What's On Cyprus

What started as a weekend gig, grew into a week long party, a week long pure rock festival, live bands on a big stage, and often in intimate venues, where you get a chance to grab a drink and socialise with like minded mates you've not seen since the last festival, as well as the band members who hang around the venues, along with the thousands of rock fans that started to follow Cyprus Rocks Festival over ten years ago ...

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 ...

Still one of the oldest, most classic and much loved pubs in Larnaca, after over 30 years ... the décor, all wood, prints and rock memorabilia everywhere, the courtyard out back all traditional and delightful. It's Cypriot, Rock hospitality, all the way!  with music ranging from Classic Rock to Jazz and Rhythm & Blues, and even occasionally, a little Reggae ... I just love this pub!

Coming up to their first anniversary in Cyprus I asked Nicola to tell me about the Menu ... Nicola said; "We sort of split it into three cuisines, Fresh Fish, Fresh Sushi, and Vegan Platters & Snacks ... Our head chef has been with us since day one, his qualifications and previous experience in Cyprus, the very best Sushi eateries, including Sushi La and Wagamama" ... I was suitably impressed!

A place with a cool atmosphere, to enjoy good food, but with big portions, served fresh from the Charcoal Grill, hosting regular events and of course showing all the live sports on the 4 big screens.  The decor traditional taverna style, inside it's spacious, comfy, a lovely log burner for the chilly winter evenings and outside a covered courtyard for the balmy summer nights ... oh I'm loving the new extended bar with RGB lights, looks well cool ...

I was delighted to be invited to catch Bill and Ems, aka Dejavu, playing live at Lithos Bar & Grill in Larnaca.  On that night they were joined by Andreas, their drummer, and as a trio, they go by the name 'Strings Attached'  I really loved this gig so much, especially their covers of Fever, and Hotel California, so I grabbed the chance to ask Bill if we could get together for a chat.

I asked why their beers are so good;  Taras explained, "The biggest difference of Craft Beer is it has more flavour and taste, mainly because it's not filtered or pasteurised, making it a much richer flavour.  Craft Beer is like a finger print because we never brew our beer in a bad mood, that's how we are here at Octo and we hope you are just like us" …

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"

Pretty much every Friday and definitely every Saturday, and the day before a bank holiday they host live Rock gigs with big name international bands and the very best local Greek and English Rock Bands ... they even squeeze in a little Rhythm and Blues, Indie, Folk, and the occasional Reggae and Disco night too ... I've even caught them doing The Candy up on stage ... adding a bit of live comedy these days ... You'll love it here !

Then step out back, the pièce de résistance, an absolutely enchanting courtyard, mature trees, plants, and foliage everywhere, a red trellis adorning a multitude of colours ... It's become a lively meeting spot for locals to unwind after a busy day.  The warm glow of twinkling fairy lights adds an enchanting touch to the already picturesque setting.