Agora Tavern

Agora Tavern is an old-town Cypriot restaurant at Talat Pasha 1 in Paphos, in the Ktima quarter close to the municipal market that gives the venue its name. Its approach is Cypriot tapas: instead of one main course per person, the kitchen sends out a chef's selection of small plates, available in meat or vegetarian versions, which diners share across the table. The tavern tapas selection is the signature order and works as a more flexible, lighter cousin of the traditional meze. Other staples include the village salad, a chopped mix of tomato, cucumber, onion, olives and capers, and grilled halloumi, the squeaky, salty Cypriot cheese seared until golden. The vegetarian option is a genuine draw in a cuisine that leans heavily on grilled meat, since Cypriot cooking has a strong tradition of pulses, vegetables and cheese dishes. The dining room is casual and unfussy, with no dress code and a sociable noise level that rises at the evening peak, and tables suit pairs and small groups. Prices are among the more modest in the old town, at about EUR 18-25 (roughly USD 21-29) per person. Opening hours are Monday to Saturday from 11:30 to 14:30 and from 18:30 to 22:30, and the tavern is closed on Sunday, so it serves both a lunch and a dinner sitting with a mid-afternoon break. Reservations are handled by phone on +357 99 611817, and booking is recommended for sunset tables in the warmer months, when seats near the windows or outdoor frontage are in demand. Lunch is typically calmer than dinner and a good time to try the tapas without the evening crowd. Visitors exploring the old town, the market and the nearby Ktima streets can slot the tavern into a walking route, since most sights in the upper town are within a short walk. Local wine, Keo or Leon beer and soft drinks make the usual accompaniments.