Kyra Giorgena tavern in Larnaka

Editorial Food & Drink
The multiple award-winning Kyra Giorgena family tavern has been operating with love and dedication by Tony Konnaris' family since 2000. Located in the centre of Larnaca Kyra Giorgena is a favourate place amongst traditional Cypriot cuisine aficionados.

The name of the tavern was inspired by a very famous greek folk song of the 1970s, with the same title: 'Kyra Giorgena', which had a special historical/political meaning at the time but is also memorable to this day to the majority of people in Cyprus, even to the young millenials. You can always sing along to the song during the tavern's live music nights taking place every Friday and Saturday in the winter season.

The reasoning behind the decision to open Kyra Giorgena tavern was to open a very traditional Cypriot tavern which would last through the years in the restaurant industry. To achieve that, Mr Tony —head of the family business— explains that the main aim was to offer customers quality Meze in order for the tavern to be an authentic representation of traditional Cyprus cuisine. Hence, to stay true to the goal of offering high quality food, all of the dishes since Kyra Giorgena’s opening are prepared with top quality Cyprus produce, using fresh, locally grown vegetables, herbs and fruits and the highest grade of meat. The traditional Meze is composed of (the extraordinary number of) forty different things including cold and warm starters and mains, followed by seasonal fruits, traditional sweets and homemade ‘loukoumades’ (honeyballs). Instead of the traditional Meze the tavern also gives you a choice of grilled meze, the al carte menu option or seasonal meze that includes seasonal delicacies such as wild mushrooms, wild asparagus, snails etc. Apart from its very rich food menu the restaurant has a large drinks menu as well, including local wines, beers and spirits like the infamous Zivania. Kyra Giorgena tavern has become an integral part in the city’s social life, not only because it offers a high quality food experience to its customers but also because the food comes at very reasonable prices. 

The family has also managed to create a very hospitable, welcoming and warm space for people to enjoy their food and feel like home. Also it is very interesting that all around the walls of the tavern you can see pictures of famous artists, singers, actors and politicians that have visited the tavern along the years. Thus you can envisage the history of the tavern through the arts and the political life of the country at certain time-referenced moments, which is admirable. During the summer season the tavern can also welcome customers to relax in the garden. In addition, the tavern operates as a multi-purpose venue and can thus host private events like birthday parties, engagement parties etc.

Kyra Giorgena has been acclaimed by various local and international organisations through the years. The tavern was selected in Time Out’s ‘The Golden List of Restaurants’ annual magazine as one of the best taverns in Cyprus in 2014 after being nominated in that category in Time Out’s Eating Awards of that year. In the same year Discovery Travel & Living also selected the tavern as the best in Cyprus. More recently in 2017 Kyra Giorgena was again selected as the best tavern in Cyprus by the Global Trade Leaders Club. The recognition of the tavern by such organisations only justifies the family’s philosophy to set the bar really high.

Hence, it is no surprise that Kyra Giorgena is the personal favourite of many throughout the years.