Cypriot entrepreneur opens award-winning café in Alicante

Gregoris Loizou, a Cypriot entrepreneur previously based in London, has opened a coffee shop named Swallow in Alicante, Spain. The business was established following the COVID-19 pandemic after Loizou relocated from the United Kingdom, spending a year in Cyprus before settling in Spain. Loizou sought to create a specialty coffee shop inspired by the coffee culture he experienced while living in London. Despite initially having limited knowledge of the industry, he underwent professional training and self-study to develop his expertise. The café has since been recognized as one of the top establishments in Spain. Loizou cited similarities between the Mediterranean lifestyle in Alicante and his native Cyprus as key factors in his decision to stay in the city. The project represents a career transition for the owner following a period of burnout.