Riccos Beach, Paphos (Cyprus)

This Saturday, the weather was absolutely gorgeous so I wanted to spend the whole morning outside.

The only requirement was that we will not spend more than half an hour in the car. Luckily, we remember a place that both little people and adults alike will appreciate.

Riccos Beach Bar is a beachside bar and cafe which I visited a couple of times a few years back. It’s right next to a Luna Park at the edge of Paphos, with access to a beautiful beach, a grass-covered sunbathing area and plenty of parking spaces.

This time of the year, it was nearly all deserted and I looked forward to seeing the quirkiness and the shabby feel of Riccos.

After a quick stop at the Luna Park (most of the rides were deserted and not open), we picked up a few toys and headed straight to Riccos. To my surprise, I almost didn’t recognize it. The seaside seating area which was largely constructed from re-purposed wood, tires & other materials and looked as rustic as it gets, was completely gone.

They pushed back the whole area and elevated the main cafe section which is now hosted in a brand-new building. The building is super modern, in very stark contrast to the garden part featuring white painted trees and some very questionable but quirky decor.

As you sit in the garden, you don’t hear a word of English – it’s mostly older locals and families with kids. While the new building looks beautiful, I thought the whole place lost a lot of its charm and it was a shame to see that you can’t sit right next to the beach as it was before.

There is a small playground area (watch out for kids as some of the retired Luna Park rides had exposed electrical wires) and it seems like a small cat sanctuary too. The trees were just about to pop the first leaves and we agreed we have to return back to see it fully covered in shades of green.

It was a lovely place to spend the morning, with a cold bottle of Corona while watching the cats chasing each other in the gardens, locals sipping frappe and playing cards and our little boy was happy to play in the dirt with rocks & cars.

What more can you wish for a beautiful Saturday morning?

I will be back to Riccos Beach later this year to report once the trees are in full force and we will be able to enjoy the beach a bit more too. Until then, have a great weekend everyone! =)