Nicosia's nightlife is lively by the standards of a small Mediterranean capital. The old city has a scattering of bars in and around Laiki Ytonia, but the more interesting spots tend to be in the residential streets just outside the Venetian walls, where a cluster of bars and clubs caters mainly to a young local crowd. The area around Plateia Eleftherias (Freedom Square) and the streets south of the old city walls gets busy from about 10pm onwards.
Coffee culture is strong in Cyprus. A Cypriot coffee is thick, dark, and served in a small cup; order it glykis (sweet), metrios (medium), or sketos (unsweetened). The cafe terraces around the old city's squares are pleasant places to sit in the late afternoon and watch the city decompress from its working day.