About North Cyprus · Meyhane
Cyprus meyhane and drinking culture: meze, rakı, zivania and shared tables
As of 1 November 2026, sources describe the Cypriot meyhane as a social dining house built around shared meze, grilled dishes and long conversation. Rakı or zivania may be served, but drinking is optional. This guide separates the drinks, explains a first visit and names its sources; it is cultural information, not a venue ranking.
Checked 1 November 2026 against the sources listed below. Menus, opening hours and prices change, so confirm them with the venue. This page recommends no venue. Alcohol is for adults: follow the legal age limit and never drink and drive. NORTHEA does not issue legal opinions.
What is a meyhane?
Wikipedia explains that the word comes from Persian, from mey (wine) and khāneh (house), and describes the meyhane as a traditional venue where alcohol is served with food, with wine, rakı and other drinks usually accompanied by meze, small shared dishes.
Visit North Cyprus presents the Cypriot meyhane as the island's taverna: a table of many small plates rather than a single main course. A 2022 Eastern Mediterranean University master's thesis adds that vineyards and their drinks contributed to meyhane and meze culture. Menu, music and service style differ from one venue to the next, so no single venue defines the tradition.
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Meze, kebab and the shared table
Meze is the sharing itself, not only a starter. Sources name olives, hellim, tahini and yoghurt dips, vegetables, herbs, seafood and meat among the dishes that can appear, and not every venue serves all of them. Whether prices are per person or per dish, and what is included, varies by venue, so ask before you order.
Şeftali kebabı is the best-known grilled dish of the Cypriot table. Visit North Cyprus describes it as seasoned minced meat wrapped in caul fat and grilled over charcoal, and it contains no peaches. Ask about ingredients and allergens before ordering, because the sources used here give no allergen or halal details.
Rakı, ouzo, zivania and Commandaria are different drinks
Rakı and ouzo are both anise-flavoured spirits that turn milky when water is added. Zivania is a different product: a distillate of grape pomace. Commandaria is a wine. They are not interchangeable, and each is drunk differently.
Visit North Cyprus calls rakı "Lion's Milk" and links it to meyhane meals of cold meze, meat or fish. Alcohol is optional at every table; the same sources mention Turkish tea and water, and the food guide lists non-alcoholic drinks.
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A first visit: questions worth asking
Visit North Cyprus says the traditional meal has no menu and that dishes keep arriving until the diner says stop. For that reason, ask at the start whether meze is a fixed menu or ordered dish by dish, what the price per person covers, and how fish and drinks are priced.
Also ask about service charge, live music, vegetarian options and whether the venue suits children. A long table is not a hurry: you can eat well without drinking alcohol. Follow the legal age limit, drink in moderation and do not drive after drinking.
Where to look
Visit North Cyprus says traditional meyhanes are concentrated inland, in Nicosia and Gönyeli, though most towns have at least one. For venues listed by district, see Nightlife and dining in North Cyprus, and for the wider setting see Turkish Cypriot culture and traditions.
District pages describe the coast and the towns: Girne, Lefkoşa, Famagusta and İskele and Karpaz. These are listings, not quality rankings, and venues open and close.
Why food culture matters if you are thinking of living here
For prospective residents, neighbourhood dining is one dimension of daily life alongside schools, transport, healthcare, noise and services. A cultural guide helps with that research; it does not replace ownership, legal or cost review of any property.
NORTHEA coordinates property acquisition for buyers and does not endorse restaurants. For practical arrangements after arrival, see Practical information.
Practical notes
- Spellings differ between sources (rakı or raki, zivania or zivaniya, meyhane or meyhana); this page uses the Turkish spelling for rakı and meyhane.
- Strength figures for zivania differ between two tourism pages (40 to 95% and 40 to 99%); read the label on the bottle.
- Commandaria is described by UNESCO as made in villages on the southern slopes of the Troodos mountains. It is listed here as a drink Cypriot culture is known for, not as a North Cyprus product.
- Alcohol-related information is for adults only. Local law and venue policy apply.
- The sources used here give no allergen, halal or opening-hour details for specific venues. Ask the venue.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Cypriot meyhane?
As of 1 November 2026, sources describe a meyhane as a social dining house where friends and families share cold and warm meze, grilled dishes and conversation. Alcohol may be served, but it is not required, and menus and service styles differ by venue.
What is included in a meyhane meze?
Sources name olives, hellim, tahini and yoghurt dips, vegetables, herbs, seafood and meat. The number and choice of dishes vary, and Visit North Cyprus describes a meal with no fixed menu, so confirm what the price per person includes.
What is şeftali kebabı?
Visit North Cyprus describes seasoned minced meat wrapped in caul fat and grilled over charcoal. Despite the name, it contains no peaches. Ask about ingredients and allergens before ordering.
Is zivania the same as rakı?
No. Zivania is a distillate of grape pomace. Rakı is an anise-flavoured spirit, usually 40 to 50% alcohol according to Visit North Cyprus, that turns milky with water.
Is ouzo the same as rakı?
Not exactly. Both are anise-flavoured aperitifs that turn cloudy with water, but they are different products with different names. Wikipedia lists them as similar drinks without describing a direct historical link.
Is Commandaria made in North Cyprus?
No. UNESCO places Commandaria in a group of villages on the southern slopes of the Troodos mountains. It is a sweet wine inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2025.
Can I go to a meyhane without drinking alcohol?
Yes. Food and non-alcoholic drinks are available at many venues, and sources mention Turkish tea and water with the meal. Check the menu with the venue beforehand.
Where are traditional meyhanes found?
Visit North Cyprus says they are concentrated inland, in Nicosia and Gönyeli, though most towns have at least one. See the nightlife and dining guide for listings by district, and confirm that a venue is open.
Do I have to order a fixed menu?
Not necessarily. Some venues serve a fixed meze menu, others charge per person or per dish. Ask about the price structure, service charge and what is included before you order.
Are vegetarian meze dishes available?
Often, but confirm. Sources name vegetables, herbs, hellim and dips among meze dishes, while cheese, yoghurt, fish and meat may appear in others. Ask about the contents of each dish.
Does this guide help with a property decision?
It helps with lifestyle research only. Dining is one factor alongside schools, transport, healthcare and noise, and it does not replace independent legal review of any purchase.
Sources
- Visit North Cyprus: Meyhane, the Cypriot taverna
- Visit North Cyprus: Rakı
- Visit North Cyprus: Zivania
- Visit North Cyprus: Seftali Kebab
- Visit Cyprus: Zivania
- UNESCO: Commandaria wine (Representative List, 2025)
- Wikipedia: Meyhane
- Wikipedia: Ouzo
- Karaer, B. (2022). Kuzey Kıbrıs'a Özgü Yemeklerin Sınıflandırılması ve Bölgelere Göre Değerlendirilmesi. Eastern Mediterranean University master's thesis
Questions about North Cyprus?
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