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Best seafood in Ayia Napa - What are the best fish to eat in Cyprus?

MAR 24, 2019

Discover the goodness of nature with the best seafood restaurant in Ayia Napa. Find out the best fishes to eat in Ayia Napa and why it is set apart from other islands.

Ayia Napa is famed and loved for its luscious coastline. Not only does it offer the ability for tourists to top up their tans or start off their parties, it also offers some of the best fresh fish and seafood in the world. Here are the top fish and seafood treats to go for and tips to follow to get the best seafood experience in Ayia Napa.

Ocean to table

Being a seaside destination, most restaurants will be walking distance from the sea and the fruits that it offers. However, a restaurant’s approach to the seafood is what needs to be taken into consideration. The best seafood restaurants in Ayia Napa will adopt an ocean to table (or Dock to dish) methodology, meaning that the seafood they source follow three rules.

1. The restaurants are provided with access to local, wild sustainable seafood
2. The seafood is curated for the exact purpose of the chef
3. The seafood can be traced to the source (i.e. fisherman)

By following these rules, restaurants ensure that fish and seafood is at its freshest and used only for the purpose it was caught. Ask your welcoming and waiting staff to explain the restaurants policy on the freshness of the fish and ensure they don’t cook from frozen.

Location

Seafood it at its best when it is enjoyed in its natural surroundings the sea (by this I don’t mean you need to be in the sea to enjoy it). Choose a location that offers the coast and the Mediterranean Sea for you to soak up. The fresh sea air, natural sunlight and sunsets will all add to the ambiance. The best experience is not just savoured through taste, explore your other senses too.

The dishes to try

In Ayia Napa you will experience some of the best Cypriot Greek restaurants. They tend to follow techniques that will bring the authentic to the table and may offer other international variations.

Octopus with vinegar

A classic Greek dish that serves to satisfy the acidity or sour cravings of us. It is a simple dish that takes fresh octopus which is boiled in water and vinegar and is then served with vinegar, olive oil and oregano. The vinegar acts to break down the flesh of the octopus to leave it tender, much like a ceviche from Spanish cuisine.

This dish is refreshing a light and serves well as a starter for any seafood experience.

Chargrilled Sea Bream/Sea Bass

The Sea Bass and Sea Bream are taken together here because of their similarities. Both fish, when grilled on a Souvla, are tender, juicy and flakey. They also take the flavor of marinades very well however little more than citric juice and olive oil is needed to compliment this fish.

This dish is well paired with a crisp white wine like a sauvignon blanc or a chardonnay.

Grilled lobster

Much like the Sea Bream and Sea Bass, the lobster doesn’t require huge amounts of seasoning, as it is so flavourful already. The mastery here is in the timing. When cooked correctly you get a perfectly succulent dish, however many over cook lobster causing it to take on a rubbery consistency. Check on the background of the chef to ensure he or she is experienced with lobster to get the best results.

Calamari

Calamari comes from squid and can be prepared in a number of ways. The most typical in Ayia Napa are the fried calamari rings and the stuffed whole squid. The fried calamari rings are an excellent starter, side or something to enjoy with an ice cold beer. They are generally considered snacks, but don’t take that away from them. When cooked well they are both juicy and tasty.

Whole calamari are typically grilled in Cypriot cuisine. They are stuffed with garlic, lemon, olive oil, mint and oregano, all of which are in limited quantities. This dish is fantastic shared as an appetizer or as a main meal. It is also complimented well with dry white wines or the Greek spirit Ouzo, for the real authentic pairing.

Fish Meze

This is the grandfather of all fish dishes in Ayia Napa. Meze literally means to taste, and is used in many cuisines to offer many dishes in one sitting. With a Cypriot meze you get the opportunity to try all of the seafood dishes, not just be restricted to a one or two. For the traveler that really wants to try all or is not certain what they would prefer then this is the dish. Also ask your server to pair up a selection of drinks to accompliment the many, varied, beautiful tastes of the sea.

With these five dishes, and a couple of tips, you should be able to get the best seafood experience avalaible in Ayia Napa. Go on and enjoy the many fruits of the sea.