3 Best Restaurants in Paphos, Cyprus

This restaurant has not only the most delicious food in Paphos (with some vegan options), but it is also the most charming place to dine. Everyone from locals to tourists in the know come to experience owner George's inventive Cypriot cooking, which includes a preponderance of fresh, seasonal, and often organic ingredients, and lots of options for vegetarians. St. Georges has no written menu, just a prix-fixe offering of mezedes—a seemingly endless parade of small plates from cheeses to vegetables from the restaurant's own garden to meats smoked in-house, along with tasty homemade wine. The friendly servers will keep bringing the food until you tell them to stop.

It's worth venturing a block inland from the beach for well-prepared Cypriot food in a charming traditional setting—an old tavern that was formerly a livestock pen, now decorated with overhead grapevines and a waterfall. Mandra is especially known for tender souvla (lamb cooked over charcoal and served on a skewer) as well as a filling meat meze for a fixed price; they also offer a tasty prix-fixe seafood meze for a bit more. Vegetarians will appreciate the veggie moussaka, a rarity in meat- and fish-centric Cyprus.

If you're simply looking for a relaxing, well-designed place to lunch, eat a casual dinner, or get a quick snack, perhaps while checking your email, Pingouino Cafe fits the bill. This modern, airy café, a block in from the beach, offers free Wi-Fi and seating on cushioned wicker chairs and comfy couches. The menu features a mixture of international standards sprinkled with a few Mediterranean specialties, plus lots of veggie and even gluten-free choices. Try the halloumi salad, the poached eggs on toast topped with avocado and salmon, or the chicken tandoori wrap. Alternatively, dig into a scrumptious waffle or just cool off with a milkshake made with your choice of 20 different kinds of ice cream, including a Cypriot specialty, rose.