What's On Cyprus

amazing value for money and it really was delicious ... I'm going back

Naturally I'm a little bias, but Cypriot cuisine cooked the Cypriot way is just unbeatable!

I am delighted to add The Lordos Group of Hotels to our guide as I've worked closely with their 3 hotels and the Lordos family since 1993.  They are without a doubt one of Cyprus' leading companies and their 3 hotels certainly lead the way for comfort and hospitality.  Each hotel with it's own specific features, each hotel unique in it's own way.  All ideally situated in perfect locations, pretty much, right on the beach!

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 !

So, I asked George to tell me about his choice of beef ... and quite amazingly he told me; "We were the first to bring the burger scene to Larnaca.  We mated Black Angus steers with our cows at several local farms, which gave birth to more Angus beef and we're now in our 16th generation and naturally, we get our beef fresh from our associated local farms ... ah ha! that's why my burger tasted so good!

... These days he's got a crew of 30, most working as part of the family for years, and 'well oiled' is an understatement ... serving the best Cod and Haddock, and a nice bit of Plaice, imported from UK, Norway, Germany and France, deep fried in Lambros' crispy batter or breadcrumbs and served, of course, with chips made with Cyprus potatoes, pure heaven! ... opps, don't forget the mushy peas or maybe gravy, or curry sauce to dip your chips into and a few pickled onions and maybe a wally ... omg, old habits die hard oh, and almost forgot a good cuppa and a slice ... perfect!

This impeccable Wine Bar & Cafe, serves the finer things in life, just about the best coffee you'll taste anywhere in Cyprus.  Complementing your selection of over 300 different quality wines with signature Fruit, Meat or Cheese Platters, introducing you to imported cheeses from all over the world, maybe with a little marmalade, hmm, trust me, you won't find this selection anywhere else, oh, and freshly baked bread and breadsticks and btw, you really must try the new Charguterie, French-based Mixed Meat Platters plus of course everyone's favourite, the freshly made Sushi and some spontaneous finger foods encompassing the trend towards the healthy living options.

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!"

It was the name that first caught my attention, brilliant I thought! ... Then, this wonderful idea, equally brilliant!, a Boardgaming Cafe, nestled in the vibrant city of Larnaca, and I just had to get together with David, owner of 'Shakes and Lattes' to find out more ...