Stay In Larnaca / St. Lazaros Quarter
The Quarter
The quarter behind the church
St. Lazaros is a working neighbourhood in old Larnaca, not a recreated one — a church that's stood since the 9th century, streets that haven't been widened for tour buses, and four small places to stay run by people who live here.
The church
Agios Lazaros — older than most of Europe's cathedrals
The church at the centre of the quarter was built in the late 9th century, under the Byzantine emperor Leo VI, over the tomb of Lazarus of Bethany — the same Lazarus raised from the dead, who is said to have lived out the rest of his life here in Larnaca as the city's first bishop. The bell tower was added in the 17th century. Inside, the iconostasis — the carved screen separating the altar — is hand-carved and gold-leafed, dating to the 18th century.
Everything in this neighbourhood sits within a few minutes' walk of it. The square in front fills and empties through the day: quiet in the early morning, busy around the church services, café tables out by evening.
The streets
Narrow, old, and still in use
Walk a few streets back from the church and you're in the old town proper — stone arcades, shuttered windows in half a dozen colours, doorways with dates carved into the lintels going back over a century. It isn't dressed up for visitors. People live here, hang washing out, keep small shops open. That's what makes it worth staying in rather than just photographing.
The quarter is compact enough to know properly after a day or two on foot, and close enough to the sea that you can do both — old town in the morning, Finikoudes Beach in the afternoon — without planning around it.
Watch
A walk through the quarter
Door to church to sea, in under a minute.
A few honest recommendations
Where to eat and drink, right around the corner
Three places within a few minutes of the church, all still standing after years of us sending guests there.
Lazaris Bakery Bar
Pastries and coffee right beside the church — the obvious choice before a day of walking.
Menta Speciality Coffee
If you care about your coffee, this is the one to know about — a proper bean selection, not just an espresso machine.
Stou Roushia
An authentic Cypriot taverna with generous portions — the kind of place locals go, not just guests.
Go further
More about the area
A few honest recommendations
Nine places we actually send guests to — coffee, Cypriot food, seafood, and a drink after.
Read the guide → SightseeingWhat to do in Larnaca
From the church at your doorstep to a UNESCO site inland — museums, beaches, the salt lake, and day trips.
Read the guide →Where it all sits
Four doors, one neighbourhood
Three of our properties stand within thirty metres of each other on the same corner behind the church. The fourth is a four-minute walk away, closest to the sea.
Stay here
Four ways into the same quarter
Stay in it, not just near it
Four places, one church, one old quarter. Pick the one that suits you — and once you've checked in, just ask, we're glad to help.