Melania Restaurant got its name from the nearest hill Melanos. The name Melanos was given because of its dark colour. The name is derived from the Greek Mελανία (melania) or blackness and that from μέλας (melas), meaning “dark”.

History

It was in 1935 when Andreas tou Giorki (Chlorakiotis), Georgios’s grandfather, bought the plot of land where Melania Restaurant is located from the Kais family. He spent most of his life planting tomatoes, onions, melons and cauliflowers until 1971.

In 1971, his daughter, Elli Kannavia and her husband, Matheos Kannavias, Georgios’s parents, planted a vineyard of sultana with a vast production of grapes next to their greenhouses.

On 27th June 1988,  Melania Restaurant was established by Elli and Matheos and started serving homemade meals. The four children of the family, Maria, Kyriaki, Georgios and Charalampos started helping in the kitchen, serving, cleaning…even dancing zorpa and sirtaki!

On 9^th November 1989, a twister destroyed Melania Restaurant. All the plantations and the greenhouses of the family were destroyed too. Friends of the restaurant, mostly British customers, arrived at the place as a team, offering their support in multiple ways: painting, building, cleaning even fund–raising. Elli, Matheos and the four children, more powerful and positive than ever, replanted the new plantations and rebuilt the restaurant. A few years later, the four children managed to graduate with postgraduates degrees from good universities. Charalambos graduated from Harvard University as an architect.

On 1st June 2018, Georgios Kannavias became the new restaurant owner. Elli (74) and Matheos (79) decided to retire and spend more time with their seven grandchildren. They swim every morning and plant many vegetables, fruit and potatoes for the restaurant and the family. They still help with the cooking when necessary. Other than the special events, original Cypriot MEZE is available every Thursday. A huge selection of fresh fish is available every Friday. A Kids Menu and new meals are available too with BBQ souvla, octopus, jumbo prawns, beef kebab, falafel and more!

“Our goal is to provide the best possible service to our customers.”
George Kannavias

“Our first visit to the restaurant was in April 1990 while on holiday . We still go to Cyprus about 4 times a year to visit our daughter who is married to a Cyoriot and has 2 children. The holidays would not be complete without a meal at The Melania. The food ,the friendliness and the peaceful situation are second to none. It is by far the best restaurant in Paphos superb home cooking ,great wine and even better – great value for money. Highly recommended.”

John and Helen Fraser