Eat · Ledra Street & Laiki Geitonia
Zanettos Taverna
Traditional meze taverna near Eleftheria Square: go for a long lunch or an early dinner, and book for dinner; the meze is the dish.
- Full meze
- Trikoupi Street
- Book for dinner
- Order: Full meze
- Table seating
- Walk-in window: 12:00–13:30
- Queue risk: 13:30–15:00
- Bring cash
Highlights come from Voykit's own data and desk notes, not from reviews. Hover a tag to see its source.
Rules in force · 6Old-town lanes have cobbles and steps
- Cyprus ↗Cyprus is in the EU but not in the Schengen area: a Schengen visa is not valid; check the entry rules for your nationality.
- Cyprus ↗Crossing the Green Line: carry your passport, cross only at the official points, and do not photograph the buffer zone or soldiers. Check that your hire-car insurance covers the north.
- Cyprus ↗Traffic drives on the left; hire-car roundabouts and junctions take practice.
- Nicosia District ↗Plan every leg outside Nicosia by car, transfer or scheduled bus; distances are short, but buses are infrequent.
- Nicosia ↗Old-town lanes have cobbles and steps: large suitcases go from the car to the door, never on a walk.
- Nicosia ↗Carry your passport to cross the Green Line; the crossing at Ledra Street is on foot, and questions about hire cars or photography go to the officers at the point.
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Map & directions
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Plan
Open now, when you can walk in, what to order
Go now?
Open?
Desk estimate: lunch and dinner service (check)
Busy this hour
Estimate by hour below
Easiest walk-in
12:00–13:30
Reservations
Walk-in, no reservation
Paying
Bring cash
Per person
€22–28 (≈ US$30–35)2026 estimate · check
Walk-in windows
Tip
Format
A walk-in lunch is only planned as primary when your arrival lands outside the “impossible” window.
Your first order
- Full meze (set course)μεζέδεςAsk how many dishes and whether it is meat or fish.€22–35≈ US$30–45
Menus and prices change; the board on the day wins.
Not checked in the last 12 months (no check date on file).
On the ground
How to order, tip and pay, allergies, and booking
How to order
- Ask for the meze and tell the waiter if you are vegetarian or have allergies.
- Dishes keep coming until you say stop.
- Pace yourself: the grills come near the end.
Tipping
Sit-down restaurants: about 10%, less than the 15–20% US norm.
Allergies and diets
- YesVegetarian · A vegetarian meze is usually possible; ask. · say: “Είμαι χορτοφάγος. (Eemai horto-FAH-gos.)”
- AskVegan · Ask for a plant-based selection; many dishes use dairy.
- NoHalal · Pork is on the menu; not halal.
- AskGluten-free · Bread and pastry contain wheat.
- AskNut allergy · Ask about nuts in pastries and sweets; show a written card.
- AskAllergy · Show the card; kitchens are busy, so ask twice. · say: “Έχω αλλεργία στο ___. (EH-ho al-er-YEE-a sto ___.)”
Paying
Bring cash
- Ask for the bill at the table; a 10% tip is usual if service is not added.
- Ask what the meze includes and whether service is added.
- Cash or card (check).
Booking
- Booking
- Walk-in, no reservation
- Reservations
- Not taken
- Note
- Walk-in at lunch; call ahead for dinner (not verified).
Not checked in the last 12 months (no check date on file).
Map and nearby
Where this place is, how to get there, and what is around it
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
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Nearby places
Eat nearby
More detail
Everything else we know about this place
How to order here, in full
How to order here
The order of play at the counter or table, what to say, how much to order and how to pay.
- 1Ask for the meze and tell the waiter if you are vegetarian or have allergies.
- 2Dishes keep coming until you say stop.
- 3Pace yourself: the grills come near the end.
No shared language? Tap dishes in the order builder below and show the waiter the full-screen list in the local script. For a printed menu, translate a photo of it.
What to say
| In English | Say or show | Sounds like |
|---|---|---|
| Good morning | Καλημέρα | ka-lee-MEH-ra |
| Good evening | Καλησπέρα | ka-lee-SPEH-ra |
| A Cypriot coffee, medium sweet | Ένα κυπριακό μέτριο | EH-na kip-ree-a-KO MEH-tree-o |
| The bill, please | Τον λογαριασμό, παρακαλώ | ton lo-ga-ree-as-MO pa-ra-ka-LO |
| Is there meat in this? | Έχει κρέας; | EH-hee KREH-as |
| Hello (formal or to several people) | Γεια σας | yah sas |
| Thank you | Ευχαριστώ | ef-ha-ree-STO |
Paying and tipping
Sit-down restaurants: about 10%, less than the 15–20% US norm.
- Ask for the bill at the table; a 10% tip is usual if service is not added.
- Ask what the meze includes and whether service is added.
- Cash or card (check).
At the table
- Ask whether meze is per person and what it includes before you order.
- Lunch starts about 12:30 and dinner about 19:30; kitchens often close between them.Lunch starts about 12:30 PM and dinner about 7:30 PM; kitchens often close between them.
- Say when to stop: meze keeps coming until you tell the waiter.
Paying, diet and allergies
Paying
Accepted.
Check before ordering.
No transit card.
Check.
Diet and allergies
Yes means there is something for you; ask means possible with care; no means go elsewhere.
- Vegetarianyes
A vegetarian meze is usually possible; ask.
Show: Είμαι χορτοφάγος. (Eemai horto-FAH-gos.)
- Veganask
Ask for a plant-based selection; many dishes use dairy.
- Halalno
Pork is on the menu; not halal.
- Gluten-freeask
Bread and pastry contain wheat.
- Nut allergyask
Ask about nuts in pastries and sweets; show a written card.
- Allergyask
Show the card; kitchens are busy, so ask twice.
Show: Έχω αλλεργία στο ___. (EH-ho al-er-YEE-a sto ___.)
What is in the dishes
- Full meze (set course)μεζέδεςfish
- Halloumi and lountzaχαλούμι και λούντζαdairy · pork
Read from the menu names and notes; recipes vary and cross-contact is not tested. Check with the kitchen.
Who it suits, booking and the kitchen
Who it suits, booking, closures
- How to book
- Walk-in at lunch; book by phone for dinner (not verified).
- How far ahead
- Book for dinner
- No-show / cancel fee
- Check
- Dress code
- Casual; a shirt with sleeves.
| When | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Sundays and holidays | check before you go | Hours vary. |
| Mondays | check before you go | Some tavernas close; check. |
Show the kitchen
Tap a need to get a large screen you can hold up to staff. The wording is the guide’s; a helper who reads the language should confirm it if your allergy is serious.
Hour by hour, with queue times
Quietest listed hour: 12:00 (busy).
- 12:00busya short wait is possible
- 13:00heavyexpect a line
- 14:00busya short wait is possible
- 19:00busya short wait is possible
- 20:00packedexpect a long line
- 21:00packedexpect a long line
- 22:00busya short wait is possible
Desk estimate of crowd on a weekday; weekends run one level higher. Not live data. No line length is on file, so waits are in words.
Comfort, facts and cons
Hygiene and comfort
- Restrooms
- Restroom on site
- Seating
- Chairs at tables
- Kids
- Many shared dishes
- Access
- step-free: check · Some steps; check
Hygiene
- Choose dishes that arrive hot from the kitchen.
- Wash your hands before a long meze; there is little hand-wash time between dishes.
Facts
- Reservations
- Not taken — Walk-in at lunch; call ahead for dinner (not verified).
- Capabilities
- food · toilet
- Getting there
- Trikoupi Street, a short walk from Eleftheria Square · ~5 min walk
Cons
- Full at weekend lunch and dinner.
- Meze is a set course; small appetites order fewer dishes.
Dish glossary
| On the menu | What it is | Order it how |
|---|---|---|
| Meze (μεζέδες) | A shared meal of many small dishes. | Ask for the set meze and say when to stop. |
| Lountza (λούντζα) | Smoked pork loin. | Part of the meze; say if you want no pork. |
| Commandaria (κουμανδαρία) | Sweet dessert wine. | Ask for a small glass. |
Price check
- locals pay
- EUR 22–28 (≈ US$30–35) for a set meze.
- tourist price
- Terrace tavernas on Ledra Street charge EUR 30–40 (≈ US$35–50) (2026 estimate).
- rule
- Ask what the meze includes and whether service is added.
Deep dive
Questions, alternatives, and where our facts come from
Questions and answers
Questions and answers
Can I order a la carte?
Ask; the meze is the main format.
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
Is there wine by the glass?
Yes, including Commandaria (check).
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
How long does meze take?
About two hours.
Is it good for vegetarians?
Yes with a vegetarian meze; ask.
Do I need to book?
For dinner, yes; call ahead (not verified).
If it is closed or full
Nearby alternatives
If it is closed or the line is too long
- Cypriot coffee and loukoumades café6 min walkCoffee after the meal.
- Mayirika: Cypriot home-style lunch4 min walkA weekday lunch in a home-style restaurant that cooks the day's pots: kleftiko, stifado, afelia or a vegetable stew with bread; ask what is fresh, and go before 14:00. No single venue is named until verified.A weekday lunch in a home-style restaurant that cooks the day's pots: kleftiko, stifado, afelia or a vegetable stew with bread; ask what is fresh, and go before 2:00 PM. No single venue is named until verified.
- Souvlaki and sheftalia counter, old town6 min walkA takeaway counter lunch: pork or chicken souvlaki or a herbed sheftalia in pitta with salad, in a small grill shop; a fast, filling meal for under EUR 7. No single venue is named until verified.
- Bakery: flaounes, koulouri and cheese pies11 min walkA neighbourhood bakery breakfast: a warm flaouna, a cheese pie or a koulouri and a coffee before the museum; go before 09:30 for the fresh tray. No single venue is named until verified.A neighbourhood bakery breakfast: a warm flaouna, a cheese pie or a koulouri and a coffee before the museum; go before 9:30 AM for the fresh tray. No single venue is named until verified.
Places without an authored walk are ranked by straight-line distance × 1.3 at 5 km/h (3 mph)3 mph (5 km/h).
All places to eat in Nicosia, with filters →
Used as a seated rest node in Nicosia in 4 days.
Sources
- secondaryWikivoyage — Nicosia (eat)
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Source: Price per person
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
Prices are 2026 estimates from the menu or the price line on file. Check on the day.
Source: Opening hours
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
Source: Best time
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
The easiest walk-in window or the quietest hour in this guide. Crowd levels are desk estimates, not counts.