Where to Eat & Drink
From harbour seafood to beachfront cocktails — the full Ayia Napa food & drink guide.
Restaurants
24
Vassos Fish Harbour Restaurant
€30–50/head
The benchmark. Vassos has been the best seafood restaurant in Ayia Napa since the 1980s — fish delivered daily from boats that moor right below your table. Order the grilled octopus and whole sea bass.
Book ahead in July–August. Walk-ins at lunch are more reliable.
📍 Ayia Napa Harbour, 5-min walk from The Square
Spartiatis Fish Restaurant
€25–40/head
Third-generation family fish taverna on Konnos Avenue, overlooking Konnos Bay. Chef Spyros runs the kitchen: Calamari Kontosouvli (whole calamari slow-cooked on charcoal), King Crab Arancini, oysters, Octopus Carpaccio, and whatever whole fish came off the boats that morning. When the Bluefin Tuna menu is on, book immediately.
Book by afternoon same-day (Thu–Sun in summer, they fill up). Order the Calamari Kontosouvli — charcoal-spit whole calamari, not the fried rings you've had everywhere else. Check @spartiatis.restaurant on Instagram to see if the Bluefin Tuna menu is running.
📍 Konnos Avenue, Protaras (15 min drive from Ayia Napa, next to Cliff Bar)
Kostaris Taverna
€16–24/head
Family-run traditional Cypriot taverna that locals return to every year. Order the full mezze — 15–20 dishes arriving in waves. The recipes have been in the family for generations.
Order the ofto kleftiko — slow-cooked in a wood-fired oven with locally grown potatoes. It's their signature and the reason regulars drive from Ayia Napa. Mezze is the alternative for larger groups.
📍 Deryneia village (20 min drive from Ayia Napa)
Ttappis Tavern
€14–20/head
Voted best taverna in Cyprus (Cyprus Eaten awards). A period building with open fires, wooden beams, and family recipes unchanged since 1985. The sheftalia is made from a recipe kept in the kitchen's handwritten journal.
Order the sheftalia — the recipe is unchanged since 1985 and comes from the family's handwritten kitchen journal. Mixed grill is the best-value order. Sits in an old stone building with open fires.
📍 Paralimni (15 min drive from Ayia Napa)
Mousikos Taverna
€16–24/head
Open Mon–Sat 6:30–10:30pm, closed Sundays. The menu is the Cypriot canon done properly: souvla (lamb, goat, or pork), kleftiko, homemade halloumi, kolokasi (taro root), and snails. Village dishes you won't find on the tourist strip.
Closed Sundays — plan accordingly. Order the souvla (ask for lamb or goat) and kolokasi (taro root). Snails when in season. Homemade halloumi to start, Keo draught to finish.
📍 Sotira village (15 min drive from Ayia Napa)
Old Simos Taverna
€18–26/head
A building from 1920, now run by the founder's own grandson (also named Simos). Rated 4.8★ across 1,082+ reviews. The slow mezze sequence — 90 minutes, 15+ dishes — is the thing to order.
Order the full mezze and let it run — the slow-cooked dishes (kleftiko, stuffed vine leaves) are the kitchen's real strength. If loukoumades are offered to finish, say yes immediately.
📍 Sotira village (15 min drive from Ayia Napa)
Taverna Nissi
€22–35/head
Locals' favourite alternative to Vassos — same freshness, 20–25% cheaper, no tourist fanfare. On Nissi Avenue 77 inside the Nissi Beach Resort area. The mixed seafood mezze (calamari, prawns, mussels, whitebait, fish of the day) is exceptional value.
Request a table on the elevated terrace — it looks directly over the Nissi island with unobstructed sea views. Order the seafood mezze for the table: the best-value way to try everything.
📍 Nissi Avenue 77, Nissi Beach Resort area
Voodoo Bar & Grill
€15–22/head
Solid steaks and burgers in the €15–22 range, close enough to the strip that you won't lose time before the night starts. Good cocktails, buzzing atmosphere, no booking drama.
Best for a quick, reliable pre-club dinner. Cocktails are decent too.
📍 Near The Square, Ayia Napa
Munch Diner (Ayia Napa Marina)
€15–25/head
Classic American diner at the new marina — burgers, ribs, loaded fries, and cold cocktails with a sea view. Great for casual groups who want something filling before or after a marina stroll.
Opens 14:00 Mon–Fri, 13:00 weekends — no weekday lunches. Order the pulled beef smash burger (slow-cooked beef, cheddar, pickled cucumbers) or shrimp tacos. Time it for sunset.
📍 Ayia Napa Marina
Pinch Restaurant
€25–40/head
Modern bistro 15 minutes from Ayia Napa — the 'off-resort dinner night' option. Contemporary Mediterranean sharing plates, considered wine list, city atmosphere. Perfect for a date night change of scene.
Book a later table, arrive early for a drink at the bar, and take your time — this is an occasion restaurant.
📍 Kennedy Ave 56, Paralimni (15 min drive from Ayia Napa)
Souvlaki Corner
€5–8/head
The best late-night souvlaki in Ayia Napa — hand-rolled pitta, charcoal-grilled pork or chicken, and a mountain of chips for under €7. Open until 4am. The queue after clubs tells you everything.
Order the mixed pitta with halloumi on top. Go after midnight — that's when they're at their best.
📍 Near The Square, Ayia Napa
La Piazza Italia
€12–20/head
Wood-fired Neapolitan pizza with proper blistered crusts and imported Italian ingredients. When you want something universally good after a long beach day, this is a reliable, unpretentious crowd-pleaser.
Go with the Margherita or Diavola — simple done well beats overloaded toppings every time.
📍 Central Ayia Napa
Taj Mahal Restaurant
€14–22/head
The best Indian in the Ayia Napa area — reliable butter chicken, proper lamb curry, and freshly baked naan. A solid change of pace from Mediterranean food mid-trip, especially for the British contingent.
Order the Peshwari naan as a side — sweet coconut filling works well against a spicy curry.
📍 Ayia Napa town centre
Thai Garden Restaurant
€13–20/head
Authentic Thai in a relaxed garden setting — green curry, pad thai, and Thai spring rolls that actually taste like they should. One of Ayia Napa's few decent Asian kitchens and a welcome break from grills.
The green curry is genuinely hot if you ask for it — they usually tone it down for tourists, so ask for 'proper spicy'.
📍 Ayia Napa
Caprice at the Marina
€25–45/head
Sleek, modern restaurant on the Ayia Napa Marina waterfront — sushi, sashimi, tuna tataki, and Asian-fusion mains. The marina setting is the nicest dining backdrop in town, especially in the evening.
Book a window seat for sunset. Sashimi platter is well-sourced for a resort town — better than it has any right to be.
📍 Ayia Napa Marina
Lucky Star Chinese
€9–14/head
No-frills, high-volume Chinese that does the job perfectly. Generous portions of sweet and sour, chow mein, and dim sum at prices that leave money for the bar. Always busy, always consistent.
Order the set meal for two — best value on the menu and covers all the classics.
📍 Ayia Napa
UMI Japanese & Sushi Bar Restaurant
€50+/head
Arguably the best Japanese restaurant in the Ayia Napa/Protaras area — 4.7★ from 191 reviews tells the story. Perched on Konnos Street with panoramic views, the sushi is serious: fresh-cut sashimi, creative maki rolls, and a refined Japanese menu that outclasses anything else nearby. Book ahead in summer.
One of the highest-rated restaurants in the region for a reason. Reserve a table with a view — the sashimi platter and the black cod are standouts.
📍 Konnos Street 81, Protaras
Nosh – JapAmerican
€20–40/head
The highest-rated restaurant in Ayia Napa proper — 4.8★ from 405 reviews. Japanese-American fusion done with real craft: smash burgers meet Japanese technique, wagyu-style dishes, creative cocktails, and a cool stripped-back interior on Kryou Nerou. The crowd is a mix of locals who know their food and tourists who got lucky.
Closes at 11:30 pm — earlier than most Ayia Napa spots. Go for dinner, not a late-night meal. The fusion smash burger and miso-glazed options are both worth ordering.
📍 Kryou Nerou 15, Ayia Napa
Megu Japanese Restaurant
€20–45/head
A Nissi Avenue institution with nearly 1,000 Google reviews and a 4.6★ rating — rare consistency for a resort-strip restaurant. Full Japanese menu: sushi bar, teppanyaki, ramen, and a solid sake list. The interior is polished and the kitchen handles volume without sacrificing quality.
Nearly 1,000 reviews at 4.6★ on Nissi Avenue is extremely hard to sustain. The teppanyaki counter is a good call if you want the theatre with the meal.
📍 4 Nissi Avenue, Ayia Napa
Kaifu Sushi Bar
€20–40/head
Adults-only sushi bar and Asian dining inside the Atlantica Sea Breeze Hotel — dine in, take away, or delivery. Rolls, nigiri, and Asian fusion plates with a cocktail list to match. One of the few genuinely good sushi spots in the Ayia Napa area.
Adults-only venue — check before bringing younger guests. Delivery and take away available if you'd rather eat at the pool.
📍 Atlantica Sea Breeze Hotel, Ayia Napa
Ravioli's Restaurant
€20–40/head
Italian restaurant directly opposite the Grecian Park Hotel near Konnos Bay — open evenings from April to November. Homemade pasta, classic Italian dishes, and a relaxed terrace setting a short drive from Protaras. Reservations recommended in peak season.
Book ahead — it's small and fills quickly in peak season. Call (+357) 99991169 or reserve online via their Instagram link.
📍 Opposite Grecian Park Hotel, Konnos Bay area
Ayia Napa Marina
€10–18/cocktail
The newest and most impressive addition to Ayia Napa's waterfront — a purpose-built superyacht marina with a glittering strip of bars, restaurants, and lounges right on the water. The promenade comes alive after sunset: cocktails on the quayside, boats lit up in the harbour, and a more sophisticated crowd than the main strip. One of the best evening spots on the island.
Walk the full length of the promenade before picking a bar — the atmosphere varies a lot between venues. The marina is most impressive between 9 PM and midnight.
📍 Ayia Napa Marina, western waterfront (10 min walk or 3 min taxi from The Square)
Margherita Restaurant
€18–35/head
A proper Italian restaurant right inside the Ayia Napa Marina — wood-fired pizzas, fresh pasta, and classic Italian dishes served on a terrace overlooking the superyacht berths. The setting is as good as the food: warm lighting, harbour views, and a relaxed pace that suits couples and groups equally well.
Book ahead in July and August — marina-facing tables go fast. The wood-fired pizzas and homemade tiramisu are the standouts.
📍 Ayia Napa Marina, western waterfront
Rocas Experience
€20–40/head
A beachfront eat-drink-dance destination in Protaras with one of the most ambitious menus on the island — Mediterranean fusion by Chef Andrew Tzo covering sushi, fresh pasta, charcoal-grilled meats, and creative cocktails, all with the sea directly in front of you. Ranked among the top seafood spots in the area and popular for long lunches that drift into evening sessions.
Book ahead — it fills up fast in summer. Arrives for sunset and stay for cocktails after dinner.
📍 23 Lefkolas, Protaras
Beach Bars
7Nissi Beach Bar & Grill
€10–16/head
Casual beach bar food right on Nissi Beach — fresh-caught fish burgers, grilled halloumi wraps, and cold Keo beer with your feet in the sand. More eating less waiting.
Arrive at noon and eat at the bar — skip the sunbed restaurant section for better service and lower prices.
📍 Nissi Beach, Ayia Napa
Isola Beach Bar
€10–18/dish, €9–14/cocktail
Full-service beach club directly on Nissi Beach — sunbeds, all-day menu, and a party atmosphere that builds from midday into a proper sunset session with DJ.
Arrive at 09:30 for a prime sunbed. Or skip the day and come back at 17:00 for the sunset DJ session — it's a different (better) crowd.
📍 Nissi Beach, Ayia Napa
Kalifi Beach Bar
€12–20/dish, €10–15/cocktail
Upscale beach bar on Protaras's rocky coastline — sun loungers on flat rock platforms above clear deep water. Calm, curated, and significantly quieter than Ayia Napa's beach clubs.
Ask for the elevated southern platform — it has the best angle on the coastline and is always the last to fill.
📍 Protaras coastline, ~1km south of Fig Tree Bay
Syko by the Sea
€10–18/dish, €8–12/cocktail
A fig-tree-shaded beach bar on Fig Tree Bay with a kitchen that takes Cypriot food seriously. Loukoumades with carob syrup, grilled octopus, proper mezze — no DJ, no gimmicks.
Order the loukoumades with carob syrup and the grilled octopus — these two dishes are the whole reason the locals come here.
📍 Fig Tree Bay, Protaras
Lasmari Beach Bar
€12–25/fish, €8–15/starters
Seafront beach bar on Landa Beach, Ayia Napa (Nissi Avenue 99–103). Google 4.4★ across 641 reviews — a genuinely strong score for a beach bar. The evening crowd is half Cypriot families. Fresh catch of the day, grilled octopus, ouzo on the rocks.
Ask what came in fresh before looking at the menu. The day-boat catch is always the best option here.
📍 Landa Beach, Nissi Avenue 99–103, Ayia Napa
Marcello's Beach Bar
€10–22/dish, €9–12/cocktail
One of Ayia Napa's most established beach bars — Italian-Mediterranean kitchen, organised sunbeds on a sandy stretch near Makronisos, and an easy-going afternoon party energy.
The seafood linguine and the Aperol Spritz is the move. Staff will tell you what's fresh that day unprompted.
📍 Makronisos area, western Ayia Napa coast
Riva Beach House
€15–30/drink
Upscale beach bar and lounge at Ayia Napa Marina — sun beds, cocktails, and a sunset terrace that earns its luxury billing. By the team behind Frame, with a vibe that sits between Ibiza daytime and Mykonos evening: house music, premium drinks, and a crowd dressed accordingly.
Go for sunset — the golden hour over the marina is the best light in Ayia Napa. Book a sun bed in advance in peak season.
📍 Ayia Napa Marina
Bars
1
Cliff Bar
€10–14/cocktail
The cliff-side bar of the five-star Grecian Park Hotel, above Konnos Bay. Multiple terraces carved into the cliffs drop toward the sea. Cocktails, wine, and light bites — the best coastal view in the area with no music and no crowds.
Arrive before 19:30 for the best sunset position. Wear shoes with grip — the stone steps between cliff terraces are uneven. Smart-casual — it's a five-star hotel bar.
📍 Konnos Street 81, Konnos Bay area (€8–10 taxi from Ayia Napa)
Cafes
5
Alya All Day
€10–18/head
Flower-filled brunch café built for long, lazy mornings. Eggs Benedict, smashed avo, loaded pancakes, and speciality iced coffees. The Instagram flower wall is real — and the food actually earns it.
Order the Eggs Benedict (the most-mentioned dish in every review) and the Lemon Ricotta pancakes — one savoury, one sweet. The specialty iced coffee is worth it. Arrive before noon.
📍 Central Ayia Napa
Kafenaki at Cavo Maris Hotel
€4–10/head
A traditional Cypriot kafenaki (coffee house) set inside the Cavo Maris Hotel in Protaras with an unobstructed sea view. Order the mahalepi — a chilled Cypriot milk pudding scented with rosewater and mastic, topped with carob syrup — alongside a Cypriot coffee. One of the most underrated quiet stops near Ayia Napa.
Order the mahalepi with carob syrup — it's the real reason to come. Ask for a sea-view table if there's any choice.
📍 Cavo Maris Beach Hotel, Protaras (15 min drive from Ayia Napa)
Zorbas Bakery — Ayia Napa
€2–6/head
Cyprus's beloved bakery chain with freshly baked pastries and proper Cypriot coffee from 7am. The most honest breakfast in Ayia Napa — tiropita, koupes, sesame koulouri, and a freddo espresso for under €5. Opens early and sells out of the best things by 10am.
Arrive between 7–9am for the freshest pastries. Koupes (bulgur wheat fritters with spiced meat) and tiropita (cheese filo) are the Cypriot classics to order.
📍 Ayia Napa town centre
Zorbas Bakery — Protaras
€2–6/head
The Protaras branch of Cyprus's favourite bakery chain — same freshly baked pastries and proper Cypriot coffee, less busy than Ayia Napa. Useful if you're staying on the Protaras side. Best combined with an early morning at Fig Tree Bay or Cape Greco.
Pick up tiropita and koupes here then drive to the Cape Greco viewpoint before the crowds — best breakfast with a view on the island.
📍 Protaras
Mple Avocado
€6–15/head
All-day bakery café and dining in Ayia Napa — slow-fermented sourdough bread, freshly baked pastries, proper coffee, and a full menu from morning through evening. One of the most genuinely good all-day spots in the area, popular with locals and available on Wolt.
The sourdough bread is the standout — made with slow fermentation. Ask staff what came out of the oven most recently; that is always the right order.
📍 Ayia Napa