Escape to MarMia Cafe in Fasoula Village

If a noisy, busy row of packed cafes is not your cup of tea, an escape to MarMia cafe in Fasoula village in the foothills rising above Mesa Geitonia in Limassol may be the break you need.

Fasoula is one of the prettiest villages around Limassol city, and the 10-minute drive up the hill is a pleasure as the town's concrete and tarmac give way to green-covered fields full of flowers.

If you ask one of the owners, Marios, how to find his cafe, he'll tell you to meet him at the village clock in the square. There, once you park your car, you walk through an arched corridor, and there's MarMia.

The cafe's name comes from the two owners names - Marios and Mia - put together, they make MarMia. It has been a dream of theirs to start a cafe in Fasoula, and they opened their doors just two weeks ago. I say doors, but half of the cafe is outside the doors on the stone-paved corridor. Opposite the cafe is the village museum, complete with the traditional grindstone for olives and other pieces of Cypriot history.

Which brings me to the music. Music? What do you mean by music? You were just talking about museums, I hear you say.

Yes, but Marios Papares is also a well-known Jazz saxophone player, and brings small live music combos to play Jazz and sometimes light rock. The bands perform just in front of the museum, bringing history to life through music. If you haven't already heard Marios play, I recommend that you check out his trio playing at MarMia on June 5th from 7-9pm.

And what about the style? MarMia pulls together traditional Cypriot village architecture with other ethnic influences; the Syrian nargile, the Indian light fixtures and Mia's mosaic designs on the walls. And the furniture was made by Marios in the ultimate recycling style, out of wooden palettes painted light turquoise and covered in colourful cushions.

Specials include Scandinavian fish night on Wednesdays (reservations only) and light food platters to go along with bottles of wine or beer. As Mia comes from Finland, the fish is the real thing...

The Espresso test

What about the ultimate test of a cafe - the Espresso? If you're like me, you never go back to a cafe that serves bitter or stale Espresso. Not to worry, MarMia passed my Espresso test with flying colours - it was rich and fresh, so I ordered two of them!

The cafe is open on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 5pm onwards. For reservations and information, call Marios or Mia on 99-989868 and 99444421.