Travel writing based on first-hand experience
Craving the best souvlaki in Nicosia? Discover 8 must-visit taverns and grills serving juicy skewers, flavorful seftalia, and traditional Cypriot meze. From family-run gems to lively spots with live music, here’s where locals go for souvlaki in Nicosia.
Table of Contents
Spots For Best Souvlaki In Nicosia
1. Apantisi
Apantisi has been doing the delicious hard work since 1996—and honestly, if you’re hunting for legendary souvlaki and can’t-forget-it seftalia, we’re going to drag you here (politely). Locals swear by it, visitors convert fast, and it’s earned serious bragging rights—Apantisi even took Best Souvlaki at the 2014 Cyprus Eating Awards and keeps popping up as a nominee year after year. The vibe is easy, casual, properly family-friendly, and after the renovation it feels brighter—plus there’s a cozy fireplace that turns chilly nights into “one more bite” nights.
But here’s the twist: this place isn’t only about plates—it’s a little local stage, a football-watching HQ, and a solid excuse to stay out late. Live music rolls in every Friday at 9 PM, with names locals actually show up for: Panagiotas Prokopas, Yiannis Theotokis, and Chrysantho Chrysanthous. If you time it right, you’ll be chewing, clapping, and wondering why you ever thought “we’ll just grab something quick.” The menu goes beyond the classics with plenty of grilled comfort—steaks, ribs, lamb, beef liver—and then there are the traditional meze nights with 20 small plates, from olives, tahini, and beetroot to yogurt dips and whatever seasonal surprises the kitchen decides you deserve.
Archiepiskopou Makariou 98, Kato Lakatamia, Nicosia | facebook.com/apantisi
2. Foukou Tou Yiakoumi
Foukou Tou Yiakoumi in Engomi is one of those places locals talk about with that proud little half-smile—because in their minds, this is where real Cypriot souvlaki still lives. It’s small, simple, and not here to impress you with décor. A handful of tables, a steady stream of regulars, and the kind of grill aroma that makes you forget your “we’ll eat later” plan. Don’t underestimate it: the flavors are loud, the meats are the headline, and it’s the sort of spot you’ll want to gatekeep… but won’t.
What makes it work is the care behind the scenes. Fresh, local ingredients are the backbone, with meat coming in daily and getting the proper treatment—seasoned with aromatic Cypriot herbs, not drowned, not rushed. The skewers and sheftalies are made by hand each morning, so when they hit your plate they’re juicy, smoky, and ridiculously fresh. We come hungry, you should too.
And no, it’s not “just skewers,” even if the grill is doing most of the talking. You can build your pita like a choose-your-own-adventure: pork, chicken, halloumi, mushrooms, sausage, pastourma—or chaos mode, with combinations. The famous Giakoumi Variety Platter is the move when you can’t decide: pork and chicken souvlaki, seftalia, sausage, halloumi, mushrooms—the whole parade. There are also heavier hitters like spicy pork steak, wine-marinated pancetta, veal steak, ribs, liver, and burgers. Add crispy fries and a fresh salad and suddenly we’re planning a second visit before we’ve even paid.
Lykavitou 52, 2401 Engomi, Nicosia | facebook.com/foukoutouyiakoumi
3. O Gyros Tis Akropolis
Right in central Nicosia, O Gyros Tis Akropolis is basically a love letter to properly done gyros: juicy, deeply seasoned, and cooked the traditional way on a slow-roasting vertical spit. You know that moment when you take the first bite and your brain goes quiet? That. And while the name screams “gyros,” don’t sleep on their souvlaki—locals absolutely don’t, and neither should you if you’ve got a soft spot for grilled perfection.
Demand got big enough that they opened a second spot in Agios Dometios: The Grill of the Acropolis. This one leans hard into the classics—souvlaki and seftalia, grilled exactly how you want them. Choose pork, chicken, or beef gyros, served in Greek or Cypriot pita with salad, tzatziki, and fries. The bigger menu brings extra temptations too: burgers, steaks, halloumi, chicken fillets—fresh, fast, and full of flavor, the way a proper grill joint should be.
If you’re a purist, go straight for the souvlaki wrap. Pick your meat, load up the essentials—onions, cucumbers, tomato, parsley, lettuce, tzatziki—and let it do what Cyprus does best: simple ingredients, big confidence, zero regret.
Steliou Mavromati 76, Agios Dometios 2364, Nicosia | Akropoleos 45, Acropolis, Nicosia | facebook.com/ogurostisakropolis
4. Adouloti Keryneia
A proper Nicosia institution, Adouloti Keryneia has been feeding the city for over 36 years, and it shows—in the best way. Family-run, proudly traditional, and built around the kind of comfort food that keeps regulars returning like it’s a weekly ritual. Expect hearty stews, serious grilled meats, and skewers that taste like someone’s grandmother is quietly judging your life choices (and approving this one). And yes, the freshly fried potatoes are famous: crisp, hot, and served like they were born for the table. Add checkered tablecloths and that cozy, old-school feel, and we’re basically eating in a warm family kitchen.
What to order? Start with the pork souvlaki—either as a platter or tucked into pita—then add rich seftalia and the much-loved tender beef liver if you’re feeling brave (you should be). Appetizers go deep: ribs, wine sausages, zucchini with yogurt, grilled vegetables, and then some wonderfully specific Cypriot specialties like spinach with mushrooms and egg, tomato with egg, and halloumi-topped fried potatoes with sausage and sauce. It’s the kind of menu where you accidentally order “one extra thing”… three times.
And don’t you dare skip dessert. Go classic with semolina halva, lean into indulgence with fried bananas with syrup and ice cream, or finish with walnut syrup burekhi—sweet endings that make you sit back and say, “Okay. Cyprus wins.”
Agios Ioannou 7, Strovolos, Nicosia | facebook.com/adouloti.keryneia
5. Takis O Leventis
Takis O Leventis is for the people who take grill culture personally. It’s all about passion, patience, and respect for the old ways—where family recipes meet carefully sourced local ingredients and turn into some of the most flavorful souvlaki in Nicosia. We come here when we want that “everything tastes intentional” feeling, and you’ll get it from the first bite.
The signature move is the Leventiko Souvlaki, marinated with a secret family blend and served with onions, tomato, cucumber, parsley, and lemon—simple, sharp, and perfectly balanced. Pitas come loaded with pork, chicken, seftalia, kebabs, sausage, pastourma, and more, while plate people can go full feast mode with skewers, pancetta, ribs, and lamb chops grilled exactly the way your appetite is hoping for.
And if you’re traveling with someone who doesn’t eat meat—or you’re just mixing it up—Takis has you covered. Think falafel, halloumi and mushroom pitas, veggie burgers, and potato pies. It’s one of those rare grill joints where nobody has to “just get fries.”
119D Athalassas Avenue, Nicosia | instagram.com/takisoleventis
6. Souvlakia Tou Antrou
Souvlakia Tou Antrou is one of those small, family-run places where the welcome is warm and the portions are not here to be polite. There are just a few tables, no nonsense, and a reputation built on great service and seriously generous plates. If you’re chasing some of the best pork skewers and seftalia in the city, we’re not saying this is mandatory… but we’re also not not saying that.
The must-order is their secret-recipe seftalia, and the chicken souvlaki comes out smoky and tender in that “how is this so juicy?” way. Pitas get filled with the usual heroes—tomato, cucumber—and you can add onion and parsley if you like your bite with extra punch. Platters go beyond the basics too, with lamb ribs, grilled steak, bacon, sausage, and wine-marinated meats when you’re ready to level up.
Arrive hungry and do the smart thing: order the oversized variety platter. It’s stacked with pork souvlaki, ribs, halloumi, mushrooms, crispy fries, and a fresh salad—basically a tasting tour that saves you from decision fatigue (and gives you an excuse to unbutton your jeans).
49A Kyrenias Ave., Aglantzia, Nicosia | facebook.com/suvlakiatouantrou
7. To Pikantiko
Pikantiko has been open since 1999, and it’s the spot you hit when you want your souvlaki with a little attitude. The whole point is the spicy twist on the classics—and the loyal fan base is proof it’s not a gimmick. People come back for the consistency: juicy skewers, fiery seftalia, fresh salads, and pitas that arrive hot enough to make you pause for half a second before biting (then bite anyway).
Beyond souvlaki, the menu keeps things interesting with grilled starters like mushrooms, halloumi, sausage, pastourma, and vegetables, plus heartier mains—pork chops, lamb ribs, beef liver, and crassata when you’re going full Cypriot. Seafood fans aren’t ignored either: they do a seasonal fish selection that can include sea bream, bass, and cuttlefish. And if you want dinner to turn into a proper night out, time it for Saturday—there’s live music every week at 9 PM, which is basically your cue to stop checking the time.
Arch. Makariou Avenue 13, Kato Lakatameia, Nicosia | facebook.com/p/To-pikantiko
8. Tavernaki Filippos
Tavernaki Filippos is the definition of uncomplicated charm—come hungry, leave happy, repeat. In winter, you walk into that instant comfort of a wood stove and traditional décor that makes you want to linger. In summer, it flips into courtyard mode: a flower-filled patio that feels like someone’s backyard dinner party, only with better grilling skills.
The menu is a dream for meat lovers: juicy souvlaki, flavorful seftalia, and specialties like sumaki-marinated lamb skewers that bring a punchy, aromatic edge. You’ll also find lamb ribs, sausages, steak, and those golden potatoes everyone fights over, plus heavier comfort classics like beef liver. One local favorite to look out for is the oregano-seasoned brisket, grilled until smoky and tender—one of those dishes that makes you sit back and say, “Okay, we get it. This is why people come here.”
Dimitras 2AB, Strovolos, Nicosia | facebook.com/tavernakiflippos
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