Italian pizza in Cyprus, as it turned out, is a very rare occurrence. And good Italian pizza is even rarer. Before finally trying Italian pizza, we tried various others: both in Cypriot taverns and just in chain restaurants. We cannot say that such pizzas are bad, they are just different. But let’s talk about everything in order.
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Different pizza in Cyprus
We noticed that American pizza is more common in Cyprus. Here there will be no problem ordering a pizza with home delivery or just ordering it in a restaurant. After all, they cook it in almost every restaurant, it doesn’t matter whether this place specializes in pizza or not, but this does not mean that it will be Italian.
When you enter a tavern with Cypriot or Greek cuisine, you will surely see pizza on the menu. In Turkish cuisine restaurants, this is still natural, since pizzas are presented in Turkish cuisine, or they are also called lahmacun or, for example, pide – it also looks very much like pizza. But among Cypriot and Greek dishes similar to pizza, you can choose only lavash or pita bread. Well, the Cypriots are not famous for their pizza, and that’s okay, they have a lot of other tasty things here. Moussaka, sheftalia, wine, feta cheese – yes, but not Italian pizza.
Pizza in Cypriot taverns
Pizza in Cypriot taverns is mainly made from yeast dough. It is really difficult to predict how it will be since it is different in different places. Sometimes it is lush and soft, sometimes thin and crispy, sometimes the sides are sprinkled with parmesan. But if we consider the fillings, then their variety and quantity are really amazing. Cypriots put everything in the stuffing. It could be feta cheese, olives, or canned pineapple. We would also not be surprised if they put some sheftalia or Greek salad there :).
In the end, the pizza is, of course, delicious. The dough tastes and looks like a bun, the filling is juicy, but sure, it depends on the ingredients. In general, such pizza is more like American pizza or homemade. Also, for whom this is relevant, restaurants often provide the opportunity to order such pizzas in different sizes.
Pizza in North Cyprus
Northern Cyprus, or, as it is also called, Turkish, is rich in restaurants with Turkish cuisine. In this part of Cyprus, we have never gone to an Italian restaurant and have not tried Italian pizza, so we can’t say anything. But let’s talk about Turkish pizza :).
Pizza in Turkish establishments is unique and does not look either Italian or American. Pizza is cooked in only one size. For the base, yeast dough is taken. The sides of Turkish pizza are not as fluffy, they are more crispy. Also, salami, Turkish sausages (they are also called sujuk), minced meat, tomatoes, peppers, and spices are often used for the filling. The stuffing comes out juicy. Cheese is used very rarely for it, in comparison with Italian pizza. And if they add cheese, then mostly this is cheddar, not mozzarella. From above, black sesame seeds are sometimes sprinkled on the sides. It’s tasty.
Pizza at Pizza Hut, Domino’s Pizza, Papa John, Pizza Mia
There are many chain restaurants in Cyprus such as Pizza Hut, Domino’s Pizza, Papa John, Pizza Mia. These establishments are located throughout Cyprus, well, almost everywhere. In the Turkish part of Cyprus, it will be possible to find only Domino’s Pizza and even then not in all cities. We will provide you with a list of cities where you can find these establishments.
Domino’s Pizza Cyprus:
- Nicosia
- Larnaca
- Limassol
- Paphos
- Lefkosa
- Famagusta
Pizza Hut Cyprus:
- Nicosia
- Larnaca
- Limassol
- Paphos
- Paralimni
- Protaras
- Ayia Napa
- Oroklini
- Kitty
- Paya
- Strovolos
- Nicosia Mall
Papa John Cyprus:
- Nicosia
- Larnaca
- Limassol
- Paphos
Pizza Mia Cyprus:
- Nicosia
- Larnaca
- Limassol
As you can see, almost every big city on the island has such an establishment. And this is very convenient since such pizza can be eaten anywhere. And most importantly, you know what to expect from it. Of course, they provide delivery. In general, the service is similar to the service of these restaurants in other countries.
These chain restaurants serve American pizza, not Italian pizza. For some cases, pizza from such establishments is suitable, but if you already want Italian pizza, then you will need to strain and look.
Italian pizza, what is it?
Basically, when you hear “Italian pizza”, the imagination draws a picture already known to everyone. This is a small size dough in the form of a circle, with lush fried tiger sides. Inside the filling is with a tomato or cheese base, juicy, a lot of mozzarella, parmesan. This pizza is fresh, soft, crispy, and juicy at the same time.
Of course, this pizza is best eaten immediately after cooking. Then the melted cheese stretches, the filling is hot and juicy. It has not yet had time to soak the pizza crust and a crispy base is felt. All tastes are mixed and you get complete pleasure. After it has cooled down or even if it is heated up, you can still eat it, but the sides will definitely only be soft, this freshness disappears and the taste is not the same.
In general, we recommend eating Italian pizza in a restaurant or, due to restrictions regarding the coronavirus when restaurants are closed to visitors, without going far from the place :).
Where is the Italian pizza in Cyprus?
If you look carefully, then in Cyprus you can find very tasty Italian pizza. But, so that you do not look for a long time, we will already give you a list of such places. Do not judge strictly, at the moment we have not tried in all cities yet, but these restaurants in Nicosia and Larnaca are definitely worth a visit.
Italian pizza in Nicosia
In Nicosia, we have found so far one institution with Italian cuisine:
- Rokoko Kitchen & Bar. Located near Eleftheria Square (Eiffel Tower, 21, Christodoulou Sozou)
Italian pizza in Larnaca
There are two good Italian restaurants in Larnaca:
- DIVINUS. Located in the Mackenzie Beach area (2 Tasos Mitsopoulos Avenu, 6028).
- Pizza 485. Located near Finikoudes, namely in Q City Center (D.N Dimitriou 11, 6022)
We will talk about them in more detail in the next article.
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