While all eyes in Nicosia are on the hubbub of the city centre, the suburb of Strovolos is increasingly burgeoning with cafés, restaurants and even more excitingly, fun new bars.

Cellar 27 Wine and Cocktail bar (which opened early 2017) sits on Athinon street and it’s a smashing little find – aesthetically delightful with an array of premium cocktails and wines. The purpose of the venue was to offer people a stylish bar where customers could enjoy quality drinks, relaxation, food, fun and live events in a chilled environment. And they succeeded.

It offers live musical entertainment three times a week, 75 different wines (chosen by two popular sommeliers) and over 30 cocktails including well-loved classics and creative signatures. Wines are from Cyprus, Greece, France, Italy, Chile, Argentina and Spain and their signature cocktail Lips on Fire is one of three most satisfyingly memorable drinking experiences I have had. Cellar 27 is also the kind of bar where the staff are happy to warn you that your choice of drink is going to be hot, and then challenge earnestly whether you are sure you can handle that. I like that.

Although one of their most popular signatures Popcorn Bronze sounded delicious and came in four parts (a liquid medley including Angostura bitter, rum, popcorn syrup, hazelnut milk, lime and orange bitters, served with a shot of Chambord Liqueur, popcorn and hazelnuts), I was drawn to the Lips on Fire. Not one to shy away from a challenge, and a lover of all things spice, there was little choice. It’s one of the tastiest, best designed, professionally executed cocktails I have enjoyed. Like all good drinks should be, it’s layered with flavours and scents. First the aroma hits, a fresh and crisp inviting smell of cucumber and spice, then the taste; a richness of sweet and chili, filling the mouth with bursting sensations and yet not overwhelming it. A beautiful warm afterflow follows down the throat and yes, lips are left pleasantly tingling. It’s a wonderful cocktail experience and strongly recommended. Made with Hendricks gin, cucumber syrup, raspberry liqueur and purée, strawberry and fresh red chili, the cocktail could be described as an exciting, fiery, full-bodied drink, mellowed by the raspberry sweetness.

Cellar 27 holds approximately 110 people inside and out and is especially suited to groups and couples. Reservations are recommended, especially on live event nights which take place on Wednesdays (jazz nights from September 20), Fridays (live saxophone) and some Saturdays (duets with piano and vocals and piano, violin and vocals.)

It’s both modish and cosy; decorated with wood, black paint and long mirrors stretching elegantly deep into both parts of the rooms, making the smallish space feel comfortably roomy and open. There are two outdoor areas, one in front near the main road and a smaller more private area to its right. The front space moonlights as an outdoor space in summer and indoors in winter. It’s slightly elevated with wooden floors and ceilings, glass windows and retractable roof.
Despite the usual challenges road side bars face with parking, Cellar 27 has a parking lot for its customers, just off the little street opposite it.

Cellar 27
Where: Athinon 27, Strovolos, Nicosia
When: Monday-Sunday 6pm-1am
Prices: Wines €18-175, Cocktails €7-13, Beers & Ciders €4-7
Contact: www.facebook.com/Cellar27Cy, Tel: 70009054

Trying to get the most out of what is left of the summer holidays, a day trip to Protaras was definitely in order. And while there I received a message from a friend to try Hippocampus, so off we went.

Located along the main tourist strip, Hippocampus has a modern look. The spotless, white colours that decorate the restaurant draw you towards it and give the impression of a clean, sophisticated environment.

We were welcomed with a smile. I noticed the restaurant was advertising 30 years of experience – and even incorporated it into their Wi-Fi password! – so I was expecting the food to be of a high quality.

We were promptly given menus and were most definitely spoilt for choice! As I was about to open the menu I noticed a pizza arrive at another table. The melted cheese as a slice was taken was a tempting, appetizing and satisfying sight. I couldn’t wait to open the menu to see what else was on offer.

The menu had so much to choose from, almost too much! I wanted the pizza, the pork chop, the burger, pasta. The specialities also drew my attention. I was actually a little overwhelmed! After changing my mind several times I finally settled on the pork chop while my dining partner went for the Jack Daniels burger.
Generally speaking, it saddens me when I go out to eat and see children sat at the table watching a movie or playing on a tablet. Due to this, I was pleased when I noticed that Hippocampus had a brilliant play area for children. An open space with well-maintained grass had a climbing frame, slides and a little house to keep children actively occupied.

Soon after ordering our drinks arrived. I went for the boring option of beer while my dining partner chose a cocktail. While not served in a glass you’d expect a cocktail to arrive in, I knew it was well made as I heard an ‘mmmm’ after just one small sip.

When the food came, we were extremely pleased. The pork chop was huge, covered in a tasty sauce, served with wedges and half a grilled red bell pepper. The burger arrived on a wooden board, also served with crispy wedges, Jack Daniels sauce in a small pot on the side and a small salad.

My knife glided through the pork. It was tender and cooked to perfection. The succulent chop’s flavour was well complemented by the sauce and the generous serving of wedges was just the right size. Not so big that they were dry and not too small that they could be overcooked. The burger was thick and juicy. The bacon in the burger was plentiful and not fatty. The sauce on the side was enough to put in the burger, if you so desire, and have some left to dip the wedges in. We were both thoroughly enjoyed our food. Even though we struggled to finish we were determined to do so as everything was so good.

One thing that didn’t sit so well was that the cleaner chose the moment we were eating to come and sweep and mop around our table. We found this quite bizarre as there were other areas of the restaurant that were empty.

However, I’m sure that this isn’t a constant occurrence and didn’t put us off discussing what we would choose from the menu on our next visit.

Just as we had finished, we spotted a huge cheese cake bowl making its way to another table. Alas, we were too full to order dessert, especially one of such a size.

Judging from what we had just eaten, we were sure it would taste just as good as it looked.

I’m definitely going back to Hippocampus.

VITAL STATISTICS
SPECIALITY International cuisine
WHERE Hippocampus, Protara Avenue 18, Protaras
CONTACT 23 831166
PRICE €10-€25

Now in its fourth season, Sea You beach bar in Paphos has established itself as one of the most popular beachside venues in the district and will still be open for several weeks yet.

Set at Potima Bay in Kissonerga, it has a wonderful view of spectacular sunsets and faces a wide expanse of the sea, and although it is often too rough for swimming, it’s always worth watchin the sun set over it.

Set off the main coastal road in Kissonerga, the bar has an adjacent, large dirt car park. It is also accessible by bus, and is on the 615 route which connects Paphos harbour and Coral Bay.

Open from 10am, the bar provides a number of tasty dishes including meat and fish options, as well as salads and platters.

Plenty of shade is provided by a number of palm trees and umbrellas and strategically placed shades cover the rest. A cooling sea breeze is a welcome relief from the heat.

Wooden furniture and director style chairs and sofas are comfortable, in some areas stone slabs have been laid and wooden decking provides a pathway down onto the beach where sunbeds and umbrellas are also available for hire.

The atmosphere here is laid back and relaxed, the concept simple, and the food reasonably priced for the location.

Both soft drinks and alcoholic drinks are on offer, and both draft and bottled beer are served and cost between €2 and €3. Cyprus coffee is €2 and frappe is €3.

Cocktails are popular, and this is a fantastic places to savour a sundowner. This summer, the flavoured Mojito is taking the top spot, and options including raspberry, mango and strawberry, they are priced at €7.

The space feels comfortable, even when busy, and is frequented by local, foreign residents and holidaymakers.

Live music, which is not intrusive, is offered twice a week: on Fridays a saxophone player enhances the atmosphere, and on Sundays, a violinist does the same.

There is still time to visit this season, as the bar intends to remain open until the end of November and is highly recommended.

Sea You Beach Bar
Where: Potima Bay, Kissonerga, Paphos (on bus route 615)
When: Open daily from 10am until midnight (closing for winter season at end of November)
How much: Beers from €2, Coffees from €2, Mojito €7
Contact: Further information is available via the bar’s Facebook page

With the summer heat on its way out dining options multiply – you no longer need to ensure there is air conditioning to enjoy a great meal. And a more than viable option is Artima Bistro with its cool interior and increasingly less sultry veranda.

Located within the heart of Old Limassol, it belongs to the Carob Mill family. The Carob Mill tends to cater to all tastes, with the elegant Artima Bistro offering upscale dining. Eating outside is right next to the Medieval Castle.

Artima is pretty straightforward. Amidst all the cafés, Artima offers something different. The restaurant is housed in a traditional Cypriot building yet inside it is anything but traditional with its modern furniture and stark lines.

Artima’s menu is based on Italian and Mediterranean cuisine and I must say it offers a lot of exciting choices. Studying the menu over and over again, I was unable to decide what to eat. When you are at a restaurant and are unable to choose what you want because everything looks delicious, that’s a good position to be in.

Artima does a lot of things well but it has a very creative fish menu. As a starter I chose the sweet pepperoncino Calamari. The freshness of the calamari exudes in each bite and the combination of the sweet pepperoncino sauce with the calamari gives it a unique taste. The dish looked delightful, the ideal start to a meal.

The fish options continue with the salads and main dishes, while some their most impressive fish options lie within their pasta. The Astakomakaronada has lobster, garlic and tomato sauce, prawns and broccoli in lobster shell sauce and Ink Tagliatelle. This has long been staples on the menu and are some of the restaurant’s specialties. The Astakomakaronada it is truly a must. The lobster, garlic and tomato sauce along with the prawns and broccoli in the lobster sauce complement each other and the pasta perfectly. If you are keen for a new pasta experience, Astakomakaronada should be your first choice.

The fish theme continues with a wide variety of sushi and sashimi dishes, with the best option being the sushi rolls platter that consists of benihana, shrimp lovers, spicy tuna and sashimi rolls. Sushi can kill or boost a restaurant’s other options and here I would say the latter; it tasted amazing.

However, if you are not a fish lover there is a variety of meat and poultry dishes.

To top of your meal, Artima offers a wide variety of international and local wines, that will accompany any meal choice and your surroundings perfectly and a wide range of ‘tempting deserts’ which were also amazing.

All in all, Artima is in an ideal location with incredible surroundings and a delightful array of dinning choices. Even though it might not be your cheapest dining option, it is worth every penny.

VITAL STATISTICS
WHERE Lanitis Carob Mill Complex, Vasilissis Street, Limassol
CONTACT 25 820466
PRICE: Approximately €35-50 per person

Despite the summer season coming to a close, the weather is still more than good enough to indulge in a drink somewhere near the sea, and there are few better places to do so than in Protaras. On the main street of the town lies a refreshing establishment that will meet all the daily demands.

At Bliss Bar guests have the option of a refreshing cocktail on the comfortable seating area not far from the beach in the sunshine, or in the front section of the bar in the shade.

The weather is still good so sipping cocktails in the sun is an opportunity that really should not be missed and the talented bar staff can craft a wonderful variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic mixes. Margaritas, Long Islands, Mojitos and Daquiris are all on offer, as well as a whole host of other well-known cocktails. There is also a wide choice of local and imported beers.

My personal favourite, the caipirinha, was quite well made – it is a simple drink but one that can so easily be made poorly if it is either too sweet or too bitter.

This one was certainly one of the better ones I have had in the area, with the balance of the taste within the right range.

The large outdoor seating area contains relaxing couches as well as the more conventional stools and chairs. With the very peak of the summer over, there is also far more choice when it comes to picking a place to sit. The indoor area is also spacious, with comfortable seating and equipped with air conditioning for those who would rather avoid the lingering heat and humidity.

The bar plays host to a number of local DJs and musicians which can be enjoyed on a frequent basis. Latching on to the ever growing trend in Cyprus, the establishment also offers shisha in a number of flavours and, importantly, the staff are very attentive in coming round to check that the charcoals are still burning well, and will replace them when necessary.

Those keen to pay a visit will have no problem in finding a spot on weekdays, though it is advised to go a bit early on Friday and Saturday nights with the street still relatively full with tourists and those coming down for a relaxing weekend from other parts of the island.

Bliss Bar
Where: Hotel Avenue, Protaras
When: daily
Contact: 77771616

Following my last review, it was suggested to me that Vino Cultura is more than a wine bar. How true. From the outside it is difficult to believe there is seating for over 100 on the inside but there is, and it is very comfortable. The staff are committed to making the customer welcome: we are greeted by Andreas who settles us on a table for two and is followed by Maria who explains how things work in Vino Cultura. There is a wine list that includes more vineyards than any other establishment in the city; the owner, another Andreas, informed that he will soon carry more than 1,000 different wines and will offer more than 50 by the glass. Wine by the glass is a feature of the house and a separate menu explains in detail the virtues and price of each product. We are given the Tapas menu which is the type of cuisine on offer in Vino Cultura.

What is a tapa? The word in Spanish means ‘to cover’. In Madrid it is an appetiser or small snack, either hot or cold. In Nicosia it is much more. The menu contains salads; signature dishes such as toffee caramel mushrooms; homemade ravioli containing chicken, mushrooms and cheese, or with lobster and spinach. Listed as ‘Bites to share’, one finds prosciutto and zucchini rolls; baked potato flavoured with truffle oil; beef fillets with caramelised onions on focaccia bread; Black Angus chili con carne. There are various breads and pizzas, which one is invited to share; cold fish dishes such as prawn tacos; scallop sashimi; bass creviche; salmon sashimi and tuna tartar. The hot fish dishes run through baby calmari; salmon, bass and tuna, finishing with fresh mussels served in a classic lemon, butter and white wine sauce. There are seven meat tapas including chicken burgers, lamb fillet and two beef fillets.

We select a baby arugula salad and the prawn tacos to start. The salad could serve six; the tacos were crisp and the prawn fillings were fresh and served at the correct temperature with a small bowl of home made mayonnaise. Our waitress, Teresa, supplied a basket of bread with olive oil and a dressing; the bread was memorable, it put some of the miserable offers found in too many outlets in the capital to shame. By now the place is jumping; tables of two, four, eight, ten and even 20 are filled with drinkers and diners; one could say the ambience was one of friendly conviviality. The management has engendered a philosophy of camaraderie in the staff, each one that attended our table was anxious to ensure that we were comfortable and enjoying the evening – and we certainly were – without a hint of obsequiousness.

The companion ordered the baby squid served with coleslaw and a lemon and lime sauce and I selected the scallop sashimi; both were first rate. The baked potato revived memories of another era.To accompany these we chose a glass of Argyros from Greece, and a Catena Chardonnay – good choice.

The establishment offers a limited number of sweets, mostly mousse. The companion ordered Creme Catalana – Creme Caramel – and I chose the Peanut Butter Mousse, both very good served in small cocottes.

All in, an excellent evening; the venue incorporates the essential elements of good dining: a first rate chef, concerned and efficient staff, a pleasant atmosphere, and a proprietor that knows what his customers desire and has the ability to satisfy it. Bravo Andreas.

VITAL STATISTICS

SPECIALTY Tapas and fine wines

WHERE Vino Cultura, 20 Kyriakos Matsis, beside the Anglican Cemetery, Nicosia

CONTACT: 99-350680. Booking essential

PRICE Reasonable

I always thought steak houses were dominated by men, men eating nothing but meat. So it was a relief upon stepping into Andria steak & grill restaurant that women were also seated at tables celebrating with their menfolk.

Chef Stelios Nicolaides and his brother Marios first opened 15 years ago in Coral bay as a snack bar and slowly developed into this meat lover’s destination. It’s a restaurant of quiet ambition set on land that belonged to their grandfather and although most would now hardly believe that this busy tourist strip was once just one large vineyard there is land that has been set aside to supply the restaurant with all its fresh vegetables and seasonal fruits so Stelios can boast the only regular purchases made for the restaurant are ketchup, mayonnaise and beef. In addition of course there is also a very good selection of fish and chicken dishes as an option.

Two friends who relish nothing better than sinking their teeth into good quality beef joined me to test drive some of the popular dishes on the menu. We began with an amuse bouche which here was very good: served in little glass dishes packed full of flavours and it worked well in awakening any recalcitrant taste buds. There is a daily blackboard of ‘specials’ and these include steaks, chicken, fish and prawn dishes plus a range of cocktails (do bust out and savour the Porn star beverage) then there is also a selection of imported flavoured ciders.

We started with a delicious plate of Carpaccio accompanied with very tasty rounds of Bruschetta plus a basket of homemade bread, there followed a refreshing dish of salmon Ceviche which again came laden with flavour, then it was on to the main course. Stelios believes that if one is serving the very best beef then this has to be accompanied by the very best sauces, and when I asked him what he loved cooking most I wasn’t surprised when he said it was his home made sauces. We all agreed that this love was indeed reflected in the perfectly cooked fillet steak served with a really excellent mushroom sauce. Chef’s other sauces include a Blue cheese, pepper and a zinging garlic sauce to partner your Rib eye, steak Rossini, T bone, fillet or Chateau Briand.

The blackboard menu offered a new one to me and when I asked what a Tomahawk steak was a few minutes later Stelios arrived at our table sporting a wooden board on which rested the bone Rib Steak weighing in at 1.2kg and cut from the fore-rib with the entire rib bone left. The long bone is then French trimmed, leaving a rather amazing presentation – as it is bone in Rib steak it has quite a large amount of inter-muscular fat which gives it stacks of flavour when cooked.

The resting period is vital for steaks and the Tomahawk requires at least 10-15 minutes to allow heat from the bone to re distribute across the meat so one is delivered of a lovely succulent juicy steak, which although quite expensive coming in at twice or triple the cost of a boneless rib eye there seems to be a good number of devotees out there who make a regular pilgrimage to Andria for this somewhat ‘primal’ feast.

The question would then be after consuming this would a pudding be out of the question? Sad then if you miss out on the crème brulee or the cheesecake served with fresh fruits and last week I was treated to chef’s very own home grown blackberries which was a real treat. Okay this is not a ‘cheap’ dinner but again here the motto is indeed true. You do get what you pay for, and at Andria it will always be quality and great flavours with every bite.

VITAL STATISTICS
SPECIALTY Steaks/Surf and Turf/chicken and fish/grilled prawns
WHERE Andria steak& grill restaurant, Coral Bay, Paphos
CONTACT-26 622622 or 99 545556, www.andriarestaurant.co.uk
HOW MUCH from €30 upwards depending on the cut of meat etc.

Think Cowboys (and girls), whisky, beer and finger licking juicy burgers and you’ve discovered Serial Griller Bar & Grill. A truly super spot with a relaxed atmosphere, beautiful open outdoor spaces and a wild west themed bar, not forgetting the 50 different types of beer on offer plus homemade authentic American cuisine too.

With its humble beginnings as a famous burger van trucking its way into the stomachs of folk around the island, Serial Griller decided to put down roots near the Ledra Palace (behind the temporary Municipality of Kyrenia). It’s idealistically off the beaten track, without light or noise pollution and with intriguing views; though you will have to look carefully for its front entrance!

Although now settled in one location it still has that free spirited trucker feel. With the backyard next to the buffer zone, there are no sounds of cars whizzing by, just the beats of rock, blues or country playing at a sociable level. A huge stage stands underneath the trees, overlooking the moat which has hosted numerous live bands and DJs. In fact, famous Greek DJ with the memorable grizzly voice Garavelas will be playing a two-day country fest on October 6 and 7.

Live events are not weekly standards, the bar tries to select gigs that suit the venue’s wild western ethos, their Facebook page will keep you informed of special nights. A screen behind the stage is part of a plan to play old western movies as background visuals.

Another thing that stands out about the venue, is its goal to introduce people to the intricacies of the union of beer and barbecue foods. One of the owners has had experience learning the art of barbecuing while in America. And in earnest, the burger and beer combo does not disappoint, even a cocktail loving, beer sneering woman.

Even though there is no cocktail list special cocktails are designed to suit events that may take place. There is however a huge choice of whisky, bourbon, tequila and of course beers. There’s also one type of red, white and rose wine available.

By the end of October the bar will offer 50 types of beer including Weiss, Porter, a wide variation of ciders and draught beers including Guinness. Their most popular beer is Grimbergen blonde, a Belgian beer which I was informed tastes very different when drank by itself and transforming into something else when accompanied with a barbecue dish. I’m not a beer fan but the fresh, crisp taste was a perfect accompaniment to the delicious homemade burger.

As whisky was available I met Fireball, a Canadian whisky liqueur blended with cinnamon, which allegedly doesn’t encourage a hangover. It’s sweet, spicy moreish and the cinnamon heats the throat on the way down.

Also amazingly, the venue doesn’t have a single TV screen, hallelujah! It holds approximately 150 people outside and 80 inside. The end of October will see people moving into the Wild West indoor section, with a joined and protected outdoor smoking area. I can imagine that it will be very cosy during colder months and a great place to lounge back and indulge in great beers, banter, bourbon, blues and burgers!

Serial Griller
Where: Markou Drakou, Ayios Dometios, Nicosia
When: 7pm- 1am Tuesday-Saturday
How much: Beers €1.50 for half pint to €5.80 for pint, shots of spirits €3.50-€6
Contact: 70007127, www.facebook.com/SerialGrillerCyprus/

With the summer drawing itself out, day trips to Protaras are still on the agenda. We were craving a hearty meal and having been recommended a Brazilian restaurant decided it would be a good opportunity to give it a go.

The concept at Braseiro Rodizio is that freshly barbecued meat is brought to the table and sliced directly on to your plate, hot off the skewer! Approaching the restaurant, we could hear the music and it created a pleasant atmosphere. While it had a smart, modern look about it, there wasn’t a Brazilian feel to the place. The outside seating was spacious, it didn’t feel as though they had crammed in as many tables as possible and as a result, it felt quite comfortable! We were promptly brought menus, which listed a good selection of cocktails. However, we were impressed to see lots of local wines and opted for a Shiraz, to complement the red meats we were expecting.

We were then pointed in the direction of the buffet salad bar, to choose our own accompaniments to the meal. The salad bar had a wide range of dishes to choose from, from crabstick to bean salad, so it was with great difficulty I did not over-fill my plate! While plating our salad we were enjoying the music, Spanish, not Brazilian in the end but it was fun and put us all in a good mood.

We got back to the table and found a nice surprise: crispy, very well-seasoned, hand-cut chips and mini cheese breads waiting for us to sample. We could also smell the tantalising aroma of meat being barbecued. A few short minutes later the first of the meats arrived at the table – sizzling, crisp, chicken drumsticks. They were so tender that the chicken literally fell off the bone. Having experienced this, we were eager to taste whatever might be coming next!

Tender gammon steak arrived. The friendly waiter sliced the meat, which we had to help off the skewer with little tongs that were provided. The food came thick and fast. Spiced beef, peppered pork, chorizo, lamb and different variations of steak such as rib eye and sirloin. All the meat was cooked to perfection. Crisp on the outside and slightly pink on the inside. Some of it so soft that our knives just glided through it and it melted in our mouths. There wasn’t one cut of meat that fell far from delicious! In fact, my partner enjoyed the Picanha, a top sirloin, so much she asked if we might have a second round, yet despite an affirmative answer (and another plea from her!), she was left a little disappointed when they continued serving the other meats instead.

As the evening progressed the restaurant started to fill up and there was a livelier feel about the place but as more people arrived, the steady flow of food that had been brought to our table slowed down. This was not a complete disaster, as we had already managed to sample most of the different types of meat on offer, however we did wonder how the experience may have panned out had we not started our experience when the restaurant was empty.

While the meat was very good, some of it was quite similar. The cuts of beef, for example, were difficult to tell apart. Luckily, there were a couple of different seasonings on the table so we could mix it up a bit but what was lacking was some good, Brazilian sauces made by the chefs at the restaurant. There were store bought condiments on offer on one end of the buffet, but they were not in keeping with the theme.

Soon after informing the waiter that we were full and that we couldn’t possibly eat any more meat, we were asked if we would like to sample one more thing, a Brazilian treat – pineapple coated in cinnamon, then cooked on the barbecue. We couldn’t say no to something so exotic. It arrived and, once again, was sliced off onto our plates. It was refreshing and seemed the perfect dessert, having had a rather heavy meal.

All in all I would recommend going to Braseiro. The experience of having the food served in a unique way is enough to give it a try. The food was fresh, well-cooked and in abundance. Add to that, that it was reasonably priced so, we felt as though we definitely got our money’s worth.

VITAL STATISTICS
WHERE Braseiro Rodizio Steak House, Protaras
WHEN Daily
CONTACT 96 296223

Bariz Kafe-Lounge in Paphos old town is a great place to visit for a daytime coffee and catch up with friends or an evening of cocktails or a beer or two.
Found in the heart of Ktima – Paphos old town – close to one of the main roads and on the newly pedestrianised area, this is a great little venue to sit in and watch the world go by. A new car park is nearby as is a handy bus stop which runs between Kato Paphos and the old town.

Bariz dubs itself as the oldest café-bar in Paphos – it is found on the old site of previous Paphos stalwart Peggy’s and was renovated a number of years ago. Exposed traditional stone work and tastefully placed interior decorations add to the ‘less is more’ ethos while the exterior is sleek and tidy.

Large doors and windows ensure that the reasonably small interior is bathed in light and are flung open in the summer months or closed for a cosier feel during the winter.

Staff here are welcoming and friendly and Bariz is popular with Cypriots, foreign residents and tourists. Staff get to know their regular customers and service is efficient and pleasant.

Operating as a café come coffee shop in the daytime, snacks, including salads, sandwiches, wraps and cakes, are served from mid-morning until around 8pm Monday to Saturday. On Sundays the venue is open only for the lunchtime period.

Outside seating is on the newly paved square and comfortable tables and chairs and bar stools and tables are provided with shade from a number of umbrellas.
Inside, two TV screens show all of the major sporting events and a number of events, including occasional live DJ sets, are all advertised on the bar’s Facebook page.

Popular cocktails include a range of Mojitos and Daiquiris which start at €6 and local and imported beers are priced from €2. Wines, spirits and soft drinks are also served. Coffee is good here and frapes, espressos, Irish coffee and Baileys are all on offer and reasonable priced.

This is a great area to visit and at any time but at night-time, especially at weekends, the atmosphere at this venue is vibrant and alive, with a lounge bar type feel.

Bariz
Where: Evagora Pallikarides 1, Paphos
When: Monday to Saturday 10am-8pm, Sunday lunchtime only
How much: Coffee from €2.50, cocktails from €6, beers from €2
Contact: 97 639420, www.facebook.com/Barizpaphos/

Despite all the buzz that surrounds the centre of Limassol and its ever changing supply of restaurants and cafés to suit all tastes, it is sometimes worth travelling further afield. The Buccaneer in Erimi is a case in point and is definitely somewhere I will be returning to.

It has an ‘Englishness’ about it that anyone from the UK living in Cyprus might be missing. We went on Quiz Night – to me quiz nights are an English standard but to my companions it was a brilliant new experience after they got over the initial confusion of what to do. The best thing about The Buccaneer is the family experience you get as a customer – there is a camaraderie that is hard to find anywhere else. You feel part of the family if this is your first time there or your hundredth. And that is partly due to the great service.

The menu is what you would expect from a British influenced pub in Cyprus. There is the Cypriot standard of souvlaki but also a wide selection of burgers, ribs and steak; we had a little bit of everything and were not disappointed. Their specialty is the Smoky Rack of Ribs and I must say I understand why. Large portions to fill up even the most demanding of appetites, the ribs some glazed in the restaurant’s special barbeque sauce with salad served geometrically with chips toppling around. It is almost too nice to eat.

The ribs are cooked to perfection, not too dry but also not undercooked and slopped in sauce that always guarantees messy eating. The same principle is applied to the chicken wings served on a bed of potatoes. The call of the pepper steak was something I could not resist and again it did not disappoint – another large portion where the meat is in abundant supply it was also slathered in pepper sauce. With the Pepper Steak, the abundant sauce and its flavour are welcome – there is plenty of it to be mopped up by the accompanying wedges. Another touch of originality is the Buccaneer Burger, a delicious patty served with beautifully melted cheese, bacon and pineapple.

In addition to the extensive menu – there is also homemade steak and chicken pies – they have a great array of both draught and bottled beer (13 to be exact), something that would put a smile on my face any day.

All in all, my night at The Buccaneer, the food, the people, the staff even the quiz night all just worked perfectly together to create a great night out, and isn’t this what we all look for when we want to go out to a restaurant? To kick back, unwind and have a good time. The Buccaneer certainly gets its recipe right and has won a repeat customer in me.

Buccaneer Restaurant and Bar, Limassol

SPECIALTY Pub food

WHERE the Buccaneer, 3 Kyriakou Matsi Street, Erimi, Limassol

CONTACT 25 932794

It’s October and in keeping with the Oktoberfest mood we headed to Beer and Beer. This really is prime weather for beer as well, not too sweltering so your beer turns into soup if it is not consumed fast enough, and not cold enough that chugging down an ice cold beer will make you even colder.

As the name indicates, beer galore is available here – and if you are a beer lover or are looking for a beer that is somewhat out of the ordinary then this is the place to go.

The beer collection is vast, there are about six menu pages dedicated it alone. Choose from a wide selection of blonde, brown, triple fermentation – the list and the of countries the beers come from goes on. Simply put, this is a place to experiment and try things out. And, all the beers on the menu are generally in stock.

Plus, most importantly, the beer is always chilled to perfection.

Beer and Beer is not only a bar but also a restaurant, so if you are there for a quick drink the beer meze (chips and German sausage, topped with a melted mix of mozzarella, edam and gouda as well as red and green bell peppers) makes for an unbeatable combination.

Beer and Beer has two locations in Limassol, one in the heart of the city centre, and one in the heart of the tourist area – the tourist area one is larger and does have a more German feel to it, thus making the experience more enjoyable.

Does it have the largest and most exhaustive beer collection in Cyprus? No. But it does have one of the largest, if not the largest in Limassol, and that adds significantly to its appeal. Pair that with tasty beer snacks and you have all the ingredients for a night to remember. Also make sure to take advantage of the special Oktoberfest offers available this month.

Beer and Beer
Where: Georgiou A, Yermasogia and Saripolou 66-68, Limassol
Contact: 25 013164, 25 379800

The cool thing these days in the world of dining is to blog about your dinner, it’s big business with a myriad of so called wellness gurus accruing lucrative endorsements from health food brands, while youngsters garner large audiences to inform about the alleged nefariousness of wheat, sugar and gluten. These twenty somethings (and they are mainly in this age range as they are always attractive to look at and always thin) are there to guide us into the as yet undiscovered delights of test driving a plate of Cacao Mousse, of making broccoli bread, and the dubious satisfaction of munching down on Quinoa while sipping on a soya latte.

Another host of folk are also submitting their negative reviews to Trip Advisor, and it’s here you get the regular sound of axes grinding, keyboard warriors banging on about ‘authentic’ dishes or the state of the lavatories. I stick by my view that ‘authentic’ doesn’t always mean good as it’s near impossible these days to identify the original version of a particular dish, and arguments still carry on about ‘cultural appropriation’ of recipes. The key here is that there are as many recipes as there are restaurants serving it so who really is the person to say which one is correct in the end?

Last week I encountered a woman who argued that Paphos-based restaurants were in the main totally lacking in both authenticity and ‘wellness’. I remembered this somewhat sad conversation as I seated myself within the comfortable confines of the City Wok Chinese restaurant and prepared with some friends to dive into the All you can eat Buffet. Regretfully I have not as yet made it to China nor indeed eaten in the eight great regions of that fascinating country so whether City Wok is indeed an authentic example of sweet Cantonese food, spicy Sichuan, or the cuisine from Jiangsu/Zhejiang/or is a perfect example of authentic Fujian cuisine, sadly for any foodies out there I confess to not having the faintest clue.

What I can say with utter confidence is the All you can eat Chinese buffet at the bargain price of €9.95 was delicious and authentic in that it allowed for that other dining element to come to the fore and that was greed. At first glance one would believe that the eight large serving dishes were a tad on the empty side and insufficient to honour the promoted title of all you can eat but Marinos the owner gently reassured us that rather than filling dishes to the brim Chef only puts out what the volume of customers’ demands so he can keep supplementing with fresh delights as the restaurant gets busier.

So there we were, a table of happy gluttons bobbing up and down at least half a dozen times to refill with what I now believe to be the very best freshly-made, super crispy veggie spring rolls with chilli sauce, or opting for the chow mein, the juicy chicken curry, a plate of perfect noodles or, as proved most popular, the pork with black pepper sauce. All that combined that with a venue which allows great people watching, exceedingly comfy chairs, lovely staff and not forgetting the complimentary prawn crackers, plus an a la carte menu in addition to the buffet.

As we paid our bill we all made a vow (after belts were loosened) that we were going to now start a new foodie movement called Just eat it and shut up. So, thank You City Wok for delivering what you advertise and bringing very tasty, common sense, value for money cooking.

VITAL STATISTICS   

SPECIALTY Chinese and Japanese Sushi

WHERE City Wok, opposite the Almyra Hotel, Paphos

PRICE €9.95 for the buffet

CONTACT 77772044

We may be approaching November but with the weather showing no signs of taking a drastic turn for the worse, there is still no reason not to head to one of the beach side towns in the Larnaca area.

Right in the heart of Ayia Napa lies a sleek, modern lounge bar which can accommodate anything from a simple morning coffee to after work drinks to a substantial meal.

Understandably, there tends to be those who either love or hate Ayia Napa, but the location of Liquid Cafe-Bar means that those put off by the hectic nature of the touristic bars will not be affected as it lies in an area sufficiently distanced from them.

There is a wide selection of drinks and the prices, despite being in a notorious tourist hotspot, are very respectable. For example, a Cuba Libre will set you back just €3.70 while the well-known summer favourite Pimm’s is just €4.10. The steepest cocktail on the menu is a Long Island Ice Tea at €4.90.

The bar is open from 9.00am until 2.00am providing bar snacks from that little something to fill a hole to our big snack to last you through the day. There is anything from burgers to pastas, seafood and grilled dishes, again at very good prices.

Also on a separate menu is a long list of different shisha flavours. The bar offers two different brands of molasses, one at €15 and the other at €25. The wide range of flavours makes a refreshing change to the usual one-fruit options elsewhere. The bubblegum and mint tasted great, though admittedly there could have been more frequent changes of the charcoal to keep the flavour stronger.

The soft music is pleasant in the background and the staff are very attentive. If you are a sports fan, it is a great place to take in the weekend’s football matches with over half a dozen plasma TVs dotted around the bar, inside and out, showing all the big games.

Liquid Café Bar
Where: Kryou Nerou street, Ayia Napa
When: daily from
How much: cocktails: up to €4.90
Contact: 23 819276

Opposite the famous Famagusta Gate is the Mitsides flour mill, and behind it is the Sipouraki meze restaurant; a perfect little gem. I have known this area for over 20 years and have never before noticed the restaurant, which would be inexcusable if I couldn’t claim that the mill is so overwhelmingly ugly that one could be forgiven from believing that anything good could exist in its shadow.

The companion and I arrive on a Thursday evening a little too early for the kitchen: no service before eight. The ensuing walk raised the appetite, stretched the legs and led to drinks in Bastione, a stone’s throw away. Returning on time we were settled on an outside table under a spreading tree. We are greeted by Dora, who settles the drinks and Evangelia who deals with food. There is a very homely feel about the site, the outside is painted blue and white, the small paved area is also painted and the whole atmosphere is redolent of country comfort and tradition, yet it is located inside the medieval walls of our ancient city. Traditional chairs, well-spaced, solid, wooden tables, an aromatic hedge and some friendly cats heralded the start of a very pleasant evening.

The menu takes the form of a small, wood-covered ring binder. The first two pages offer the cold meze that consists of a number of familiar salads and dips from which the companion selected tzatziki. The hot pages contain 20 dishes, the first four feature cheeses: with sipoura; in filo with honey and poppy seeds; with fresh tomato, peppers, olive oil and oregano. There is an interesting mushrooms with Commandaria; pumpkin balls; roast pancetta; grilled pork, either marinated or a loin in wine sauce. There is an unusual combination of pork, chicken and beef mixed with pasta, feta, peppers and tomato sauce. Another first was grilled chicken breast with yogurt sauce and lemon drops. To finish we were offered grilled squid, and octopus grilled in herbs.

The pumpkin dish sounded so unlikely that I ordered it. Madam, the companion, chose grilled octopus, which left me with the squid, and as Evangelia detected my interest in marine biology, she told me that the chef was preparing fresh baked cod. Certainly.

Thursday is a music night, so are Saturday and Sunday. The group plays classic Hellenic folk music at a volume that doesn’t frighten the horses. Our first dish is delivered with a basket of hot crispy triangles of an unusual pitta bread. The pumpkin balls look and taste very similar to courgette fritters; there are four of them and they are served in a tiny frying pan and sit in a tzatziki sauce. Nothing at Tsipouraki is commonplace. The fried potatoes are wrapped in a napkin and served in a small metal bucket; so is the squid which is coated in a tempura that would raise Japanese eyebrows. The octopus is perfect; crisp, sweet and herb enriched. The cod is served in a paper satchel, tied at the top, and the customer is invited to cut the string to release the steaming fillet cooked in a tomato sauce and served with a small pot of beans. The portion is large, big enough to satisfy a shark for a week.

Everything about this delightful restaurant pleases. So much care has been taken by Katerina – the very young proprietor – over food, decoration, presentation, staff and ambience. The kitchen is overseen by the Greek duo of Chrisovalantis and Vagia. A memorable evening and perhaps one that should not be noised abroad. Let us keep it to ourselves.

VITAL STATISTICS
SPECIALTY Classic Mediterranean
WHERE Othello 1, Behind Mitsides Mill, Nicosia
WHEN lunches served at weekends
CONTACT 99-754417. Booking essential
HOW MUCH small plates around €4, meze €14, live music nights €2 per person

Sugar Day and Night is fashionable, cool and smack bang in the pulsing heart of Nicosia’s popular Ledra street. It’s very much a city bar with its centrality making it a great location for after work / shopping drinks, bar hopping, weekend late night fun and prime time people watching in the beautiful old surroundings of the historic capital.

Strolling down Ledra, it would be hard to miss the very recently opened bar with its large open door (taking up most of the front wall) and colourful hookahs decorating the pavement tables. Its long, rectangular indoor space invites a peak in with a stretch of tall tables and charmingly designed high stools running on the right hand side of the room and a long thin bar directly opposite. There is adequate space between the tables and bar for standing and dancing, after all the venue turns onto a club in the late weekend hours.

The bar itself has blue under lighting with a line of high chairs hugging it’s perimeter. The ceiling has an industrial feel but the popular copper lighting with the wooden panelled walls give what is otherwise a modern space a cosy feel. The tops of the high tables are made with flattened wine crates, which are very appealing. However, my favourite part of the design is the original checkered floor, which is scuffed enough to give it a delightful vintage feel contrasting perfectly with the rest of the modern space.

Sugar is open all day and night seven days a week, so one can pop in for a drink at any time, but it gets particularly busy at the weekends, making it impossible to enter without a reservation. In the evenings, the music is loud and the venue seems especially suited to groups rather than solo drinkers or romantic couples.

On the alcohol front, although the bar has adequate varieties of wines and beers, it is in effect a cocktail bar. Sugar offers 14 classical and signature cocktails with the most popular being Bubbles. You guessed it, a pink drink with whipped cream towering on top that tastes like bubble gum. Despite the temptation of tasting this, I was in a floral state of mind so ordered the Wild Rose (Blue Beetle gin, almond syrup, rose syrup, lime and maraschino liqueur.) It was served with a torched Marshmallow and jelly sweets. The drink was nice but a little sweet. I could taste the aromatic rose as the liquid went down with the almond flavour slowly emerging over several sips.

Sugar enjoys events every night of the week: Monday, Wednesday and Sunday are live nights with covers of old Greek songs. Thursday has a DJ playing mixed English and Greek tunes which eventually turns into a club and Friday and Saturday are full on Greek club nights. The rest of the time they play English lounge music. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for new events.

The venue seats 140 in total with up to 50 seated outside. Although there is no food, Sugar offers a choice of three different platters for the peckish; fruit, cheese and sushi.

Sugar
Where: Ledra Street 199, Nicosia
When: Monday – Sunday 10am- 2am, Fridays and Saturdays open until 3am
Price: Wines €18 – 35, Cocktails €8, Beers €3-6
Contact: www.facebook.com/Sugar-Day-Night-Cafe-Bar, Tel: 99 065508

The name Mulan might make you think of a Disney movie based on the story of an ancient Chinese heroine but there is a more local association, a Chinese restaurant just off Makarios Avenue in Larnaca. After a long day, my partner and I thought we could reward ourselves with a pleasant meal so decided to try Mulan. Despite correctly following the directions to get there, we were at a loss as to where the restaurant actually was! I was sure we were in the right place. We were. It is just that the restaurant is difficult to spot as there is a big tree in front and a plaque on the wall promotes an architect’s firm and not the restaurant itself!

Being a weekday, we convinced ourselves we would not need a reservation and it would be fine to just turn up. We entered the restaurant and were immediately greeted by the polite and friendly owner who appeared quite stressed when told we had not made a reservation. “It’s Tuesday,” he exclaimed. “We are completely full!” While being full on a Tuesday is a good sign, it was bad news for us. But a cancellation meant he managed to squeeze us in before telling us we had picked a good day to turn up as every Tuesday there is a 50 per cent discount!

The restaurant has a very classy look to it. The tables were decorated with bright red table cloths and had spotless white chairs surrounding them. There was artwork on the walls, one of which was, of course, the Chinese heroine Mulan herself riding her horse in to battle.

The menu was vast but staff were very knowledgeable and helpful in deciding what to choose. We were impressed they had Chinese beer on offer too so started with one of those. For first course we ordered the crispy aromatic duck and squid with garlic and chilli. Both dishes came out fairly quickly, which was good as we couldn’t wait to get stuck in. The duck was very tasty, the only problem being that the portion was a little on the small side. The squid, while nice, was a little disappointing as the chilli seemed to be powder which just isn’t as enjoyable as fresh chilli, or even chilli flakes.

Onwards, I ordered crispy chilli beef while my dining partner opted for the Kung Po chicken. We decided to share Singapore style vermicelli noodles. When the crispy beef arrived, I was extremely impressed by its presentation. The beef was sat in a nest of crispy noodles. I felt rather smug as the Kung Po chicken arrived as expected; on a plate!

With the beef, Mulan managed to get the balance just right. Additionally, the sauce had just the right amount of sweetness to it. My partner wasn’t as impressed with her dish as I was with mine. She found it rather average and lacking the strong flavours that had been hoped for. The vermicelli noodles were pleasant and a good accompaniment to our food.

Upon leaving, we noticed that ironically, even though it was darker outside than when we arrived, the restaurant stood out more and was easier to see from the road as the sign on the restaurant was now lit up!

Despite maybe going a little over board with what we ordered, due to the Tuesday deal, the bill came to a very respectable price indeed! If you enjoy Chinese food,

I would most definitely recommend giving Mulan a try. With the spectacular offer they have on a Tuesday, you have nothing to lose; but don’t forget to make a reservation.

VITAL STATISTICS
SPECIALTY Chinese
WHERE Mulan, Areos 1, Larnaca
CONTACT 24 629508
PRICE €20-25 (on a regular night)

I love this time of the year, for the sole reason of it being not too hot or not too cold, so all culinary experiences are open to everyone. One of the things I find lacking on the Limassol culinary scene is a healthy dose of spicy food. And while hot and spicy is not missed in the summer, it is this time of year when our tastebuds start to crave a curry. Cue Kalimera India.

Kalimera India has been around for years, and is mostly known as a takeout restaurant, but it has now moved to a small, more quaint location where seating space is available. To be honest, it’s not the most luxurious restaurant you will have been in but really that’s not the point – you don’t go there for the restaurant itself but for the incredibly high quality Indian cuisine.

There is a large variety of curry dishes on offer all cooked authentically and delicious to the last bite. During my visit there I ate the Chicken Madras – marinated chicken breast cooked with ginger, garlic and tomato paste with Indian herbs and spices – and it was absolutely delicious. First of all the quality of the chicken breast – too many times the quality of chicken – one of the most common dishes in Cyprus – deters me from ordering a meal and at times actually makes one worse. Here, the chicken was marinated and cooked to perfection and with a plentiful portion.

We also tried the Butter Chicken for those who enjoy a touch of spiciness without being overwhelmed and I must say, it too met my high expectations. Butter Chicken sauce can get quite heavy when not done well, and although theirs is rich and creamy, it is also doesn’t weigh you down and feel like a ton of bricks sitting on your stomach after you have had it. If chicken though is not your go-to meat option, there are also lamb and prawn options which I will be trying on my next visit there.

To accompany your meal, their freshly baked naan bread is a must as the combination of the two fit each other perfectly. On another note – and although I didn’t opt for it as I was eager to try the curry – there is a meze option where you can try a variety of Indian dishes.

All in all, Kalimera India has become my go-to restaurant for my ‘curry’ and spicy cravings – their authentic Indian cuisine is something missing from the Limassol culinary scene and it is a great addition to put on your restaurant radar.

VITAL STATISTICS

SPECIALTY Indian

WHERE Kalimera Indian, Bragadinou 3, Limassol

CONTACT 97 784452

PRICE Mains from €7, Indian meze €10.50 for one or €18 for two

As soon as Second Cup opened its doors in Paphos a few months ago it was a big hit. This is one of a number of new ventures to open up in Paphos Old town and is a franchise outlet which started off in Toronto, Canada in 1975 and now boasts more than 400 cafés in 16 countries.
Facing the main street, Leoforos Evagora Pallikaridi, which runs through the centre of the town, the cafe has a great outdoor space to sit and watch the world go by.

A sleek and contemporary exterior and interior of glass and brick are inviting, and high ceilings and well thought out lighting add to an overall pleasing experience.

This is a comfortable venue. A wooden floor, blue sofas and an array of tables and chairs are dotted around the interior and a long bar with display cabinet copes with hundreds of orders a day.

Customers are given a vibrating token to indicate when their order is ready to collect from staff working flat out, and coffees (there are many different options to choose from including signature ones), are excellent.

After much deliberation, the sweets all look delicious, I tried the cappuccino and carrot cake, both of which were excellent.

Healthy and indulgent drinks and snacks are available depending on your mood and waistline. All sorts of sandwiches, salads and mouth-watering cakes and pastries are gobbled down at breakfast and lunchtime and the staff are friendly and professional, but, understandably, can get frazzled at times.

It can get busy here, especially at weekends, so be prepared to wait some time for your order during peak times, but it is worth it. The atmosphere is buzzing and this is a great venue to meet up with friends or work colleagues and a welcome place to stop off for sustenance when visiting the newly upgraded old town.

This sociable venue has been embraced by locals and is already popular with visitors to the area and it’s easy to see why.

Second Cup Paphos
Where: 69-73 Leoforos Evagora Pallikaridi, Paphos old town
When: 07.30am-11.30pm
Contact: 26 955800, www.facebook.com/SecondCupPaphos/

It’s November and the leftover summer heat is starting to make signs of subsiding, so where do you choose to go for a good drink and a great night out? Do you choose the ‘generic’ restaurant that wants to engulf you and ‘save’ you from the heat? Or do you go for something different? eStilo offers all that to its customers and more.

Located within the hip Uptown square (home to Zen Room, Chi Lounge and Chester’s), eStilo is designed to resemble a patio, immediately giving the customer a feeling of comfort and cosyness making it the perfect place for a relaxing experience and ideal for socialising. The décor is fairly simple, straightforward and elegant. You have the choice of sitting on tall stools or on normal chairs inside or out. The atmosphere in the bar is more than relaxing, making it an ideal place for a night away from the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives.

With its interesting, beautifully presented cocktails choosing what to drink can be challenging. There are the classics with some house cocktails as well, which always bodes well for a bar. Considering the weather, I ordered the Fine n Spiced, made with dark rum, a touch of vanilla, passion fruit and lime and topped with ginger beer – the taste was exactly what they advertise, finely spicey. The combination of the ingredients brings out a refreshing spiced taste that packs a punch but in a subtle way. The presentation in a tall glass also meant there was quite a lot of it.

But I love gin and I love elderflower, so the elderflower flower frost was something I couldn’t miss out on – and I was glad I didn’t. Whether vodka, gin or rum is your spirit of choice (they also have tequila, whiskey and mastiha based cocktails, which I’ll save for my next visit) the selection of cocktails will not disappoint.
On top of all this eStilo has a rich wine list with the best options from local wines and wines from all over the world (Italy, France, Greece, Chile, Austria, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.) All in all, eStilo offers a unique bar experience. A night at eStilo will be thoroughly enjoyed by anyone looking and willing for a new experience.

eStilo Fusion Tapas Bar
Where: Uptown Square, 194 Amathoundos Ave, Limassol
Contact: 25 025555