Best Restaurants in Protaras — Prices & What to Order

Best Restaurants in Protaras 2026 — Seafood from €16, 15 Min from Ayia Napa

Why Eat in Protaras?

The Restaurants Worth Making the Trip For

Yiangos & Peter Fish Restaurant

One of the most consistently recommended seafood restaurants in the Protaras/Paralimni area. A traditional fishing taverna that has been operating since the 1970s, known for buying direct from local boats. The grilled sea bream (τσιπούρα) and octopus are exceptional. Expect €25–35 a head for a full meal with wine.

Good for: Couples, groups wanting a proper sit-down seafood dinner away from the tourist circuit.

Neon Phaliron

Right on the seafront overlooking Fig Tree Bay. The location is the obvious draw — a terrace table at sunset with a view of the bay is hard to argue with — but the food genuinely delivers. Strong on mezze and grilled fish, with a wider wine list than most Protaras establishments.

Cost: €25–40 per head. Book ahead in July–August — the terrace tables go quickly.

Captain Andreas

Harbour-front location in the old Protaras fishing harbour area. No-frills décor, serious fish. Whole grilled sea bass, calamari, and a mezze that leans heavily on the seafood options rather than the meat. Regulars book the same table every year.

Cost: €20–30 per head.

Faros Restaurant

A little further along the cape near Cape Greco. Worth the extra few minutes for the setting alone — a clifftop terrace above the sea. The menu runs Cypriot classics: kleftiko, sheftalia, mezze. Sunday lunch here with souvla is a full two-hour affair and completely worth it.

Cost: €18–28 per head for mezze.

Folio Taste — Modern Dining on Protara Avenue ✓ Verified · @cypruseats

Folio Taste on Protara Avenue (Paralimni–Protaras area) is the go-to for a more contemporary dining experience. It bridges the gap between casual and upmarket — smart enough for a date or a special meal, relaxed enough after a day at the beach. The menu leans contemporary Mediterranean with a focus on presentation and consistent quality. A step up from taverna cooking without the formality of a fine dining room.

Cost: €20–35 per head. Good for: Couples, anyone wanting something more polished than a standard seafood taverna.

Pinch Restaurant — Contemporary Bistro, Paralimni ✓ Verified · @cypruseats

Pinch on Kennedy Avenue in Paralimni is design-led and modern — clean lines, a creative menu, and a drinks list that takes cocktails seriously. It draws a younger local crowd alongside holidaymakers who've ventured inland. The food skews contemporary European with Cypriot influences: expect well-executed small plates and a kitchen that takes technique seriously.

Cost: €18–28 per head. Good for: Groups, couples wanting a city-bistro feel in a resort context. Better for dinner than lunch.

Paralimni Tavernas (The Local Favourite Area)

Paralimni is the inland town that services both Protaras and Ayia Napa. It has almost no tourists and genuine local tavernas that feel a world away from the beach resort strip. Ristorante Il Forno does wood-fired pizza and pasta at prices that seem implausible by tourist-area standards (€8–12 for a main). The cluster of tavernas around Paralimni's central square is where local families eat on Friday evenings.

Fig Tree Bay — Eating On the Beach

Fig Tree Bay has a row of beach restaurants and bars running along the sand. The quality is variable — the closer to the water, the higher the prices. Best approach: swim first, then pull back from the beach 100 metres to one of the restaurants on the road above the bay. Same views, lower prices, better food.

Best beach-adjacent option: The café at the north end of Fig Tree Bay does Greek coffee, fresh orange juice, and decent sandwiches. €4–8 per person and good for a mid-morning break.

Getting There from Ayia Napa

• Taxi: €10–15, 10–15 minutes. Most taxi drivers are happy to wait while you eat if you tip reasonably.
• Car: 10–12 minutes via the B1 coast road — the drive is scenic and one of the nicest on the island.
• Public bus: Line 101/102 runs between Ayia Napa and Protaras/Paralimni — €2, roughly every 30 minutes during the day.

Going for dinner? A taxi return is €20–30 and removes any parking or drinking concerns.

What to Order

Protaras seafood restaurants specialise in:

• Whole grilled fish — sea bass, sea bream, red mullet (priced by weight, usually €12–18 per fish)
• Octopus — grilled or marinated, always excellent near the coast
• Calamari — lightly fried or grilled, a reliable starter
• Mezze — order it for the table rather than individual mains

For meat, the standard Cypriot favourites apply: sheftalia, souvla, kleftiko. See the Cypriot food guide for a full rundown of what each dish is.

Protaras vs Ayia Napa for Food

If you're in Ayia Napa for a week, at least one dinner in Protaras is strongly recommended. It's close enough that it's not an expedition, and the change of pace is refreshing.