Élan Wanderlust

Nicosia, the capital city of Cyprus, is well-known for its rich history and vibrant culture. As the country boasts some of the lowest tax rates in Europe, the city has become a hub for international businesses, attracting a diverse array of entrepreneurs and equally diverse eateries.

If you’re visiting Nicosia and want to maintain a gluten-free lifestyle, either by choice or due to health reasons, you’ll enjoy this list of places that I have personally visited during my time in the city.

You can also find more recommendations for gluten-free eateries in my other article The Best Gluten-Free Places In Cyprus – it includes a bakery not mentioned in the below list.

Dining at any of the below establishments will ensure a delightful culinary experience – they are all reasonably priced too! You easily purchase a meal for one within 10 EUR up to 25 EUR.

Number 1 – a classy restaurant in Nicosia

Scale Restaurant, located within the MAP Boutique Hotel at 15 Stasinou Ave. 1060 Nicosia, offers a modern and peaceful interior. While the hotel’s futuristic design may not appeal to everyone, the restaurant’s ambiance and attentive staff create a refined dining experience.

Stasinou Avenue runs through the heart of the city and is a stone’s throw from the famous Ledras Street. You can also see the Venetian Walls of Nicosia if you sit at the street-facing side of the restaurant!

With its central location and accommodating staff, Scale Restaurant is a great option for those looking to enjoy a fancy gluten-free meal in Nicosia.

The menu changes periodically, but during my visit, I enjoyed delicious egg whites with gluten-free bread and a delightful hummus dish.

During my stay at the hotel in January 2023, my room price included breakfast, but in April 2023, I paid around 10 EUR (8.90 GBP) for the mesmerising egg dish in the image above, which was a beautiful start to my day. The genuine warmth and charm of the waitresses and restaurant manager perfectly complemented the elegance of the restaurant’s interior. 🥰 

Although they can cater to gluten-free diets by providing gluten-free bread, it’s essential to double-check with your server, as some items like pancakes do contain gluten.

Number 2 – Homely gluten-free meals in Nicosia

Second place goes to MONTA | honest food, located at Kyriakou Matsi 53, Nicosia 1082. This health-conscious café offers limited indoor seating but provides ample space outdoors. Meals are freshly prepared in a nearby kitchen, ensuring high quality and wonderful flavour.

The menu features a variety of delicious options, including Peanut Butter Berry Overnight Oats (Vegan) and protein boxes. For hot dishes, you can enjoy a protein and vegetable combination with a gluten-free side like rice or quinoa. Despite having wheat-based sandwiches, there are plenty of other satisfying options for lunch.

MONTA | honest food is a must-visit spot, and once discovered, I found myself returning almost daily for dinner during my time in Nicosia. Their Thai-Style Chicken With Satay Sauce is particularly noteworthy; I was initially hesitant to try satay sauce with chicken but this dish ended up being a pleasant surprise and truly blew me away.

Number 3 – Quick and convenient gluten-free food?

Third on the list is Get Fresh Nicosia Center at Andrea Dimitriou 4D-E, Nicosia 1066. They also have a counter at the Mall of Cyprus in Nicosia. This is a Cypriot chain of healthy cafés that can be compared to Pret a Manger in the UK, although Get Fresh easily surpasses Pret in terms of flavour and quality.

Get Fresh offers gluten-free options such as salads and healthy food bowls, which come in generous portion sizes.

At the time of writing this article in September 2024, the physical café is open from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm, while it seems to have longer opening hours for Wolt delivery (until 9:30 pm).

I have tried both dining at the café and ordering via Wolt, and the quality remains consistent regardless of how you obtain the food.

Be sure to inquire about their gluten-free options and any potential cross-contamination risks to ensure a safe and enjoyable dining experience. I managed to source their full allergens list in English – you can find it here. This list could change in future so I always advise you to double-check your item is gluten-free before you buy it! Better to be safe than sorry. 😉 

Even though Get Fresh has some great gluten-free snacks and desserts (the choco galo pictured above is really delicious) – it’s important to be mindful that they also serve wheat-containing foods like sandwiches and cakes (I wish their bright green pistachio & spinach cake was gluten-free!)

Get Fresh is an excellent choice for those seeking a nutritious gluten-free meal in a laid-back setting. Their focus on locally sourced ingredients is also very inspiring to those of us wanting to reduce carbon emissions on the planet!