Fish meze in Cyprus: how to choose and what to ask

Fish meze is a way to share a sequence of dishes, but there is no single menu or fixed number of plates that every restaurant follows. Before ordering, establish what the restaurant means by meze, how it is charged and whether the whole table needs to participate.

Meze or a seafood platter?

A platter usually arrives as a defined selection; a meze may be served in several stages. Neither format is automatically better. If you have limited time, ask about the pace of the meal. If you want to taste a range of dishes, ask what the current meze includes rather than relying on an old menu photograph.

Places and menus to investigate

Pyxida: Nicosia and Limassol

Pyxida has restaurant information for Nicosia and Limassol. Use its branch menu pages to check the offering at the location you intend to visit. Do not assume that a menu or special at one branch applies to both.

Meze Taverna: Limassol Old Town

Meze Taverna publishes its menu online. It is another starting point when comparing a taverna meal in Limassol. Our Limassol meze guide explains the questions that help you compare meat and fish options.

Ocean Basket: a platter alternative

Ocean Basket Limanaki is useful to compare if you prefer seafood and sushi choices from a published menu. A sharing platter should not be described as a traditional fish meze without checking the specific offer. Read our Limanaki visit guide for branch details.

Questions before the first plate arrives

• Is the quoted price per person, per pair or per platter?
• Is there a minimum number of people?
• Which dishes and drinks are included?
• Can the restaurant accommodate allergies or excluded ingredients?
• Is any whole fish charged separately by weight?

A coastal address does not tell you where the fish was caught or how it was handled. Ask the restaurant if sourcing is important to your choice.

Find the right area

Browse the seafood collection or the Larnaca, Limassol, Nicosia and Paphos pages. For help with other menu terms, see our guide to Cypriot dishes.

If seafood is your focus, our seafood restaurants in Cyprus by region guide compares more dining formats in Paphos, Limassol and Larnaca.