Nicosia's Green Eating

Nicholas glances at the dining out options for vegetarians and vegans

 A few years ago, one of the few times vegans and vegetarians could truly celebrate their diet with a plethora of options was during Lent, when most restaurants served meat-free meals to those fasting. Even though the Cypriot hospitality scene has a long way to go in terms of catering to vegetarians, a number of restaurants now serve plant-based dishes. Yes, salads, grilled halloumi, and bean burgers are all options. Nicosia, in particular, has a number of restaurants that serve nutrient-dense and delicious vegan and vegetarian fare. 

The first on the list is a restaurant dedicated solely to green eating. Brunch at Elysian Plant Based Kitchen Bar Nicosia is a notable haven for those seeking to sample meatless cuisine. It is the capital's first 100% plant-based kitchen bar with a health-conscious mindset, which opened in 2020. The kitchen bar is not only meat-free, but also refined sugar-free, white flour-free, and environmentally friendly. Breakfast options, smoothie bowls, salads, wraps and gyros, burgers, and desserts are all available on the extensive menu. A popular choice is the Elysian Signature burger, which features a patty made with mushrooms, walnuts, brown rice, oats, and minced beetroot, topped with salad and a special sauce.

"Inga's Veggie Heaven is my favorite vegan/vegetarian restaurant," says Nicole, who has been vegan for five years. "First and foremost, it has been around for years, and everything is made from scratch and is super fresh."

Elysian is a favorite of Annabelle, a Nicosia resident who has been a vegetarian for nearly two decades. "I think more vegetarian/vegan restaurants, like this one, should open up so that a vegetarian can have a whole menu to themselves for once and not have to skim through the menu to find the two foods that are suitable for them," she says. "So, I like this restaurant because the entire menu is available to me, and their food is delicious even if you don't eat meat."

Though there is more variety now, there are still a few restaurants that devote a large portion of their menu to non-meat eaters. Most Nicosia restaurants serve a limited selection of plant-based dishes that lack creativity and flavor. "I feel like a lot of restaurants don't put much effort into vegan/vegetarians, and always advertise Vegan/Veggie options and label existing things on the menu like falafels, salad, chips and dips," Nicole adds.

"If some restaurants dedicated some time to creating two or three great plant-based options that stand out on the menu, a lot of people would be happy." Another thing restaurants could do to make us vegans/vegetarians feel special is to dedicate a small section to us.