Sea Pines Villa

food and wine

 

Explore the island’s delicious cuisine, a wonderful blend of Greek and Middle Eastern dishes. Go for everything by ordering ‘mezedes’, a lavish feast of local delicacies. Or keep it simple on a hot summer's day with simply some watermelon and 'halloumi' cheese, an unusual combination of flavours. 

 

Wash it all down with one of the local beers or wines. You’ll love the taste of the dark, sweet, dessert wine, Commandaria, whose origins go back to the depths of time. It is acknowledged to have the oldest ‘Appellation of Origin’, having had the same name for eight centuries. It dates back to the days when the Hospitallers, the Knights of St John of Jerusalem, produced it at Kolossi castle on the outskirts of Limassol where they had their headquarters or Commanderie. After the Crusades King Richard the Lionheart is reported to have said: "I must return to Cyprus if only to taste this wine again.” 

 

For fish, fresh off the boats, go to Yiangos in the harbour at Latchi. Closer to home, the restaurant above the harbour at Pomos has a wonderful view, as does the little restaurant under the vines at Sea Caves just opposite. 

 

Mylos restaurant up in the forest at Gialia, has a decidedly mountain resort feel to it and a few degrees cooler than on the coast. It serves excellent 'kleftiko', as well as other hearty Cypriot dishes such as 'afelia' (pork with wine, oregano and coriander) and 'stifado' (beef stew with onions).

 

A night out at the Old Town restaurant in Polis is always a treat, with its fabulous ambiance in the 'secret' garden under the vines and superb food.

 

The restaurant at Ayii Anargyroi resort and spa in Miliou in the rolling hills south of Polis, serves excellent food. 

 

A trip well worth doing is to the protected beaches of Lara, on the western coast of the island. Off the dirt road just before you get there, on a hilltop with a breathtaking view of the Akamas peninsula, is the Viklari restaurant. It is surrounded by fruit and vegetable plantations, as the owners grow most of their own food. The menu consists of one thing, perfectly cooked 'souvla', served with jacket potatoes and salad. Afterwards take the kids to Lara beach for an afternoon of playing in the surf.