced menu.
Village restaurants around PaphosThe Laona plateau above Paphos is wine country, and Kathikas is its main village.
Village restaurants near NicosiaNicosia's countryside is flatter and less visited than the Troodos, but it has two of the island's most talked-about addresses.
Village restaurants in the Larnaca districtThe hills between Larnaca, Limassol and Nicosia are easy to reach from the motorway, so these work for friends meeting from different towns.
How to plan a village lunch or dinnerVillage restaurants are small and often family-run.

Quick answer

Some of the best meals in Cyprus are in villages, a short drive from the towns. Our picks: The Farmyard and Artio Symposium in Kathikas and Kohili at Agios Georgios near Peyia (Paphos); Salt & Fire in Agios Ioannis Malountas and the Royal Goat Farm breakfast in Palaiometocho (Nicosia district); and Novél in Pano Lefkara, Koutsonikolias in Kalo Chorio and To Patrikon in Tersefanou (Larnaca district). Many open only on certain days or by reservation, so always book and check the day before you set off.

Six of our eight picks were on the WiZ 50 Best Restaurants list announced in January 2026.
Paphos: two very different restaurants in the wine village of Kathikas, plus seafood at Agios Georgios near Peyia.
Nicosia district: a steakhouse in Agios Ioannis Malountas and a farm breakfast in Palaiometocho, both an easy drive from the city.
Larnaca district: a village hotel restaurant in Pano Lefkara, a traditional taverna in Kalo Chorio and a tasting menu in Tersefanou.
Several open on limited days or by reservation only; book ahead and check opening days before you drive.

Ask Cypriot friends where they go for a long weekend lunch and the answer is often a village: somewhere twenty minutes to an hour out of town, with a quiet square, a view and a kitchen that does a few things very well. Here is our own pick of eight village restaurants across the Paphos, Nicosia and Larnaca districts, from a farm breakfast to a chef's tasting menu, with what each is like and how to plan the trip.

Our own picks, checked in October 2026. Opening days and hours change, especially in winter, so check before you go. Know a great place we've missed? Tell us.

Our village picks at a glance

Restaurant	Village	District	Type	Link or phone
The Farmyard	Kathikas	Paphos	Pan-Asian, casual	99 369473
Artio Symposium	Kathikas	Paphos	Modern Cypriot sharing plates	elinntraditionalsuites.com
Kohili	Agios Georgios Peyias	Paphos	Seafood, resort restaurant	capstgeorges.com
Salt & Fire	Agios Ioannis Malountas	Nicosia	Steakhouse	22 435323
The Royal Goat Farm – The Barn	Palaiometocho	Nicosia	Farm breakfast	70 001787
Novél at The Agora Hotel	Pano Lefkara	Larnaca	Village hotel restaurant	24 726000
Koutsonikolias	Kalo Chorio	Larnaca	Traditional taverna	99 651818
To Patrikon	Tersefanou	Larnaca	Cypriot tasting menu	99 870998

There are no price signs here because most of them do not publish a current priced menu.

Village restaurants around Paphos

The Laona plateau above Paphos is wine country, and Kathikas is its main village. It makes an easy half-day trip with a winery visit. Our Kathikas area guide explains the village.

The Farmyard, Kathikas: dim sum in a wine village

The Farmyard is the surprise of the area: a pan-Asian restaurant in a former village taverna, known for dim sum with many different fillings, bao buns and noodles. It was on the WiZ 50 Best list announced in January 2026, and was reviewed in July 2026. There are vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free dishes, a covered terrace and takeaway. It opens Tuesday to Sunday from 12:30 to 22:00 and closes on Monday. Booking is recommended on 99 369473; it has no website or official social media account.

Artio Symposium is the restaurant of Elinn Traditional Suites, a boutique guesthouse in the village. It serves Cypriot dishes with an Italian touch, made for sharing, with a wine list of Cypriot and international labels. In April 2026 it had plenty of choice for vegetarians and opened Friday to Sunday, with plans to open daily, so check the current days. Booking is essential: call 26 622777.

Kohili, Agios Georgios Peyias: seafood by the coast

Kohili is the Mediterranean and seafood restaurant of the Cap St Georges resort at Agios Georgios, beyond Peyia on the road towards the Akamas. It was on the WiZ 50 Best list announced in January 2026. It is open daily from 10:00 to 23:00, with a resort-casual dress code, and you can book through the resort's website or by phone. Combine it with a walk on the coast towards Lara. The resort's Instagram is @capstgeorgeshotelresort.

Village restaurants near Nicosia

Nicosia's countryside is flatter and less visited than the Troodos, but it has two of the island's most talked-about addresses. Both are an easy drive from the city, which makes them good for a weekend with visitors.

Salt & Fire, Agios Ioannis Malountas: a village steakhouse

Salt & Fire is a steakhouse in the village of Agios Ioannis Malountas, south-west of Nicosia, known for imported premium steaks such as Black Angus and Wagyu. It has been on the WiZ 50 Best list for several years, including the list announced in January 2026. It is an evening destination, open Monday to Saturday from 19:00. Book on 22 435323; it has no website.

The Royal Goat Farm – The Barn, Palaiometocho: breakfast on a farm

The Royal Goat Farm in Palaiometocho is a family-run farm with goats, sheep, donkeys, rabbits and poultry, its own small cheese dairy making halloumi and anari, and a wood-fired bakery. Its restaurant, The Barn, serves a breakfast tasting built on the farm's produce, and was on the WiZ 50 Best list announced in January 2026. It opens in the mornings from Sunday to Friday, by reservation only, and has a children's play area, which makes it one of the best family outings near Nicosia. Book on 70 001787.

For more ideas just outside the city, see our Tseri area guide and agrotourism in Cyprus.

Village restaurants in the Larnaca district

The hills between Larnaca, Limassol and Nicosia are easy to reach from the motorway, so these work for friends meeting from different towns.

Novél at The Agora Hotel, Pano Lefkara

Novél is the restaurant of The Agora Hotel in Pano Lefkara, the lace and silver village. In January 2026 it was a good spot for breakfast and brunch, with dishes such as eggs Benedict, shakshouka and ricotta pancakes, and it also serves lunch and dinner. At that time it was open daily. Call 24 726000 to book; the restaurant has no website of its own. Read our Lefkara area guide to plan a walk around the village.

Koutsonikolias, Kalo Chorio: a traditional taverna

Koutsonikolias in Kalo Chorio is a traditional Cypriot taverna known for sun-dried kid goat and meat roasted over carob (teratsia) wood. It was on the WiZ 50 Best list announced in January 2026. It opens Monday to Saturday from 19:30. Book on 99 651818.

To Patrikon in Tersefanou, a short drive from Larnaca, is a chef-led restaurant that reworks Cypriot cooking into a tasting menu with seasonal ingredients, served in a courtyard. It has been on the WiZ 50 Best list for several years, including the list announced in January 2026. It opens on Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday lunchtime. Book on 99 870998. Our Tersefanou area guide describes the village.

How to plan a village lunch or dinner

Book, and check the day

Village restaurants are small and often family-run. Many open only on certain days, close for a holiday without much notice or open by reservation only. Book a few days ahead for weekends and call on the morning of your trip if you have not been before.

Go at the right time

Sunday lunch is the classic village outing, so it is the busiest time. Weekday evenings are quieter. In summer, a late lunch in the hills is cooler than the coast; in winter, check road conditions if you are heading into the mountains.

Drive carefully, or stay over

Village roads are narrow and often unlit, with sharp bends. If you want to enjoy the wine, take a taxi, choose a designated driver or book a night in a village guesthouse. Parking is usually on the street or the village square; arrive a little early at weekends.

Vegetarians and children

Traditional tavernas build their meze around meat, but most will add extra vegetable dishes if you ask when booking. Restaurants with outdoor space and a village square nearby are usually the easiest with children.

Make a day of it

Pair a lunch with a winery, a walk or a village visit. Our guides to the best wine routes in Cyprus and traditional villages have ideas.

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Frequently asked questions

Which village restaurants in Cyprus are worth the drive?

Our picks include The Farmyard and Artio Symposium in Kathikas, Kohili near Peyia, Salt & Fire in Agios Ioannis Malountas, the Royal Goat Farm in Palaiometocho, Novél in Pano Lefkara, Koutsonikolias in Kalo Chorio and To Patrikon in Tersefanou.

Do I need to book a village restaurant in Cyprus?

Yes, ideally always. Many village restaurants are small, some open only at weekends or in the evening, and the Royal Goat Farm takes reservations only. A phone call also confirms they are open that day.

Are village restaurants in Cyprus good for vegetarians?

Often, yes. The Farmyard in Kathikas has vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free dishes, and Artio Symposium has plenty of vegetarian choices (2026). Traditional tavernas can usually adapt part of a meze if you ask when booking.

Which village restaurant near Nicosia is good for children?

The Royal Goat Farm in Palaiometocho serves breakfast on a working farm with goats, sheep, donkeys and other animals, and has a children's play area. It opens in the mornings from Sunday to Friday, by reservation.

Where are the village tavernas with a fireplace?

We have a separate guide to tavernas with a fireplace, mostly in the Troodos and the Limassol wine villages, for winter meze by the fire.

Useful links

Elinn Traditional Suites, Kathikas (Artio Symposium)Booking essential
Kohili, Cap St Georges, Agios Georgios PeyiasInstagram @capstgeorgeshotelresort
Kohili – menu
Salt & Fire – WiZ listing (hours and phone)
The Royal Goat Farm – The Barn – WiZ listing
Koutsonikolias Tavern – WiZ listing
To Patrikon, Tersefanou – WiZ listing

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