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. This is an honest and fair review of my experience, factoring many things in my submission. These include service, parking, quality, variety, environment, entertainment, and value for money.
A GOOD WAY TO SPEND A SUNDAY AFTERNOON
Although I began looking at several village locations in and around the Troodos Mountains, my search for an authentic Cyprus tavern in a rural location that offered proper, authentic live music took me to the village of Omodos. Although the Makrinari Tavern seemed to tick all my boxes, what interested me most was that it provides live music starting at 2.00 pm every Sunday. With this in mind, I promptly booked a table for one.
A NIGHTLY STAYOVER
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 a little deliberation, I decided to take one! This meant that my simple day out had now become a night stayover. 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 9.30 am.
LET’S BUS IT
Packing a small bag for my overnight stay, I took the number 40 bus from the Limassol bus station. This bus promptly arrived on time at 9.30 and I found myself at the Omodos High School an hour and a half later. The journey up to Omodos, on the sometimes-winding road, instantly enthralled me with a feel-good factor. Taking in some glorious views of the countryside along the way, the 42 km trip was quite pleasant. As the bus chugged along on this pleasant sunny Sunday morning, my anticipation for the rest of the day was building quite nicely.
THE VILLAGE OF OMODOS
Located just northwest of the City of Limassol, the village of Omodos is found in the heart of the Limassol district’s wine-growing region. Nestled nicely in a Troodos hamlet, it has quite an intriguing local history. As I arrived early, I wanted to see a bit more of this beautiful place that I had heard so much about. Heading straight for the main square, I took a narrow cobbled street. I immediately noticed the rustic village setting, fully embracing the fresh mountain air. When I reached the square, I was happy to find several charming little shops selling handmade crafts and local products. I then took in both the museum and the impressively decorated MONASTERY OF THE HOLY CROSS, which is just by the main square.
A ROOM WITH A VIEW
I then headed for the tavern, as I wanted to check into my room and freshen up. The Makrinari Tavern, which is signposted, is very close to the main square. My first impressions as I walked into the bar area were good. I was greeted almost immediately by Mr Polis, who turned out to be the owner. He showed me to my room after he insisted that we share a Keo beer. My room was basic, but it fit the rustic setting perfectly. The tavern’s elevated position created a stunning view from my window, which seemed to enhance the already impressive scenery of the mountains. After settling in, I made my way down to the tavern, where I was promptly shown to my table for one.
THE MAKRINARI TAVERN
The tavern by this time was already virtually full. The aroma of grilled meats, wafting from the open kitchen, and a motley crew of musicians tuning their instruments seemed to fit in nicely with my surroundings. My table was just by the open window next to the band, which I happily found was set against the same stunning view from the window in my room. 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 are adorned with traditional Cypriot artefacts. The old school wooden furniture and chequered tablecloths seemed to add to its rustic charm.
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. Although I was tempted to order a Kleftiko, I decided, for this review, to order a meze instead. I paired my meal with a large jug of local village house wine. This wine was a full-bodied, very strong red from one of the local village wineries. As my meze experience began, I could tell immediately that everything was made with fresh, local ingredients and that the whole spread was cooked to perfection. The first course consisted of a combination of various dips and soft homemade pita bread. A grand village salad, with fresh black olives and a good quantity of locally produced feta cheese, soon followed. A succulent treat of hot starters came out next. These included GRILLED HALLOUMI cheese and Cyprus sausages marinated in wine. Although I was full by this time, I still made room for the main meat course. This included pork and chicken SOUVLAKI, and some lamb cutlets that were just right. This was then finished off with CYPRUS COFFEE served with some fresh BAKLAVA.
LIVELY ENTERTAINMENT
Cypriots love their live music, and they were constantly dancing and singing along to the music. The owner, Mr Polis, is a great character, and he allowed me to savour every moment. After visiting each table, greeting people with shots of ZIVANIA, he then helped his staff serve all the diners. After this, I then found him on stage playing music and singing. He then ended the afternoon with his special rendition of a zimbekiko dance. Everyone was calling him ‘Kabetanios’, which translates to ‘The Captain’ for reasons I am still unaware of. As I sat back watching this lovely example of Cypriot culture, I couldn’t help admiring the spirit of the place and the ZIVANIA.
BACK TO THE SQUARE
After my hearty meal and a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon, I decided to take a stroll back to the main square. I found a lovely little coffee shop, and as I sat back drinking my CYPRUS COFFEE and watching the sun go down, I began to contemplate my day. My visit allowed me to fully soak up the sights, smells, and flavours of this charming little village in the heart of the Troodos Mountains. I couldn’t help but appreciate what a perfect way this was for me to spend a leisurely Sunday afternoon. As I set off for my return to the tavern, I stopped by a small, unassuming shop. Here I purchased lovely dried fruits that I thoroughly enjoyed the next day during my bus journey back to Limassol.
WELL DONE MR. POLIS
On reflection, a visit to the Makrinari Tavern in Omodos, on a Sunday afternoon, is a delightful experience. The Makrinari Tavern offers a good combination of reasonably priced authentic food, warm hospitality, lively music entertainment and the beauty of traditional Cypriot culture. All in all, I cannot recommend this place enough! Anyone looking to experience traditional Cypriot cuisine in a charming setting with proper live music on a Sunday afternoon will not be disappointed. This 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!
IN A SNAPSHOT!
Makrinari Tavern is a highly traditional, rustic restaurant located in the heart of the historic mountain village of Omodos, Cyprus. Housed in a beautifully restored old stone village house, it is famous for its authentic Cypriot meze and lively live Greek music, making it an immersive cultural experience.
Location: Situated just off the main village paths, near the centre of the village of Omodos, this tavern offers a cosy and authentic Cypriot feel.
Cuisine: Focuses on traditional Cypriot and Greek dishes. The tavern is known for its generous Meze, which includes classic items like HALLOUMI, SHEFTALIES, and SOUVLAKI.
Atmosphere: The interior features country-style wooden tables, earthenware, and an elevated stage for performers. Because it is a traditional taverna, seating is sometimes close together and can get quite loud during live music performances.
Entertainment: The tavern hosts live Greek music on Friday and Saturday evenings, and Sunday afternoons. Performers sing popular Greek songs and also perform with traditional instruments like the BOUZOUKI.
Reservations: The live music attracts both tourists and locals, so it is heavily recommended to book a table ahead of time, especially on weekends or during the busy holiday season.
