THE MAKRINARI TAVERN IN THE VILLAGE OF OMODOS
My name is George Jackson and I am a professional food critic. I recently visited the Makrinari Tavern in the picturesque village of Omodos and I have created an honest and fair review of my experience. I have factored a number of things in my submission and these include service, parking, quality, variety, environment, entertainment, and value for money.
LIVE MUSIC
I decided that I wanted to try an authentic Cyprus tavern in a rural location that offered proper live music, so I began looking at a number of village locations in and around the Troodos Mountains. I found out that there are many traditional village taverns offering live Greek music at weekends as standard, but one stood out above the rest. The Makrinari Tavern in the village of Omodos, ticked all my boxes, but what interested me most was that it provides live music starting at 2.00pm every Sunday afternoon. This definitely appealed to me and I promptly booked a table for one.
A ROOM WITH A VIEW
When I made my reservation, I pleasantly found out that there are very reasonably priced rooms to let on a nightly basis above the tavern. After little deliberation, I decided to take one meaning that my simple day out had now become a nights stay over. As I was now committed to spending the night in Omodos, I also decided to enhance the experience by taking a bus into the village from Limassol. After checking the bus schedules, I discovered that a regular bus leaves Limassol for Omodos every Sunday at 9.30am and that I would be on it.
LET’S BUS IT
Packing a small bag for my overnight stay, I took the number 40 bus from the Limassol bus station, which promptly arrived on time at 9.30am. I found myself at the Omodos High School an hour and half later and I found the 42 kilometre trip quite pleasant, taking in some glorious views of the countryside along the way. The journey up to Omodos on the sometimes-winding road gave me a good feel factor on a pleasant sunny Sunday morning and as the bus chugged along my anticipation for the rest of the day was building nicely.
THE VILLAGE OF OMODOS
Omodos, situated in the heart of the wine-growing region of Cyprus is nestled nicely in a Troodos hamlet, north-west of Limassol City. As I arrived early, I decided to see a bit more of this beautiful village that I had heard so much about, and I headed straight for the main square. I immediately noticed the rustic village setting and its narrow cobbled streets, and when I arrived at the main square, I was happy to find a number of charming little shops selling handmade crafts and local products. I visited both the museum and the impressively decorated Monastery of the Holy Cross, which are both just by the main square.
A ROOM WITH A VIEW
I then headed for the tavern at around 1.00pm as I wanted to check in to my room and freshen up before my 2.00pm reservation. The Makrinari Tavern is sign posted from the main square, and is a few minutes’ walk away up a slight hill. As I approached the tavern, I was treated to a stunning view from the taverns elevated position. My first impressions as I walked into the bar area of the tavern was good and I was greeted almost immediately by Polis, who turned out to be the owner. He showed me to my room after he insisted that we share a Keo beer and then he told me that the music usually starts at 2.00pm and not to be late. My room was basic, but fit the rustic setting perfectly and enhanced the already impressive view of the mountains. After settling in, I made my way down to the tavern and I was promptly shown to my table for one.
THE MAKRINARI TAVERN
The tavern by this time was already virtually full with patrons and the aroma of grilled meats wafting from the open kitchen and a motley crew of musicians tuning their instruments greeted me nicely. My table for one was just by the open window next to the band, which I happily found was set against that stunning view. The tavern itself is an old village house, which has been restored, keeping its charm and character. It is exactly as described and the stone walls adorned with traditional Cypriot artefacts, as well as the old school wooden furniture and chequered tablecloths added to the rustic feel of the place.
IT HAD TO BE A MEZE
I was glad to see that the menu has all of the classic Cypriot dishes at more than reasonable prices and I was tempted to order a Kleftiko, but for the purposes of this review, I decided to stick with the Cyprus meze. I paired the meal with a large jug of local village house wine, which was a full bodied red from the local village winery. Once the service began, I could tell immediately that everything was made with fresh, local ingredients and all was cooked to perfection. I received my first course, which was a combination of various dips and pitta bread and then came a grand village salad with fresh black olives and a good quantity of feta cheese. I was then treated to a number of hot starters, which included grilled halloumi cheese and Cyprus sausages marinated in wine. I was full by this time, but I still made room for the meat course, which came out next and included pork and chicken souvlaki, and some lamb cutlets that were all cooked to perfection.Â
LIVELY ENTERTAINMENT
Cypriots love their live music, and they were constantly dancing and singing along, and I was savouring every moment. Polis the owner is a great character and he went around the whole restaurant greeting people with shots of Zivania. He then helped his staff serve and then the next thing I knew, he was up on stage playing music and singing. He ended the afternoon with his own special rendition of a zimbekiko dance and everyone started calling him ‘Kabetanios’, which translates to the ‘The Captain’ for reasons I am still unaware of. As I sat back, watching this lovely example of Cypriot culture, all I could do was admire the spirit of the place.
BACK TO THE SQUARE
After my hearty meal, I decided to take a leisurely stroll back to the main square. I found a lovely little coffee shop and I sat there drinking my Cyprus coffee, whilst watching the sun go down. I had enjoyed a fantastic meal against a backdrop of stunning scenery and lively entertainment, soaking up the sights, smells, and flavours of this charming village in the heart of the Troodos Mountains, what a perfect way for me to spend a leisurely Sunday afternoon. I also stopped by small an unassuming shop selling dried fruits, which I enjoyed the next day during my bus journey back to Limassol. I then set off back to the tavern where I had a decent night’s sleep.
WELL DONE MR. POLIS
On reflection, a visit to the Makrinari Tavern in Omodos on a Sunday afternoon is a delightful experience that combines delicious food, warm hospitality, lively music and the beauty of traditional Cypriot culture. The Makrinari Tavern is perfect for all lovers of Cyprus cuisine at very reasonable prices and I cannot recommend it enough. Anyone looking to experience traditional Cypriot cuisine in a charming setting with proper live music on a Sunday afternoon will not be disappointed and it is genuinely a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Well done Mr. Polis, also known as ‘The Captain,’ I will be back very soon!
