Laona Restaurant

Laona Restaurant is a home-style Cypriot lunch place in the Votsi district of Ktima, Paphos, away from the harbour tourist strip and aimed largely at local diners. The kitchen specialises in homemade Cypriot cooking, with casseroles and stews that change daily, so the menu depends on what has been cooked that morning. Signature dishes include stuffed cabbage, in which cabbage leaves are rolled around a rice and mince filling and simmered; lamb stew; and beef stew, the kind of slow-cooked, comforting plates Cypriot families eat at home on weekdays. These dishes reflect the island's tradition of oven and pot cooking, where meat is braised with tomato, herbs and vegetables until tender. The dining room is plain and unpretentious, with no dress code, a lively but unforced lunchtime noise level, and the feel of a neighbourhood canteen rather than a tourist restaurant. It is among the cheapest sit-down options in Paphos, at about EUR 12-20 (roughly USD 14-23) per person, which makes it popular with workers and budget-conscious visitors. Listed hours are Monday to Saturday from 11:00 to 15:00, with evening service only on Tuesday and Friday, and the restaurant is closed on Sunday. Because the casseroles are made in limited batches, arriving earlier in the lunch window gives a better choice of dishes. Reservations can be made by phone on +357 26 937121, though walk-ins are common and a booking is rarely essential except for larger groups. Votsi is a short walk or taxi ride from the centre of Ktima, so the restaurant suits visitors who want to see an everyday side of Paphos beyond Kato Paphos. Diners can ask staff what is cooked that day, since the offering is not fixed, and should expect modest portions of honest home cooking rather than refined presentation. Water, soft drinks and local wine are the usual drinks.