If you think you've eaten well in Cyprus, wait until a Paphos taverna owner brings out plate number 17 and tells you the kitchen is "just getting started." This is the definitive, locally-sourced guide to the meze restaurants worth loosening your belt for — pros, cons, prices, and the honest truth bloggers won't tell you.

What Is a Cypriot Meze (and Why Paphos Does It Best)

Meze isn't a starter. It isn't tapas. It is a full, multi-hour parade of small dishes — hummus, tzatziki, taramasalata, grilled halloumi, sheftalia sausages, keftedes meatballs, beetroot with coriander, stuffed vine leaves, pork souvlaki, slow-cooked stifado, and (if you can still breathe) loukoumades drenched in honey. A traditional Paphos meze typically delivers 18–30 dishes for one fixed price, usually €20–€30 per person.

Paphos has become a meze destination because it sits at the crossroads of mountain villages (Kathikas, Yeroskipou, Kissonerga), fishing coves, and centuries-old family tavernas that still grow their own grapes, press their own wine, and grill over open charcoal. The result? More authenticity per square kilometre than almost anywhere else on the island.

The 9 Best Meze Restaurants in Paphos (Ranked & Reviewed)

1. 7 St. Georges Tavern Editor's Pick

Location: Anthipolochagou Georgiou Savva 37, Yeroskipou

Almost every food blogger and TripAdvisor regular eventually lands on the same name: 7 St. Georges. Run by the warm and theatrical Ben, this Yeroskipou tavern has no menu — you sit down, and dishes keep arriving until you wave a white flag. Expect hummus, tzatziki, beetroot with coriander, eggplant, olives, Greek salad, pork souvlaki, vegetarian moussaka, stuffed peppers, pulled beef pie, and feta-spinach puff pastries, all made from organic local ingredients. One fixed price, around €22.

2. Mandra Tavern

Location: Dionysos Street, Kato Paphos

Mandra is the kind of Cypriot taverna that posts photos of "shieftalia," "melintzanosalata," and "bourekia tis Anaris" on Instagram and means every word of them. Their meze leans hard into traditional grill work — pork-neck kebabs, charcoal-fired meat platters, and homemade dips. The atmosphere is rustic, vine-shaded, and unapologetically Cypriot.

3. Melania Restaurant

Location: Near Tombs of the Kings Avenue / Chlorakas

Melania has been quietly winning over Cypriot regulars and curious tourists since 1990. Sit under the vast 920m² grape vineyard canopy and let owner George (third generation) walk you to the huge charcoal grill. Thursday night is their famous Meze Night, where salads, dips, homemade bread, BBQ chicken and pork, kleftiko, kalamari, and moussaka roll out one after another.

4. Agora Tavern

Location: Talat Paşa 1, central Paphos (near the old marketplace)

Tucked beside the traditional Paphos market, Agora is a favourite for travellers who want authenticity without driving out to a village. Reviewers consistently praise the vegetarian meze, the homemade dips, and the easygoing service. It punches well above its price bracket.

5. Petradaki Taverna

Location: Kato Vrysi 45, Kathikas village

About a 25-minute drive from Paphos up into the hills, Petradaki is the kind of taverna locals quietly love but rarely advertise. The meze platters are generous, the views over rolling hills are postcard-perfect, and the air is several degrees cooler than the coast in summer.

6. Dias Zeus Restaurant

Location: 47 Tombs of the Kings Avenue, Paphos

Dias Zeus blends traditional Greek and modern Mediterranean — popular with both locals and tourists. The meze is well-regarded and the menu also runs to fresh seafood and grilled meats for those who want something à la carte.

7. Mezodopolion Ayias Spyridon (Yeroskipou)

A repeat dark-horse winner among long-time Paphos forum regulars. One reviewer who tested four mezes across two weeks crowned this taverna "winner by a mile in terms of variety, quality and friendliness." If you want to eat where the food-obsessed locals quietly send their visiting cousins, this is it.

8. Famagusta Tavern (Chlorakas)

Just off the road between Paphos and Coral Bay, Famagusta Tavern has had loyal British and Cypriot regulars for years. Expect a generous traditional meze and live Cypriot music on certain evenings — a fun, festive choice for groups.

9. Laona Restaurant Best for Old Town

Location: Old Town Paphos (side street)

Laona has been family-run since 1986 and sits down a quiet lane in the renovated Old Town. It's a small meze and à la carte taverna where the moussaka, meatballs, and complimentary dessert have built a quiet but devoted following.

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How to Eat Meze Like a Local (5 Insider Tips)

How Much Does Meze in Paphos Cost?

Expect to pay between €18 and €30 per person for a proper Cypriot meze, including bread and dips but usually excluding drinks and dessert. Wine adds €8–€15 per carafe of house wine. A meal for two with drinks and tip typically lands between €55 and €85 — extraordinary value for the volume and variety on offer.

When Is the Best Time to Go?

Cypriot meze is an evening event. Most tavernas start serving meze around 7pm and dinner can stretch to 10:30 or later. Shoulder seasons (April–May and September–October) offer the best mix of warm evenings, fewer tourists, and easier bookings. Avoid August peak if you can — the village tavernas are quieter, but Paphos itself is crowded and hot.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the single best meze in Paphos?

For first-time visitors, 7 St. Georges Tavern is the most consistent recommendation across bloggers, locals, and TripAdvisor reviewers. For repeat visitors craving something quieter, Mezodopolion Ayias Spyridon or Petradaki in Kathikas often impress more.

Are there vegetarian meze options in Paphos?

Yes. 7 St. Georges and Agora Tavern offer dedicated vegetarian meze, both highly praised. Most tavernas will also adapt their standard meze on request.

Do I need to book a Paphos meze?

For 7 St. Georges, Melania on Thursdays, and Agora — yes, absolutely. Less famous village tavernas can usually accommodate walk-ins on weekday evenings.

Is meze served at lunch?

Rarely. Most tavernas serve meze only in the evening. A few will prepare it for large lunchtime groups by prior arrangement.

What should I wear?

Smart casual is more than enough. Most Paphos tavernas are open-air, vine-shaded, and unpretentious. Comfort beats formality every time.

Final Verdict: Where Should You Actually Eat?

If you're in Paphos for one meze night only, book 7 St. Georges Tavern and arrive hungry. If you want to combine the meze experience with sunset, a vineyard, and house wine made by the owner, head to Melania Restaurant on a Thursday. If you've already done the famous spots and want the locals' secret, drive up to Petradaki in Kathikas or seek out Mezodopolion Ayias Spyridon in Yeroskipou. Whichever you choose, do yourself one favour: tell the kitchen to keep the dishes coming until you simply can't. That's how Cyprus has eaten for centuries — and Paphos, more than anywhere else on the island, still does it right.