Shayna Beach Club & Restaurant could not have a better location. At the glittering bay in Catalkoy, right next to the sea, lies the cosy restaurant adjacent to the sandy beach.
Deniz Bardi opened Shayna in 2009, after he had already been in the restaurant business since he was 15 years old.
– I used to work extra hours on the side of my studies, says Deniz. My brother has always been in the restaurant world and it was the main reason I ended up on the same path.
Since then he has managed several restaurants, including Stone Grill in Alsancak. On the site where Shayna Restaurant is today, there was previously only a small snack bar with plastic chairs.
When Deniz took it over, he constructed the main building and decorating it in a sleek, stylish design with a large wooden deck expanding out to the water. The beach was already there, but he made many modifications which include a jetty, grass, sun beds, umbrellas and a beach restaurant.
– Shayna is a nice and quiet place, says Deniz. People come here to relax and have a pleasant time with friends, have a drink and enjoy life.
The menu consists mainly of traditional Cypriot cuisine and seafood which is their speciality. The fish is caught by local fishermen, who head out every morning to ship it fresh to Shayna. Depending on how the catch of the day is, Deniz sometimes purchases the fish from different parts of the island, ranging from Güzelyurt in the west to Karpaz in the east. The seafood meze only costs 55 TL and is served with both hot and cold dishes.
The restaurant’s kitchen opens at 10am when you are welcome for breakfast. The guests consist mainly of local residents, English, Russians, Greek Cypriots and Scandinavians.
The beach is open from mid-April to late October. You are welcome to use the beach when lifeguards are on site between 9am to 6pm. Entrance fee is 10 TL per person which includes the use of the sun loungers, parasols, showers and changing rooms. On the beach you can have light lunches served to your sun-bed and the possibility to order massage from Shayna Beach Club’s own masseur, which only costs 80 TL for a 50 minute treatment.
On the question of why one should choose Shayna Beach Club & Restaurant, Deniz responds that it is a clean and beautiful cove, sheltered from the wind and it is a family friendly place where you can spend a whole day whilst having good visibility over your children on the beach. The food is both tasty and affordable, and you can enjoy it in a beautiful environment.
