Ladies only
For hundreds of years, women in Cyprus have watched as their men take to the coffee shop to talk, drink and play backgammon. Now it’s the women’s turn
Andri Laouri is a very happy woman, married to a husband who has long supported her dream of renovating her grandmother’s lovely old house into what has become a very special rendezvous point and social watering hole.
I mention first the fact that Andri is blessed with the support of a good man, because if I then go on to say she has opened a women’s only kafeneio (coffee shop), then the assumption for some is that she must be some raging feminist.
Andri has acted upon the increasing need that women have to call a place their own; a place where they can relax without the constraints put on them by male company, a place which offers a safe haven, one that serves good, home-cooked and decidedly different dishes at non inflated prices.
The now highly-popular Kafeneio Kyra Frosini is the result. Named after her much-loved grandmother, this venue now attracts a wonderful cross-section of women, of all ages and all nationalities. I spoke to some who were enjoying coffee and home-made cake and asked them what they liked about the place.
“The only option, other than a tourist type bar-caf?, was to go to a hotel for a ladies’ lunch or to meet up with friends for a drink. The latter was a bit expensive and not very welcoming. Here, we can stay put and enjoy the fact that when I bring my teenage daughter she is not made to feel uncomfortable. That means we can both relax,” said Margaret.
Her friend Janice echoed her, saying she felt so much more relaxed at the ladies only caf?, feeling there was more of a friendly club atmosphere without the stuffy rules and regulations that usually go with a club environment. The big bonus, she added, was the food, which all of the ladies present that morning described as ‘delicious’.
Andri does all the cooking and prides herself not only on replicating her grandmother’s traditional Cypriot recipes but also marrying North African and European cuisine.
But what do the men think? “We did have some men challenge the status quo, but that was handled very easily; some of the older male members of the community may well worry about what goes on behind these doors, with the result that they could be a bit nervous about allowing their wives to enter, but, that’s just an ingrained traditional attitude, one that I don’t really agree with but have to in the end respect because these men don’t know any different.”
Cypriot women have for centuries watched their men-folk go off to the coffee shop, where they would sit, talk, drink, discuss politics, moan, plot, plan, whatever. But Andri has created something miles away from your stark, 250 watt lighting and plastic chair testosterone-loaded local coffee shop.
We sat on comfortable sofas with pleasant lighting gently bathing the sitting rooms, while outside there’s a lovely garden area, wooden chairs and tables shaded by large cream umbrellas. One can see women working here on their laptops, others parking weary feet from a morning spent shopping, others writing letters, reading books, many catching up with friends and neighbours, some just there because it’s an escape from the home environment and a place to enjoy a glass or two of wine. Men are, however, allowed to enter these hallowed halls, but only after 9pm.
Andri also offers an in-house cookery class, where her grandmother’s recipes are well and truly tried and tested. The morning I visited it was the recipe for delicious almond cakes. For these alone, I suggest you ladies all trot on down and support Andri in this venture. It is indeed comforting to know a place like this exists.
Kyra Frosini’s Ladies only Kafeneio, 4 Paflas Afroditis & Filokitou, Kato Paphos. Tel: 99 456815, 26 948493
