Is Pyxida in Nicosia worth the money? For fish, yes. The counter is the best reason to go, the cured sardines and anchovies are the dishes we would order again, and it is still one of the strongest fish restaurants in the capital. The catch is the bill. By Nicosia standards it is expensive, and the service does not match the price.
This is the original Pyxida, spelled Pixida in older press. Its sister restaurant on the water in Limassol opened later, and we have reviewed that separately in our Pyxida Limassol review. Here we cover the one on Menandrou Street.
Pyxida Nicosia at a Glance
- Our rating: 3.5 out of 5. Book it for the fish, not for the service.
- Best for: fish lovers in Nicosia, long lunches, birthday dinners, anyone who wants a proper fish counter.
- Best thing: the choice of fresh fish, plus the homemade cured and marinated sardines and anchovies.
- Weak spots: service, wine glasses and a price tag that sits high for Nicosia.
- Price: expensive for the capital. Fish sold by weight can push the bill up fast, so ask the price per kilo before you choose.
- Address: 5 Menandrou Street, Nicosia. Phone 22 445636. Check opening hours before you go.
- Verdict: book, but order carefully.
Getting there: compare hire cars on Auto Europe (affiliate link), book an airport transfer with KiwiTaxi (affiliate link), or add a guided walk of the old city through Klook (affiliate link).
Why Does the Original Pyxida Still Matter?
Nicosia is not short of restaurants, but it is short of good fish. The city is landlocked, so a restaurant that treats fish seriously stands out, and Pyxida has done that for a long time. The Limassol branch opened more than a decade after this one, built by the same two founders, who both came from fish restaurant backgrounds.
That history is why people argue about which one is better. Plenty of Nicosia diners will tell you the original is the real thing and the marina branch is the copy. We understand the loyalty. We also think some of it is traditionalists wanting to have eaten at the first one. Both restaurants are good, and we explain below why we rate them differently.
What Is the Room Like?
Large, and clearly not built in one go. The restaurant looks as though it has been extended several times, so you move through different dining areas that do not quite match. Some feel like a bright dining room, others like a back room with a different mood. Where you are seated changes the evening more than it should.
That is not a criticism of the building as such. A big, busy fish restaurant in a city centre has to grow, and the result has character. It does mean the experience is uneven. If you are booking for an occasion, ask for the area you want and say so when you reserve. It is a much better room than the Limassol one for a long lunch with a big group, and a weaker room for a quiet table for two.
What Is the Fish Like?
The choice is the point. The fresh fish is displayed on a counter and sold by weight, and the range is wide enough that you have a real decision to make. That matters in a city with no coastline. Fish that looks fresh, with a proper range to choose from, is what puts Pyxida ahead of most Nicosia restaurants that put fish on the menu as an afterthought.
A few practical points, because ordering from a counter catches people out:
- Ask the price per kilo first. Fish by weight is where bills climb. Choose the fish, then ask the weight and price before it goes to the kitchen.
- Look at the fish. Clear eyes, firm flesh and a clean smell are what you want. If the counter looks tired, order something else.
- Share a large fish. A single big fish between three or four people is better value than a plate each.
Our guide to the best fish taverns in Cyprus covers the coastal alternatives if you are heading to the sea rather than staying in town.
Are the Sardines and Anchovies Worth Ordering?
Yes, and this is the part we would send you for. The kitchen makes its own cured and marinated sardines and anchovies, and they are the small, specific dishes that show the place knows what it is doing. They are bright, salty and clean, and exactly what you want with a cold glass of white and some bread.
If you love fish, order several of these small plates before you commit to a whole fish. They are also the best way to judge the kitchen cheaply. A restaurant that cures its own fish well is paying attention to everything else. It is a style of eating that is easy to find on the coast and rare in Nicosia, and it is a big part of why we like this place.
Is Pyxida Nicosia Overpriced?
For Nicosia, we think so. This is the most important thing to know before you book. Nicosia is generally the cheaper city to eat in, and Pyxida does not follow that rule. The fish is good, and the restaurant charges as if it were on the Limassol seafront.
The comparison with Limassol is where it stands out. The two Pyxida restaurants are priced in a similar range, but a marina setting justifies a premium that a back street in Nicosia does not. Nor can you compare the money in the two cities. Limassol has a wealthier, more international crowd, and prices there follow that. We understand the argument that the Nicosia restaurant serves the high end of the capital, and we still think the price is hard to defend against the room and the service.
That does not make it bad value for everyone. If you eat here for the fish counter and the cured plates, and you keep an eye on the weight of what you order, you will have a good meal. If you order without checking prices, the bill will surprise you.
How Is the Service?
This is where Pyxida lets itself down. In our experience the service is lacking, and at this price that matters. Press reviews going back years describe the same pattern of hurried, brisk staff, so this does not look like one bad night.
The staff are not rude. They are busy and the room is large, and attention drifts. You wait longer than you should for things, and the polish you expect from a restaurant charging these prices is missing. If you go with a group, be ready to ask for what you need.
Does Pyxida Get the Wine Right?
The wine list is good, with real choice at several price points. The problem is the glass. A thick rimmed glass that feels closer to a mug than a wine glass spoils a decent bottle, and that is what you often get in Cyprus.
We hold every restaurant above about 40 euro a head to the same standard. If you are charging that much and pouring good wine, use a thin lipped proper wine glass. It is a small cost and it changes how the wine tastes and feels. Pyxida does not meet that standard, and it is an easy fix. Cyprus is still catching up on wine culture, and glassware is one of the clearest signs of how far there is to go. For what to drink once you are here, see our guide to traditional Cypriot drinks.
What Do Other Diners Say?
We keep this separate from our own visit, because one meal should never define a restaurant. Online, the pattern is consistent. Diners praise the fresh fish and the choice at the counter, and many call it one of the best fish restaurants in the capital. The recurring complaints are price and service, which matches what we found.
An older Cyprus Mail review from 2008 described the fish as expensive and the staff as hurried, which suggests the strengths and the weaknesses have both been there a long time.
Nicosia or Limassol: Which Pyxida Should You Choose?
If you live in or are visiting Nicosia, the choice is easy: go here for fish. If you are choosing between the two, the Limassol restaurant is the better evening out, with a waterside setting and, in our view, prices that sit more comfortably against what you get. The food is very similar, and the sardines in particular are a highlight at both. Read our Pyxida Limassol review for the marina side of the story.
Who Is Pyxida Nicosia For?
It suits fish lovers who live in or visit Nicosia, people booking a long lunch or a group dinner, and anyone who enjoys choosing their fish from a counter. It also suits people who like small cured plates and wine.
It suits you less if you want a polished, attentive service at this price, a quiet table for two, or a cheap meal. If you want a traditional meal outside the city instead, Taverna tou Theodosi is a village tavern near Nicosia and costs a fraction of the price.
Tips for Your Visit
- Book ahead, and say which dining area you would like.
- Start with the cured sardines and anchovies. They are the best value on the menu.
- Ask the price per kilo before the fish is cooked.
- Share a larger fish rather than ordering one each.
- Pair it with a day in the capital. Our Nicosia guide covers the old city, and living in Nicosia covers the city day to day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pyxida Nicosia Worth Visiting?
Yes, if you love fish. The counter and the cured sardines and anchovies are the reasons to go. Expect high prices and uneven service.
Is Pyxida Nicosia Expensive?
For Nicosia, yes. Fish is sold by weight, so check the price per kilo before you order.
Do You Need to Book?
Yes, particularly for evenings and weekends. Ask for the dining area you prefer.
What Is the Difference Between Pyxida Nicosia and Pyxida Limassol?
Nicosia is the original, in a large extended building in the city. Limassol sits on the marina with sea views. The food is very similar, and we think Limassol is the better evening for the money.
Is Pixida the Same as Pyxida?
Yes. The restaurant spells its name Pyxida, and older press and many diners write Pixida.
How Do I Get to Pyxida Nicosia?
Book a private transfer with KiwiTaxi (affiliate link), or compare hire cars on Auto Europe (affiliate link). Tours of the old city are listed on Klook (affiliate link).
Final Verdict
Pyxida Nicosia is a very good fish restaurant that costs more than it should and serves less well than it should. The fish counter and the cured sardines and anchovies earn the visit, and in a landlocked capital they matter. If it fixed its service and its glassware, it would be easier to love at these prices.
To see how it compares with every other restaurant we have reviewed, see our guide to the best restaurants in Cyprus, and read how we review for how we judge them.