# How to order a meze in Cyprus without ordering too much > What a Cypriot meze is, how to choose between meat and fish, and what to ask before ordering. A meal to share, with time to enjoy it. Author: olé. Published: 2026-10-01. Original page: https://byole.com/en/stories/cypriot-meze The short answer: a Cypriot meze is a meal to share, made up of lots of small dishes. If you order a full meze, do not think of it as a starter followed by another dinner. Ask what it includes, how many people it serves and how it is priced before ordering. It makes sense when you want to try several things and spend some time at the table. If you just need a quick bite before moving on, a single dish will probably suit you better. Neither approach is better: one meal fits into your day, while the other needs time of its own. ## Meat meze, fish meze or something different There is no fixed selection. It can vary with the taverna, season and option you order: meat, fish or a mixed meze. A photograph of another table therefore cannot tell you exactly what will arrive at yours. Read the menu and ask them to explain what is on offer that day. Rather than looking for the one with the most dishes, we would choose according to what everyone feels like eating. If someone does not eat fish or does not want meat, sorting that out before ordering is much easier than discovering it when the first platter arrives. You can also ask about a vegetarian option, without assuming every venue offers one. You do not need to learn a whole list of names to enjoy it. What matters is knowing whether you are ordering a complete meal and whether it suits the people sharing it. ## What usually arrives at the table The meal often begins with bread, olives, salad and dips to share. Vegetable dishes, cheese and hot dishes may follow; fish or meat depends on the meze you have chosen. The sequence is not identical everywhere, nor is it a checklist to work through while you eat. Tahini is made from sesame; talattouri contains yoghurt and cucumber; halloumi is a cheese. These names may help you recognise some of the dishes, but they do not replace asking about the ingredients in each preparation. Similar-looking dishes can follow different recipes. Do not assume dessert, drinks or extras are included either. Before finalising your order, ask what the price covers. It saves you looking at the bill and trying to work out what belonged to the meze and what was ordered separately. ## Three things to ask before ordering First, how it is served for your group: whether you order per person, whether there is a minimum and whether you can mix options. Second, what is included and what costs extra. Third, how much time the venue recommends allowing to enjoy it without rushing. These are questions, not rules: each establishment may do things differently. If you have a set budget, check the current menu before sitting down or when booking. We would not give a single figure for the whole island here: the type of meze, venue and drinks can change the total considerably. Nor would we choose solely by the advertised number of dishes. If you have allergies or dietary requirements, speak directly to the establishment before confirming. Ask about both ingredients and shared preparation areas; do not assume an adaptation is safe simply because the table includes salad and vegetables. > olé tip: Ask what is still to come before ordering more food. The bread and first dips are lovely, but there may still be plenty on the way. ## Making room for it in your day We would pair it with a nearby stroll, rather than a visit booked immediately afterwards on the other side of the island. On a day in [Troodos](https://byole.com/en/places/troodos-villages), for instance, it can be a chance to sit down after exploring a village. In [Nicosia](https://byole.com/en/places/nicosia), a break between streets and museums. No area guarantees a good meal on its own: the venue you choose matters. [Sigá sigá](https://byole.com/en/stories/siga-siga-the-pace-of-cyprus) is about the pace of your trip; here, the idea has a very practical use: avoiding watching the clock while dishes are still arriving. If you are planning a [route through the villages of Troodos](https://byole.com/en/stories/troodos-villages-route), make lunch part of the plan, rather than a gap to fill along the way. We would not recommend a restaurant without knowing its current offering. This article helps you understand what to order; venue selections will come separately. For an introduction to other dining and everyday customs, see [Discover Cyprus](https://byole.com/en/discover-cyprus). ## When we would choose something else If you are travelling alone, have a small appetite or only have a little time, ask what alternatives are on the menu. Sharing lots of dishes is one way to discover Cypriot cooking, not a requirement. A dish you fancy and time to enjoy it count too. Our takeaway would be this: ask first, order thoughtfully and give the meal its time. You do not need to try everything at one table. ## Places and sources - [Visit Cyprus: mezedes](https://www.visitcyprus.com/el/el-anakalypste-ten-kypro/el-phageto-poto-el-anakalypste-ten-kypro/el-topika-proionta-el-phageto-poto-el-anakalypste-ten-kypro/mezedes/): What a meze may include and why it varies between tavernas. - [Flavours of Cyprus](https://www.visitcyprus.com/wp-content/uploads/files/food_and_drink/Flavours_of_Cyprus_6_2015_EN.pdf): The island's official food guide, in PDF format. ## Related stories - [Sigá sigá: the pace of Cyprus](https://byole.com/en/stories/siga-siga-the-pace-of-cyprus) - [A route through the villages of Troodos](https://byole.com/en/stories/troodos-villages-route)