A Place of Relaxation. Oniro Paphos. Photo: Osnat Guetta Despite the large number of tourists traveling to Paphos, Cyprus, people often ask what there is to do there or complain that it's a boring destination. In reality, no place is truly boring; you just have to know what to do there.
To uncover a place, you need to be patient, ask the locals questions, and have a desire to explore and try new things. Most people tend to go to the promenade or look for taverns, but unfortunately, most taverns in Paphos are touristy, except for two or three great family-run ones. However, there are some new, trendy spots worth checking out.
Chef Dana Shapira, the talented chef of "Paphos Hills", offers some really tasty recommendations of spots in Paphos you might not know.
Upon entering Oniro, you will experience a moment when your breath will be taken away by the beauty. To reach this tropical coastline, you will need to pass through a small jungle of beautiful trees and plants, from where you will arrive at a sort of oasis with a giant Moroccan tent by the sea, chairs, wooden tables, cool straw umbrellas. They are all overlooking a stunning turquoise sea you won't want to leave, as it's truly a captivating location.
But that's not all. Besides the sea, there are beautiful hidden caves and an impressive shipwreck, all relatively close and accessible.
The place is great for stopping for a relaxing drink mid-day or enjoying the sunset with the family, taking a stroll, and having a light lunch. The menu offers a variety of burgers, pizzas, and starters, an excellent selection of alcoholic beverages with fun cocktails, and, of course, coffee in various great iterations, as well as chocolate and shakes for the kids.
Peace by the Sea. Oniro Paphos. Photo: Osnat GuettaIn the city center, on the Paphos promenade, you'll find one of the best pizzas in Cyprus. Italian guys who opened a stylish Neapolitan pizzeria, featuring an excellent cocktail and wine menu, along with a huge oven that fills the air with an amazing aroma.
During summer days, the place is incredibly crowded, so it's essential to visit at off-peak times. However, if you are smart and visit Paphos in winter, you can indulge in the pizzas without waiting too long, and it's also a great recommendation for an evening out due to the excellent drinks.
In the morning, the place offers brunch with small dishes, sandwiches, eggs, and yogurt, while in the evening, it gets a more bar-like vibe. Pizzas start at 15 euros for a double tray. It's truly worth it, and not only because of the view.
Photo by Osnat GuettaThe Cypriots love coffee, sweets, and carbs, so you'll find quite a few bakeries in Paphos. There are two long-established family bakeries that have existed for decades: Papa Antonio and Zorba. These bakeries are truly empires of sweet and savory goods. In each, you'll also find prepared food alongside shelves full of pastries that look simple but cost a couple of euros and are very tasty.
Among the recommended pastries, we can mention spinach and cheese pastry, and, of course, yeast crescent filled with olives, plump pizzas, sausage wraps, cheese and tomato pastries seasoned with thyme, and many sweets. Be sure to take a bag with lots of delicious treats and grab a spot with a good cup of coffee to enjoy them.
This is a really small place with one table outside. Unlike traditional bakeries, you'll find a refined variety of sourdough breads and sweets at a higher price. In line with the German ambiance, there are ancient grain breads, cheese pretzels, and yeast pastries filled with poppy, chocolate, and strawberry cream, and more.
Carbs from Paphos. Photo: Osnat GuettaWhile you might not be a fan of pink kitsch, Stephanie Rose is one of the happiest spots in central Paphos and the perfect option for Instagram photos. Along the way, you'll find it's delicious too.
Stephanie is a sweet and modest pastry chef who creates a variety of small, designer boutique desserts, many of which are pink, but not exclusively so. They are tasty and sweet. The highlight is the design of the place, as everything is decorated in bright shades of pink and purple-pink and lots of roses. The entrance has a rose arch, and inside, it combines hot red sofas, pink chairs, a wall of red kisses, a huge wall of roses, and more. Perfect for Instagram, as we said.
Don’t let all this pink confuse you, here you’ll find great pancakes, lots of fancy cakes, cocktails, and more.
Pink in Eye and Taste. Photo by Osnat GuettaThe influx of Brits to Paphos has created quite a few changes in the culinary culture and no less in the drinking culture, so between an ouzo and another, you'll find quite a few English beers and gin. One of the coolest and most unique spots is located outside Paphos center and requires a drive, but it's worth it because you arrive at a charming, picturesque village with someone making cheeses (look for Maria) and also small taverns to gobble in. But we're here to drink gin.
It's a bar entirely dedicated to gin, with over 100 different types of gin and, of course, a variety of tonics. The place is run by British retirees who have chosen a life of calm and rest. You’ll find tasty snacks, pizzas, pancakes, and plates with charcuterie and cheeses, along with a cool and very diverse crowd, mostly British.
Abundance of Gin and Brits. Paphos. Photo by Osnat GuettaIn central Paphos, ETHOS was opened a few months ago, an elegant and chic mega bar with a large garden full of plants and trees, and an interior space designed with a huge bar in the middle, transparent walls full of wine, elegant green couches, and a performance corner. It's become one of the busiest and trendiest spots since it opened.
The place is busy and it's not easy to get a spot, but it’s worth the wait for a few reasons: first, it's a great option for those looking to go out for drinks and fun in a high-energy and contemporary music place and not just a tavern, secondly there’s an excellent food and drink menu at a really good price compared to the show of the place, and third it's a really fun place to be and the service is wonderful.
The venue hosts live performances throughout the week, and it’s quite a dating spot, so you’ll find plenty of beautiful people there. Don’t miss out on the impressive cheese platter and, of course, the cocktails.