Ayia Napa

WARNING ! You’re gonna find it pretty hard to leave this fantasy to go back to reality …

Anyone who knows Napa, knows, that ‘full of youths’ stigma is just a load of media hype and no different from any other top resort! Fact is, it’s so versatile…

Rio’s Piri Piri Chicken, Paralimni

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Evi continued; "It all started back in 1912, when Wilbur Scoville charted the comparative heat of different chillis.  The greater the number of Scouville units the hotter the chilli, but don't worry, we have 8 Different Flavours of Piri Piri sauces, from Zesty Lemon and Herb to Extreme with everything in between!"  Piri Piri of course means Pepper Pepper, my favourites are the Hot & Spicy and the Jerk Chicken, OMG!

Inside Out Minus One, Rock Band, Nicosia

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this local band based in Nicosia, are one of the few Cypriot bands that sing in English and tbh, they're unique in every sense of the word ... normally doing about 10 gigs a month the lockdown has given them time to think, differently, yet again!!!

The Loop, Brunch, Coffee, Life, Paralimni

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Over a gorgeous cappuccino I asked Vaida, why she created 'The Loop'? … She explained; "I'm originally from Lithuania, but lived in Holland for many many years and fell in love and married Nicos a Cypriot and finally moved to Cyprus just 8 years ago" … Vaida continued, "I noticed there was a distinct lack of places to get good fresh food, not just vegetarian and vegan but specialising in healthy eats and healthy diets".


LarnacaLarnaca

The Hub of Cyprus If you’re staying in Larnaca, this port of old, discovering the island’s other attractions couldn’t be easier with countless day trips in every direction, and meanwhile you’ll find out why it’s…

Snazz that Glass

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Angela mostly works on glass but she can jazz almost anything up. She also loves making hand painted cards, naturally unique every time.  One of her faves, bottles, not just with glitter, which btw is biodegradable . Glass Painting aka Stained Glass . Faux Glass aka Liquid Leading . also the ancient Chinese art of Decoupage, using rice paper, the results are stunning !

The 7th Cyprus Bar Show, Protaras

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There's 8 different Cocktail Mixing Competitions that will be held over the two days, with big cash prizes to be won.  At the exhibition will be around 20 Booths, where members of The Cyprus Bartenders Association can present their services and local products, anything from glasses, and bar tools to craft beers and award-winning wines and spirits ...

Ammochostos Motor Museum, Ayia Napa

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I wanted to have a chat before Andreas gave me a personal tour of the museum, so we met upstairs in the cafe and ice cream parlour, my delicious cappuccino brewed with 'Vittorio Coffee' pure Arabica from Brazil.  I asked Andreas to tell me how it all started?  He said, "It started as a hobby, I would find old cars, in Cyprus, mostly Fords, buy them and restore them myself, to showroom perfection, sometimes having to source spare parts from all over the world.  Then he said, " Next thing you know, whenever my friends were selling a vintage or classic car, I would buy it".

limassol night (1) Limassol

Our Capital on the Coast also known as Lemessos it’s by far the largest coastal resort in Cyprus, and was the first town to grow after the Turkish invasion in 1974. Many of Famagusta’s residents moved…

Rise Street Art Hotel, Larnaca

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Over a delicious Illy coffee, I asked Charbel how it all started; he said, "In the past, I was an HR Operations Manager in the F&B Sector ... Then we found this place, and between 2016 to 2021, we took Rise of the past, and Re-Branded it ... it was during the pandemic where I got the idea to take it to a new level and we had the time make some improvements, the idea was to 'Elevate your Hotel Experience' ... it's not just about the decoration it's about culture and spirit"

Grand Opening Party of Blind Taste, Paralimni, Saturday 1st December 2018

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... and enjoy some wine tasting and maybe try a few of their speciality drinks including; Wines from selected Cypriot Wineries . Single Malts . Whiskys . Blended Malts . Tennessee Whisky . Rums . Beluga Vodka . Belaire Champagne . Prosecco .  Moskato . Borolo and many imported Beers for a list of over 150 from around the world ... oh, and there'll be complementary finger food to accompany your drink.

‘Chez Fāina – Fayrous’, Mediterranean Brasserie, Larnaca

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Fāinā told me "We originally opened a French restaurant in Makarios Avenue, introducing Lebanese cuisine after 2 years, but when we moved our restaurant here we switched to a Lebanese Restaurant with just a few French dishes as our customers were mostly locals.  These days its a more varied international mix as more and more tourists have discovered us.  As the years past, we found more and more of our customers were asking us to cook French cuisine for them".  She laughed and said "ha! but many restaurants cook Frogs Legs, but none can cook them like ours!  And, then she added; just wait til you try our Duck!"

Intro Lefkosia town sceneNicosia

The Capital is Always worth a visit! Lefkosia or Nicosia, to us die hard’s, lies at the centre of the island, in the Mesaoria Plain, flanked by the northern range of mountains.  A charming city…

Capodecina Pasta Bar, Larnaca

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I popped into meet Stelios and Eleni, inside its clean cut, minimalistic, Italian designer style, with wooden flooring, comfortable seating for around 25 people inside and a few tables outside for Al' Fresco dining … Stelios told me "we wanted to make it feel like Home from Home" … I loved the really cool photos chosen by Eleni, especially the one saying "Eat the Spaghetti to Forget your Regretti", brilliant"!

Second Hand

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Over the past twenty years or so, as the European market steadily arrived to live here ... they sort of changed the second hand...

Papageorgiou Hotel & Domestic Equipment, Paralimni

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Not just for hotels, this place caters for everyone who loves to cook ... The stock is extensive, to say the least, and delivery is nationwide, which is why they're favoured by many top hotels, restaurants, bars, cafeterias, apartments and private and domestic homes.  I think it's the only place you can go to find just what you need, on every visit!

Pafos1Paphos

Sunset Boulevard Also known as Pafos, it’s quite a way up the west coast, where the sun turns into a big red doorknob as it sets into the Med … it’s the birthplace of the…

London Clothing Company, Protaras

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One of the most influential fashion stores in Cyprus, London Clothing Company, in Ayia Napai is without a doubt, one of the leading fashion stores in Cyprus ... here you'll find collections by; Calvin Klein, Jack & Jones, Hugo Boss, Vero Moda, Indeep, JDY, Girl in Mind, Deepstar, EA7 and Solid, Only, Superdry, Vero Moda, Pepe Jeans Shoes, to mention but a few! ... Click on the article for Maps & More ...

Darcy’s Restaurant & Lounge Bar, Pegeia, Paphos

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The place looks so welcoming, a spacious alfresco lounge under vines with comfy sofas and just inside on the covered terrace, tables immaculately set, pristine, polished wine glasses of various sizes ready for a fine selection of wines, inside is lounge, bistro style, clean and shiny, a well stocked bar with stools if you only want wine 😉 and unusually loos on the same floor, so not walking up and down stairs, very cool ! ... Oh and really good cuisine !!!

Driving you to Drink

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... Anyway, I imagine there'll be a few clinking bottles en route !

Intro - Paralimni - St Georges Church ScanParalimni & Kapparis

Next to the Lake Paralimni is best described as Ayia Napa and Protaras’ ‘live in’ village, Para-limni means, next to the lake!  And we still have, arguably, our winter fill as evidence, enough to confuse…

Di Capilla Seaside Stories, Protaras

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I've known the infamous consultant chef Louis Papageorgiou since he opened Di Capilla Seaside Stories in 2005.  It was my absolute pleasure to interview him, without a doubt one of Cyprus' finest chefs, this guy is seriously on another level.  These days, he's writing a new chapter, purely by accident, in 2010 he met and partnered up with Savvas, a master of hospitality, whom I've known since his Napa days in 1993 ... and together they started a new story ...

Saveco Health Centre & Medical Services, Ayia Napa

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It's always nice to know there's a qualified General Practitioners in the area ... Dr. Savas and his team of multi-lingual paramedics and assistants provide a 24/7 Medical Service second to none for local residents and visitors to the Ayia Napa, Protaras and Paralimni areas ...

Something Wickedly Hot is Coming to Cyprus

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We’re excited to be the first to announce that fresh and dried Carolina Reaper Peppers are ready to be grown in Cyprus.  So get ready to meet the king of heat, and trust me, they’re not for the faint-hearted.  But, in Cyprus, these super hot peppers will also be blended with extra virgin olive oil to create 'PowerJuice', so I caught up with owner and pioneer Vasillies of Larnaca Park & Fly fame to find out more ...

Polis & Latchi 20Polis & Latchi

Cyprus’ little secret In the hub of Chrysochou bay, centrally situated between two stunning harbours, Latchi and Pomos, with the Paphos forest to the east and the Akamas peninsula to the west, lays this small…

Pizzeria Caliano, Kissonerga, Paphos

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This brother and sister team are originally from Bucharest, Roumania, where Demi studied and qualified in catering at a private school, both persuaded to move to Cyprus by their father, an artist extraordinaire, who hand crafted fireplaces, and was the genius behind the creation of the inside of the wood fired pizza oven that cooks your pizza to absolute perfection, whilst Demi and Gina designed the fascia and the rest of the restaurant ... a rustic feel, minimalistic, comfortable, and traditional with a beautiful garden out back, sails providing the shade as you watch the sunset over the sea view ...

April 2024

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Talking about beaches, Ayia Napa and Protaras on the east coast, boast 2 of the Best Beaches in Europe and tbh, we're blessed with the nicest sea I’ve ever had the pleasure to swim in, in the world ... Add stuff like; Licensing hours currently ‘til 2.30 am, and then, of course, our night clubs will take you through to sunrise, not too good for the tan unless you go straight to the beach after a good night out, speaking by experience 😉

The Last Fantasy Boat Party 2016

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Lets face it, if you missed the boat you missed an awesome party on the med ...

Protaras Bay by NightProtaras & Pernera

Boasting one of the finest beaches in the world ! Protaras is one of my favourite towns, as it was back in 1991 I came here to work for my first full season and boy…

Limelight Grill House Taverna, Ayia Napa

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This spacious family run restaurant has been a popular favourite for over 3 decades and naturally it gets packed.  The decor of stone arches, plants, palm trees and courtyards adds to the relaxed ambiance, whilst the proprietor 'Paul' will make you feel like one of the family, many customers are still going back for more after thirty years!

Mad November Sunsets, Ayia Napa

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I just love November sunsets and tonight the sky was mad ... Enjoy!

Cypriot

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I wouldn't say we produce the best meat by far, but our pork is amazing and anywhere we fall back a bit we import so you'll find that cooking Cypriot style is wonderful and of course I am a little bias, but when it comes to BBQ ... No one does it better !!!

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Carbon Copies Live @ Tipsy O’Turtle, Pernera

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Carbon Copies are a four-piece band from the United Kingdom, best known for performing popular indie rock and alternative rock hits. Their repertoire features music from some of Britain's best-loved bands, alongside well-known rock anthems from the international music scene.

Parko Paliatso Luna Park, Ayia Napa

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I love this place, the sounds of gears and links chinking, smothered by fair ground music, the smell of candy floss and bbq corn on the cob, the multi coloured lights and occasional girly screams. It's really cool idea coz you just buy a Wrist Band depending on your ages and what you want to do!

Ed’s Note October 2026

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It’s October already, that went quick!  and it really is one of my favourite months!  Partly because that long hot summer is definitely over, or is it? … I asked the fishermen and they said it might not rain again ‘til mid-November, with temperatures still up in the 30°C’s, as we enter October, that’s about 90°F in English.  Just as we predicted back in May, it looks like we’re going to have another Indian summer and we’ll still be going to the beach in December, Mmm, don’t you just love Cyprus!

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