Not long ago, dining options in the İskele and Long Beach region were largely limited to traditional, family-run kebab houses and casual beachfront tavernas. Today, the culinary landscape is completely unrecognizable. Spearheaded by the arrival of premium establishments like Eziç and the sleek Vola Cafe & Patisserie in neighboring Yeni Boğaziçi, the area has matured into a sophisticated hub for international gastronomy.

1. The Transformation of İskele's Dining Scene

The rapid influx of foreign investment and luxury residential projects in Long Beach has brought a demographic shift to the eastern coast of Northern Cyprus. With a growing population of expats, digital nomads, and high-net-worth investors, the demand for premium dining, artisanal coffee, and modern lounge environments skyrocketed. The opening of high-end restaurant chains like Eziç was the ultimate signal that this region had acquired the density and purchasing power to support elite franchises.

2. Eziç: The Culinary Empire of Northern Cyprus

Founded by Mehmet Eziç in 1990 from a small takeaway shop with a donated fridge, Eziç has grown into the island's most recognizable and beloved restaurant group. With sprawling, architecturally stunning branches in Kyrenia, Nicosia, Famagusta, Lapta, and now the İskele/Yeni Boğaziçi district, it sets the standard for dining in the TRNC.

What makes Eziç truly unique is its commitment to consistency and quality. They were the first restaurant chain in Northern Cyprus to employ full-time food engineers and centralize their food production to meet strict EU hygiene standards. When you dine at Eziç, you are guaranteed a world-class experience.

3. The Menu and Atmosphere at Eziç

The Eziç menu is famously extensive, catering flawlessly to both local tastes and international palates. The architecture of their newer branches is explicitly designed to maximize the Mediterranean climate, offering massive open-air terraces and sleek, multi-tier dining halls.

4. Vola Cafe & Patisserie: Elevated European Aesthetics

Located right alongside the Eziç complex is Vola. Vola brings a sleek, highly photogenic European aesthetic to the area. It was explicitly designed as a lifestyle and social hub—the kind of place where expats meet for morning business catch-ups, and tourists relax with premium cocktails in the afternoon.

Vola is the answer to the modern café culture that new buyers in Northern Cyprus demand, bridging the gap between a high-end patisserie and a sophisticated evening lounge.

5. A Refined Menu for the Cosmopolitan Expat

Vola’s menu breaks away from traditional Cypriot fare to offer a globally inspired, modern European dining experience. It caters heavily to the health-conscious and the aesthetic-driven diner.

"The density of high-end restaurants is a primary metric we use to measure a region's economic health. The arrival of Eziç and Vola proves İskele is passing this test with flying colors."

6. Why High-End Dining Matters for Real Estate Investors

For property investors, the culinary infrastructure of a neighborhood is just as important as the beach itself. Properties located within a short drive of premium dining hubs like the Eziç/Vola complex command significantly higher short-term rental yields.

Tourists and winter-sun holidaymakers are willing to pay a premium for convenience. The ability to walk or take a two-minute drive to a world-class restaurant or a modern coffee shop dramatically increases a property's year-round occupancy rates.

7. The Social Hub for Expats and Digital Nomads

Beyond the food, these venues serve a vital social function. Relocating to a new country can be daunting, but places like Vola act as natural networking centers. It is incredibly common to see real estate deals being discussed, new friendships forming, and remote workers utilizing the high-speed Wi-Fi on the terrace.

This sense of community is a massive selling point for the Long Beach region, transforming it from a mere summer holiday destination into a permanent, year-round home.

8. A Look to the Future: The Expansion of Premium Amenities

The massive success of Eziç and Vola in the region is paving the way for even more luxury brands to enter the eastern coast. As developers continue to build 5-star residential resorts, the commercial sector is rapidly matching that luxury.

For those looking to invest or relocate to Northern Cyprus, the message is clear: the lifestyle here is no longer just "up-and-coming"—it has officially arrived, and it tastes spectacular.