Cyprus Meze Explained: What to Order & How It Works
If there is one food experience you should try during a holiday in Cyprus, make it meze.
A traditional Cypriot meze isn’t simply a selection of appetisers. It’s a long, relaxed meal made up of many small dishes served gradually and shared around the table.
Expect everything from halloumi, olives and dips to souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, fresh fish and traditional desserts.
The most important rule?
Eat slowly — there’s a lot more food coming!
What Is Cypriot Meze?
Meze, or mezedes, is a collection of small dishes served as a shared meal.
Rather than ordering individual main courses, everyone at the table shares the dishes as they arrive.
A traditional meze can include 15–20 dishes or more, depending on the restaurant and type of meze.
It usually starts with lighter dishes and gradually moves towards grilled meats, seafood and other substantial plates.
Don’t fill up on the first few dishes!
What Types of Meze Can You Order?
Most tavernas offer one or more of these:
🥩 Meat Meze
A selection of traditional Cypriot meats, cheeses, vegetables, salads and dips.
🐟 Fish Meze
A changing selection of seafood and fish, usually with salads, dips and other accompaniments.
🌱 Vegetarian Meze
A generous selection of vegetables, cheeses, pulses, salads and traditional meat-free dishes.
The exact dishes vary between restaurants and according to the season.
What Dishes Should You Try?
If you’re ordering meze for the first time, look out for these Cypriot favourites.
🧀 Halloumi
Cyprus’s famous cheese, often grilled until golden.
🍢 Souvlaki
Small pieces of meat grilled over charcoal.
🌭 Sheftalia
Seasoned minced meat wrapped in caul fat and grilled. One of Cyprus’s must-try dishes.
🍃 Koupepia
Stuffed vine leaves traditionally filled with minced meat, rice and herbs.
🍖 Kleftiko
Slow-cooked lamb that becomes wonderfully tender.
🌭 Loukanika
Traditional Cypriot sausages seasoned with herbs and spices.
🥗 Village Salad
Tomatoes, cucumber, onion, olives and other fresh ingredients.
🥣 Tahini & Other Dips
Perfect with fresh village bread.
🐙 Seafood
Fish meze can include calamari, octopus, prawns and locally available fish.
🍯 Loukoumades
Small sweet dough balls served with honey or syrup.
How Does a Meze Meal Work?
The best advice is simple:
Siga, siga — slowly, slowly!
Dishes normally arrive in stages.
First: bread, olives, salads and dips.
Next: cheeses and vegetable dishes.
Then: grilled meats or seafood.
Finally: desserts, fruit or coffee.
Don’t order lots of extra starters before the meze arrives. You’ll probably have more than enough food.
Meze is designed to be shared, so pass the plates around and try a little of everything.
How Much Does Meze Cost?
Prices vary depending on the restaurant, location and type of meze.
As a rough guide, a traditional meat meze can often be around €20–€35 per person, while fish meze and restaurants in prime tourist locations may cost more.
Always check the current price before ordering.
Drinks are usually extra.
For restaurant ideas, see our Guide to Traditional Tavernas in Cyprus.
What Should You Drink With Meze?
🍷 Cyprus Wine
Local wine is a natural match for meze. Ask your waiter for a Cypriot wine recommendation.
🥃 Zivania
A traditional Cypriot spirit. It’s very strong, so take it slowly!
🍺 Beer
A cold beer is particularly popular on warm summer evenings.
💧 Water
Don’t forget water, especially during the hot months.
Driving? Don’t drink alcohol. If you want to enjoy several wines or visit the wine villages, use a taxi, organised tour or private driver.
Where Should You Try Meze?
You can find meze throughout Cyprus, but a traditional village taverna can be particularly memorable.
For something different, try seafood meze around Zygi Fishing Village.
👉 Read our Zygi Fishing Village Guide
In the Paphos region, combine meze with a trip into the wine villages around Tala and Kathikas.
👉 Explore Paphos Wine Villages: Tala & Kathikas
You can also enjoy traditional food after exploring the cities.
👉 Larnaca: Finikoudes & Salt Lake
Meze Tips for First-Time Visitors
✔️ Come hungry. A full meze is a big meal.
✔️ Eat slowly. More dishes are coming.
✔️ Share everything. That’s the whole idea.
✔️ Ask what’s included. Meze varies between tavernas.
✔️ Tell the restaurant about allergies or dietary requirements before ordering.
✔️ Don’t over-order. Wait until you see what arrives.
✔️ Book ahead. Popular tavernas can get busy, particularly on summer evenings and weekends.
✔️ Save room for dessert.
✔️ Don’t rush away. A coffee after the meal is part of the experience.
Is Meze Suitable for Vegetarians?
Absolutely.
Vegetarian meze can include:
- Grilled halloumi
- Salads
- Dips
- Olives
- Vegetables
- Pulses
- Mushrooms
- Stuffed vegetables
- Potatoes
- Local cheeses
Tell the restaurant about your dietary requirements when ordering rather than assuming individual dishes are suitable.
How Long Does a Meze Meal Take?
Allow at least two hours for a relaxed meal.
Don’t book a meze immediately before an airport transfer or another activity.
The whole point is to take your time.
How to Order Meze
If you’re unsure what to say, simply ask:
“Do you serve traditional meze?”
Then choose:
Meat, fish or vegetarian?
Finally ask:
“How much is it per person and what’s included?”
That’s all you need to know.
Sit back and let the food arrive.
10 Must-Try Cypriot Meze Dishes
If you’re overwhelmed by the choices, start with these:
- Halloumi – grilled Cypriot cheese
- Sheftalia – seasoned grilled minced meat
- Souvlaki – charcoal-grilled meat
- Kleftiko – slow-cooked lamb
- Koupepia – stuffed vine leaves
- Village Salad – fresh Mediterranean salad
- Tahini – sesame dip
- Loukanika – Cypriot sausages
- Grilled octopus – a seafood favourite
- Loukoumades – sweet honey-covered dough balls
The Best Thing About Cyprus Meze
Meze isn’t just about the food.
It’s about sitting around a table with friends or family, sharing plates, discovering new flavours and allowing the meal to unfold slowly.
You might arrive hungry and planning to stay for an hour.
Two or three hours later, you’ll still be sitting at the table, finishing your coffee and wondering how you managed to eat so much.
That’s the magic of Cypriot meze.
So when you’re in Cyprus, don’t just order dinner.
Order meze, eat slowly and enjoy the experience.
Kali Orexi! — Enjoy your meal!
👉 Discover more Cyprus food, travel and holiday guides on GoVisit Cyprus
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