Where can you eat on a budget in Limassol?

There’s no doubt about it: you certainly won’t go hungry in Cyprus in general, or in Limassol in particular. The city offers eateries to suit every taste and budget. If you like to dine in style, you should head to one of Limassol’s restaurants at a luxury hotel or find a spot in the old town. Incidentally, an interesting feature of hotel restaurants in Cyprus is that they’re favoured not only by tourists but also by locals. For example, the restaurants at the Four Seasons, Amathus and Londa hotels are never empty, even in winter.

But today we’re going to talk about places where you’ll be delighted not only by the quality of the food, but also by the modest bill at the end of your meal.

Ocean Basket in Limassol

One of the most popular spots amongst visitors and locals alike is the South African chain restaurant Ocean Basket. Here you’ll be offered everything from local starters (country-style salad and traditional dips, squid and crab, octopus and mussels), as well as generous platters featuring a whole range of seafood (priced from €14.50 per person).

There are two Ocean Basket restaurants in Limassol: one in the heart of the tourist area, near the Starbucks café and close to the 5* Appolonia Hotel, and another in the food court of the My Mall shopping centre.

Traditional Cypriot cuisine in Limassol

Traditional small cafés, where you can grab a bite of shawarma and kebabs, are dotted all over Limassol. You won’t find any fancy interiors here, of course, but if you spot a place where lots of Cypriots gather during their lunch breaks and at weekends, you can be sure it’s worth a visit.

A meal in such cafés won’t break the bank. A portion of traditional souvlaki starts at 5 euros. It’s served with chips and a vegetable salad. You can find one such café near the ‘Taras Bulba’ restaurant and the ‘Sigma’ bakery in the centre of the tourist area. However, if you’re planning to grab a bite to eat here at the weekend, be prepared for the fact that there might not be any free tables, and you’ll have to wait quite a while for your meal.

Takeaway is very popular amongst locals, so many local establishments usually offer a discount on takeaway meals. Read the menu carefully and keep an eye out for special offers. Even in small cafés, the menu is usually available in English, and sometimes in Russian.

Chain cafés in Limassol

As in other countries, chain cafés are the most affordable option for a light snack in Cyprus. All the major chain brands are represented on the island – McDonald’s, KFC, Pizza Hut and many others.

The cost of a meal in such places is comparable to prices in European countries. What’s interesting here is the way these chains have incorporated local flavours into their menus. For example, McDonald’s offers a Cypriot burger with halloumi and lountza, as well as some of the island’s traditional dishes.

All chain restaurants in Limassol offer home and office delivery. Delivery charges depend on the restaurant and the order total. In some cases, delivery is free of charge.

Bakeries in Limassol

Local bakeries are very popular amongst the island’s residents. For example, the large ‘Sigma’ bakery chain, some of whose branches are open round the clock. At this bakery, you can either grab a bite to eat by choosing baked goods from the shop (pizza, pies, desserts) and ordering a cup of delicious coffee, or buy snacks for a light meal at home.

Bakeries in supermarkets are no less popular in Cyprus. Papas, Carrefour, Alfamega and Debenhams all sell their own baked goods. Incidentally, baked goods in Cyprus are quite expensive – the average price of white bread is around €1.50. Consequently, the baked goods aren’t exactly cheap, but they’re perfectly suitable for an affordable snack. The cost of the freshest pastries filled with cheese, or cheese and ham – the traditional fillings – is around €12 per kilogram. If you add some freshly squeezed orange juice to this snack, you’ll have a rather decent and, of course, very tasty lunch.

Delicatessens in Limassol

All supermarket chains in Cyprus have their own deli counters. Here you’ll find a perfectly decent selection of traditional salads, hot dishes and sweet treats. You shouldn’t expect any culinary delights, of course, but the produce is always of high quality, fresh and reasonably priced. For example, a portion of salad, half a grilled chicken and a side dish from the deli at Carrefour will set you back just 8 euros.

And if you fancy a taste of Russian cuisine, do check out the ‘Rus-Market’ shop. Here you’ll find Olivier salad and vinaigrette (around 4 euros), as well as delicious pastries (sausage rolls, vatrushki, meat and potato pies, and pancakes with or without filling) – all for around 2 euros. You can be 100 per cent sure of the quality!

Coffee shops in Limassol

Limassol is full of coffee shops, the most popular of which are the chains Starbucks and Costa Coffee. They don’t offer a wide selection of snacks, as coffee shops are generally places to enjoy a coffee, but you’ll be able to find a light bite such as sandwiches (costing around €3), pastries and desserts.

The main advantage of coffee shops is that they usually open early in the morning, whereas many restaurants and cafés serving breakfast only open after 12 noon, particularly during the autumn and winter months.

Incidentally, the cost of breakfast in Limassol is also quite reasonable – between 3 and 5 euros, depending on what’s included and the standard of the establishment. Typically, an English breakfast includes fried eggs with bacon, baked beans, fried mushrooms, toast with butter and jam, and a hot drink (tea or coffee).

So, we hope you’ve now found the answer to the question ‘Where can you eat cheaply in Limassol?’. The restaurant and café scene, like the rest of the tourism industry in Cyprus, is extremely well developed. The island offers you a wealth of options that will not only suit your taste but also won’t break the bank.