Mediterranean cuisine restaurants Southern Nicosia

Right next to the courthouse, in the middle of the lawyers' and notaries' street, the "de la cuisine du marché" restaurant goes straight to the heart of the matter. Customers come here to discuss current affairs in a bistro setting. The quick-service menu includes yoghurt, salad and a choice of 15 local or Turkish recipes. We recommend the kıbrıs köftesi, well-flavored meat and potato dumplings, and the herse, a kind of wheat risotto with chicken.

The "Evroulla restaurant" (Εστιατόριο της Ευρούλλας/Estiatorio tis Evroullas) is located in the pleasant stoa Klokkari, a covered passageway between the two main pedestrian streets Ledra and Onasagorou. It serves well-executed Cypriot and Greek classics: mezzés, feta salad, halloumi with sausage or mushrooms, sieftalies (pork cracklings), souvlakis and grilled meats. The menu is short, the fries are crisp and the service is fast. You can continue in the stoa, at the Pieto bar, with a coffee, a cocktail..

A little off-center, the "Old Power Station" restaurant (Παλιά Ηλεκτρική/Palia Ilektriki) is part of the Nicosia Municipal Arts Center (MiMAC). It boasts a courtyard that's very pleasant in summer, and a room with a contemporary design. Mediterranean-inspired seasonal cuisine is served here, as well as traditional Cypriot meat dishes with a twist. Sunday morning brunch, interesting selection of Greek and Cypriot wines, cocktails with or without alcohol. Closed February-March.

It's a strange proposition to come to Nicosia-Nord for "paella", shrimp and squid "à la portugaise" or spaghetti "à la napolitaine". But this restaurant has a unique location: its terrace overlooks the chevet of the Selimiye mosque, allowing diners to admire the splendid Gothic buttresses of the ancient cathedral and the domes of the Mahmoud-II library. Tourist clientele, romantic evening atmosphere, small wine list and efficient service. Sometimes closed out of season.

Open since 1938, this very good "Cypriot taverna" (Ζανέττος Κυπριακή Ταβέρνα/Zanettos Kypriaki Taverna) is set in the Ömeriye district, a stone's throw from the mosque and hammam. Under the arches and in a décor with vintage photos, a unique menu of mezzés is served here. It's pantagruelic and the wine is included: snails, vine leaves, tahini, salads, pancetta, calf's liver, pork in wine, Cypriot bulgur, lingot beans... Twenty-three dishes in all! And very few customers manage to eat it all.

An excellent address that hasn't changed since 1983. On a waxed tablecloth and in vintage crockery, you can eat authentic magiria, Cypriot home cooking. The choice is yours: indoors or on the small terrace in the shadow of the Arablar mosque, listening to the caged birds or the rumours from the school next door. Depending on the day, Mattheos Georgiou and his daughter Athina offer incredibly tender kouneli (rabbit), stifado or kleftiko (baked lamb)... You can feel that the dishes have been simmering for many hours.

We recommend this bookshop for its restaurant, which serves a choice of three to four daily Cypriot or international dishes, each accompanied by three mezzés, bread and a dessert. The place is pleasant, with a small, nicely decorated dining room upstairs, a large shady courtyard between ruined buildings and, of course, plenty of shelves of books, mainly in Turkish. It's also a great place to have a drink: cocktails with or without alcohol, wines, beers, coffees, teas... Good wifi and a cozy atmosphere.

Honest local cuisine at very reasonable prices. We like the area, although touristy, and the beautiful courtyard. But if we recommend this address, it's also because it's a warm, family-run business. Despite the crowds, especially at lunchtime, this modest restaurant remains half-hidden on the side of the Selimiye mosque. The dishes are hearty. Try dishes such as karnıyarık (stuffed eggplant) and don't forget to order the homemade hummus, tasty with its lemony notes.