What a surprise find! Tucked away behind Nicosia’s Hamam is a real hidden gem, so much so that I’m in two minds about disclosing its name. But disclose I must. At Korniza Baroque nature, preserved Cypriot architecture and good old hospitality come together to offer customers an intimate and charming night.
What makes Korniza Baroque stand out? Is it the hundreds of bottles of wines they offer? Award winning cocktails? Or guest DJs flying in from around the world? No, it’s none of that, it just has a certain charm with a drinking are at the front of the venue, comfortably sandwiched by two restored yellow brick walls overflowing naturally with greenery, four banana trees reaching for the sky and a trimmed pink bougainvillea sheltering tables in one corner.
Opened in September 2015, Korniza Baroque is housed in a restored 1920s Cypriot home. There’s a feeling of security, simplicity and historic richness in the place, a perfect setting for good friends and lovers. It’s also the kind of place that one can feel quite comfortable to frequent alone.
I chose the inside where a lot of time, thought and love as gone into the design, which is almost theatrical. The old architecture and vintage tiled floors have been lovingly maintained with added touches. On entering from the front veranda door, one walks along the old Cypriot tiled floor, and looking up, sees tasteful and not overwhelming imagery from the Sistine Chapel in Rome, it really works.
The small seated bar area is dimly lit with huge gold rimmed mirrors lining the wall behind it and a large of array of premium and regular alcohol sits and waits.
The barman leans in to take my order and although there is an interesting selection of cocktails, I play hard ball and say I don’t fancy any of them and I’m after something bitter sweet.
With no further words exchanged he delivered the exact taste I was after; a drink with no name, one made specially for me with rum, Cointreau, fresh lime and something called Yuzu syrup (a bitter sweet lemon flavour with pieces of bitter sweet fruit in) with soda. It was good, very good.
The music is both Greek and English folk, gentle rock, soul and blues, overall emotive and feeding into the cosy chill out vibes. They offer 200 different labels of spirits (premium and regular) and about 30 labels each of wine and beer and have a variety of Cypriot finger food for nibbles. Monday nights are live Rembetika bands and about once a month there is a DJ.
Korniza Baroque
Where: Soutsou 9, Nicosia
When: Monday to Saturday 5pm (winter hours) – 2am
How much: Cocktails €6.50 – 7, carafes of ouzo, tsipoura, zivania and rakamelo (hot and cold) €12, wines €18-31.
Contact: 22104077, www.facebook.com/Korniza-Baroque
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