Cypriot cuisine in Larnaca: meze, halloumi and commandaria, a Mediterranean feast to savour from the moment you land
Cypriot meze, the art of sharing a table
Meze is far more than a meal: it is a social ritual woven into Cypriot culture. Made up of twenty to thirty small dishes served one after another, it turns every lunch or dinner into a celebration that can last several hours. It begins with cold dips such as tahini, taramosalata and tzatziki, accompanied by warm pitta bread. Next come village salads, marinated olives and grilled halloumi cheese. Hot dishes follow with koupepia (stuffed vine leaves), keftedes (spiced meatballs) and lountza (smoked pork loin). In Larnaca, seafront tavernas offer the full meze for 20 to 30 euros per person, outstanding value given the abundance of dishes served.
Halloumi, the iconic cheese of Cyprus
No stay in Larnaca is complete without tasting halloumi, the quintessential Cypriot cheese. Made from a blend of sheep's and goat's milk, flavoured with mint and stored in brine, it has the unique property of not melting when cooked. Grilled on a barbecue or in a pan, it develops a golden, crispy crust while keeping a tender, slightly springy centre. Cypriots enjoy it at breakfast with watermelon, in summer salads or as part of the meze spread. Halloumi was granted a Protected Designation of Origin by the European Union in 2021, guaranteeing that it is produced exclusively on the island using traditional methods.
Commandaria, the oldest named wine in the world
Produced in the Troodos mountain villages about an hour's drive from Larnaca, commandaria is a sweet amber wine whose history stretches back over 5,000 years. Richard the Lionheart reportedly called it the wine of kings and the king of wines during the Crusades. Made from sun-dried xynisteri and mavro grapes, it develops complex aromas of honey, dried fruit and caramel. Several wineries in the region welcome visitors for guided tastings. In Larnaca itself, wine bars and fine-dining restaurants serve it by the glass, sometimes paired with local desserts such as loukoumia or almond daktyla biscuits.
Where to eat in Larnaca: our must-visit addresses
The Finikoudes promenade is packed with restaurants offering sea views and a lively atmosphere, but those in the know also venture into the back streets of the centre to find more authentic tavernas. The neighbourhood around the Church of Saint Lazarus is home to several family-run establishments where the meze is prepared from recipes handed down through generations. Larnaca's recently renovated municipal market lets you sample fresh local produce, traditional pastries and Cypriot sand coffee. For a complete culinary experience, plan to dedicate at least one lunch to a fish meze by the sea and one dinner to a meat meze in a village taverna, just a few kilometres from the airport.