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NORTH CYPRUS Food and Drink
Turkish Cypriot Cuisine (Yemek …… food)
Northern Cyprus offers such a broad range of food and restaurants, there seems to be everything from a cheese sandwich to French cuisine, so you’ll never be limited for choice.
We particularly recommend the local specialities, such as MEZE, which translated means appetizer. They can be hot or cold and can be compared to Spanish tapas. Examples of Meze are Sigara Borek - crispy filo pastry filled with cheese or spinach. Dolma - stuffed vine leaves, Kofte - seasoned meatballs and of course our wonderful Cypriot cheese …Hellim which is often served grilled.
Tasty traditional snacks are Pide (pronounced ‘peeday‘) a sort of Turkish pizza and Lahmacun (pronounced ‘lama-joon’) which is a thin pizza type base with spicy lamb topping served with fresh parsley and lemon …. you roll it up to eat it - simply delicious!
Main courses are usually chicken, lamb or fish based dishes. Speciality main courses include: Manti- Turkish ravioli served with local yoghurt and coated in chilli sauce, Bulgur Kofte - cracked wheat stuffed with seasoned minced meat and deep fried, Tuzlu Balik - a large fish covered in rock salt and baked slowly in the oven. Then last, but not least …. probably the most famous dish Firin Kebab or Kleftiko which is shanks of lamb cooked very slowly in clay oven - you can’t go home without trying it!
Don’t worry if you don’t fancy Turkish Cypriot food, there are plenty of alternatives offering international cuisine.
Drinks (icecek)
As well as a whole range of fizzy drinks, local and imported, and fruit juices … fresh orange juice (taze portakal suyu) is especially good … there are a variety of good local beverages.
Our Turkish beer Efes Bira is the most popular but you can also find our local brew from Famagusta Gold Fasil. Beware - both are quite strong!
The best wines are from Turkey, popular whites are Cankaya, Angora, Villa Doluca. Popular reds are Villa Doluca and Yakut. These compare very well with wines from anywhere in the world.
If you fancy a local wine, try Aphrodite, Kantara or Salamis.
Your holiday won’t be complete without trying a Brandy Sour - this is a lovely long drink based on Cypriot brandy, bitters, soda and lemon juice served in a sugar rimmed glass. The best sun downer ever! Watch out though … one is divine, two is risky, three is foolhardy! They are very strong indeed …..!
You will see the men sitting in coffee shops drinking Turkish Coffee. If you fancy trying some (a bit like an espresso) you drink it either without sugar ‘sade’ (pronounced “sarday”), with a little sugar ‘orta’ or very sweet ‘sekerli’ (pronounced “shek-air-ly”).
A Few Selected Restaurants:
|
Name |
Location |
Cuisine |
Style |
Telephone |
Rough price guide |
|
The Address |
Karaoglanoglu,
Near Tempo Supermarket |
International and traditional |
Smart seafront setting |
Tel:
0392 822 35 37 |
£££££ |
|
Allah Kerim |
Main road before Alsancak turning |
Traditional |
Road side, casual |
Tel:
0392 821 89 57 |
££ |
|
The Ambiance |
Karaoglanoglu
Near Tempo Supermarket |
International and traditional |
Stunning seafront setting. Smart |
Tel:
0392 822 28 47 |
£££££ |
|
Ani Restaurant |
Catalkoy, go out of village towards Karpaz on outer limits on right side |
Traditional.
Good fish. Big portions. |
Very popular with the locals |
Tel:
0392 824 43 55 |
£££ |
|
Capitano |
Alsancak on main road. |
Mostly fish. Good fish meze. |
Shaped like a ship, nautical theme, children’s play area |
Tel:
0392 821 3025 |
£££ |
|
Chinese House |
Opp. The Ship Hotel, west of Kyrenia |
Authentic Chinese food |
Cosy in winter, al fresco in Summer |
Tel:
0392 815 2130 |
££££ |
|
Ciderman |
Just before Karaoglanoglu by Turk Bank |
Pizza, salad, ploughmans, doughnuts |
Pavement or café eating, no need to dress up |
Tel:
0533 848 69 60 |
££ |
|
Efendi |
In Turkish quarter in Kyrenia |
Top quality international cuisine. |
Contemporary chic bar and restaurant. Beautiful courtyard. |
Tel:
0392 815 1149 |
£££££ |
|
Erols |
Ozankoy
Follow signs |
Excellent simple food in enormous portions. Best Brandy Sours! |
Lovely roof terrace setting. Cosy fire in winter. Great hospitality. |
Tel:
0392 815 91 36 |
££ |
|
Passport |
Kyrenia west of coast road roundabout |
Chicken Bar.
Excellent for kids, every type of chicken you can think of. |
Good food, large portions, nice setting, excellent service. |
Tel:
0392 815 98 38 |
££ |
|
Green Valley |
Alsancak
|
Traditional, with lively entertainment on Weds & Sats |
Excellent service and reliably good |
Tel:
0392 821 8550 |
££ |
|
Gokkusagi |
Guzelyurt, opposite St Mamas |
Traditional food |
Good place for lunch |
Tel:
0392 714 39 18 |
£ |
|
Harbour Delight |
In centre of old harbour Kyrenia |
Traditional |
Pretty setting. Reliable. |
Tel:
0392 815 86 42 |
££££ |
|
Jashan |
Main road before
Karaoglanoglu |
Authentic Indian food. |
Nice setting with excellent service |
Tel:
0392 822 20 27 |
££££ |
|
Kervan Pizza Garden |
Kervansaray
Turn opposite Stone Grill right above the beach. |
Traditional plus pizzas and fajitas. Very good snacks. |
Probably the best setting for sundowners on the island with fantastic views up the coast. |
Tel:
0533 844 3777 |
££ |
|
Missina |
Karaoglanoglu
Turn at Tempo Supermarket |
Fish |
Smart restaurant on sea front setting. |
Tel:
0392 822 3844 |
£££££ |
|
Padisah |
Kyrenia Turkish Quarter. Walk up road opposite Colony Hotel, on right. |
Traditional, speciality clay oven cuisine. |
Lovely leafy courtyard. Delicious food |
Tel:
0392 815 9763 |
££ |
|
Rafters |
Ozankoy |
International.
Excellent food. |
Lovely garden setting. Lively atmosphere. Popular with ex-pat community |
Tel:
0392 815 29 46 |
££££ |
|
Saint Tropez |
Alsancak, near Deniz Kizi Hotel - look out for Eifel Tower! |
French |
Consistent |
Tel:
0392 821 83 24 |
££££ |
|
Set |
Behind the old harbour, Kyrenia. Next to Mosque |
Italian |
Exceptionally pretty setting. Traditional Italian food. |
Tel:
0392 815 38 45 |
££££ |
|
Stone Grill |
Between Karaoglanoglu and Escape on main road. |
Novelty, cook-your-food on a hot rock. Meat, fish etc. |
Renowned for good steaks. Nice setting and fun eating. |
Tel:
0392 822 20 02 |
££££ |
|
Teresa |
Yeni Erenkoy in Karpaz |
Traditional |
Family run hotel/restaurant on pretty sandy cove |
Tel:
0392 37 44 368 |
££ |
|
Tree of Idleness |
Bellapais opposite the Abbey |
Traditional |
Perfect setting overlooking the abbey |
Tel:
0392 815 33 80 |
£££ |
|
Valley View |
On the main coast road beyond Acapulco. |
Traditional
Good snacks |
Lovely setting overlooking sea down a green ravine. |
Tel:
0542 868 7070 |
£ |
|
Veranda |
On sea front before you get to Karaoglanoglu |
International
Consistently good, delicious food |
Set right on water’s edge with rustic theme. Romantic and atmospheric. |
Tel:
0542 851 50 78 |
£££££ |
NB: Please be aware that during winter time opening times can be erratic, so call before hand.
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