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Updated: May 20, 2020
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The Best Places to Eat in Naxos
- Greek Cooking Classes: Naxian food is renowned throughout Greece. There are several great cooking classes on the island. But they’re very popular so book early. The Half-Day Cooking Class at Basiliko Family Tavern is best cooking lesson on Naxos. Learn local dishes at a small inland village. If this one is fully booked then try the also-great Greek Cooking Class & Dinner.
- Naxos Town has the most restaurants and almost all of Naxos’ bars. Most restaurants in Naxos Town are located either along the port or inside the maze-like old village. Restaurants along the port have amazing sunset views, but the food is usually better inside the village (with a few exceptions). All restaurants listed below are in Naxos Town, unless otherwise noted.
- Best Romantic Restaurant: Doukato.
- Best Traditional Greek Taverna: To Elleniko.
- Best Modern Greek Restaurant: Nostimon Hellas.
- Best Restaurant with Sunset Views: Boulamatsis.
- Best Gyros and Souvlaki: To Souvlaki tou Maki.
- Best Beach Club: Yazoo Summer Bliss on Plaka Beach.
- Best Ice Cream: Mitatos Ice Cream on Plaka Beach.
- Best Hotel Restaurant in Naxos: Nissaki Restaurant at Nissaki Beach Hotel on Agios Georgios Beach.
The picturesque Typografio Restaurant in Naxos Town.
Dining in Naxos
- Meal times in Naxos: Greeks typically eat late. Lunchtime is between 1:30 and 3:00 p.m. and dinner is usually around 9:00 or 10:00 p.m. Of course, some restaurants in the more tourist-heavy Naxos Town will serve lunch as early as 11:00 a.m. or 12:00 p.m. and dinner starting at 7:00 p.m., but the restaurants will be largely empty with fewer locals. Breakfast is not a major meal in Greece.
- Reservations in Naxos: Reservations are not necessary for most restaurants in Naxos, and many restaurants don’t even take reservations. But for small restaurants and popular sunset viewing spots, plan on reserving a few days in advance.
- Eating with Your Hands: There is a misconception that Greeks eat almost everything with their hands. While this is certainly true for on-the-go snacks and meals, like gyros and cheese pies, or for pork and lamb chops at very casual restaurants, diners at nicer restaurants use utensils for most things. Even for dipping bread, it is typical to cut a small piece and use a fork to dip and eat.
- Water is safe to drink from the tap in Naxos, but it does not taste good. As a rule, restaurants serve bottled water only.
- Naxian Food: Naxos is the breadbasket of the Cyclades, the greenest island in the region, and supplies much of the fruit, vegetables, and meat served at restaurants and hotels on the surrounding islands. Naxos is particularly known for its potatoes, citrus fruits, kitron (a citrus-based liquor), cheeses, lamb and goat, wine grapes, honey, and fresh fish.
- Wine: Greek wines are incredibly underrated. The country has been producing wine for thousands of years, and offer some truly amazing varieties, especially white wines. The top wine regions in Greece are the Cyclades, the Peloponnese, and Macedonia regions. Types to try include Assyrtiko and Moschofilero (both whites), Agiorgitiko (rosé and red), Xinomavro (red), and Vinsanto (white dessert wine).
- Tipping in Naxos: Tipping is customary (but not obligatory) in Naxos, but it is not percentage-based as it is in the U.S. It is customary to tip about €2 to €5 for a meal.
The 17 Best Restaurants in Naxos
1. To Elleniko – Naxos Town • $$
Map • +30 22850 27050
Family-owned, traditional Greek restaurant with cozy seating indoors or on their open-air garden patio. The menu highlights the best local vegetables, cheeses, and meats prepared in classic Naxian and Greek styles, featuring plenty of fresh seafood, locally raised goat, along with a range of vegetarian dishes. Portions are enormous and service is friendly. Open from noon to midnight. Reservations are recommended for dinner.
2. Doukato – Naxos Town • $$
Map • +30 22850 27013
Romantic restaurant in the Chora set in the courtyard of an old monastery with tables arranged on the cobblestones under a large tree, surrounded by flowers and climbing vines. Food is outstanding here, with a menu featuring Greek dishes made with Naxian ingredients; specialties include gouna (sun-dried mackerel) and saganaki kataifi (fried cheese covered in sweet shredded phyllo). Open for dinner from 6:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. Reservations recommended in high season.
3. Nostimon Hellas – Naxos Town • $$
Map • +30 22850 25811
Modern kitchen serving updated Greek favorites, creative Mediterranean dishes, and cheap, delicious local wine. Al fresco garden seating overlooks the main road or wraps around the side and back of the building. Open for dinner only, from 6:00 p.m. to midnight. Reservations recommended; seating is limited.
4. Barozzi Restaurant & Cocktail Bar – Naxos Town • $$$
Map • +30 22850 27672
Fine dining and fine art meet in this creative restaurant and gallery set in a renovated 1930s mansion. Food is superb – don’t miss the rabbit ravioli or the sea bass marinated in watermelon and lime. Order a la carte or try a little bit of everything with the 5 or 7-course degustation menu. The wine list features plenty of Greek varieties, supplemented by carefully selected international labels, while the signature cocktails are stellar. Open for lunch, dinner, and late-night cocktails.
5. Boulamatsis – Naxos Town • $$
Map • +30 22850 24227
The best sunset, sea view restaurant in Naxos, Boulamatsis serves classic Greek dishes using local Naxian ingredients. Menu highlights include moussaka, grilled fish, and courgette fritters. About half of the menu is vegetarian and features farm-fresh veggies and cheese. Overlooking the port, this restaurant gets busy for dinner, especially near sunset; reservations are recommended. Though facing the sea, the entrance to the restaurant is on the street behind.
6. To Souvlaki tou Maki – Naxos Town • $
Map • +30 22850 26002
The best souvlaki and gyros in Naxos, this tiny grill house offers locally raised meats, hand-cut fries made with the famous Naxos potatoes, homemade wine, and Greek beer. Indoor and outdoor seating; hotel delivery available. Open noon to midnight year-round (sometimes later in high season).
7. Giannoulis Taverna – Agios Prokopios Beach • $$
Map • +30 22850 42333
Charming family taverna serving hearty Greek standbys and Naxian comfort foods. Local specialties include rosto (pork casserole) and rabbit stew. All meals begin with a complimentary black-eyed pea starter and finish with a complimentary dessert and ouzo. They don’t take reservations so get here early or be prepared to wait; this place is always busy.
8. O Vasilis – Melanes • $$
Map • +30 22850 62374
A favorite among locals, O Vasilis offers the most authentic Naxian food experience on the island. The family that runs the taverna breeds and farms their own roosters, rabbits, lamb, pigs, vegetables, and more. Perched on a hillside garden terrace, the restaurant offers views over the nearby village, blue-domed church, and mountains. Open daily year-round for lunch and dinner. Reservations recommended.
9. Rotonda – Apeiranthos • $$
Map • +30 22850 61254
Crowd-pleasing Greek-Mediterranean restaurant with stunning views sunset views over Filoti village toward Mt. Zas and the Aegean. This mountaintop restaurant serves classic Greek dishes, like moussaka, pork rosto, and saganaki, along with pasta, risotto, and mixed grill plates. An especially popular spot with locals and travelers for sunset drinks, from Greek wines and beers to classic cocktails. Open all day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
10. Lithos – Naxos Town • $$
Map • +30 22850 26602
Elegant restaurant hidden in Chora with snug little tables placed on the cobblestone stairway leading up to the castle ruins. The Mediterranean menu boasts excellent seafood, risotto, grilled meats, and salads with Naxian vegetables and cheeses. Great house white wine, perfectly light desserts, and friendly service complete the experience. Open all day from 10:00 a.m to 2:00 a.m. Seating is limited, so make reservations.
11. Kitron Café Cocktail Bar – Chalki • $
Map • +30 22850 32964
Cozy café serving a creative menu of signature, kitron-based cocktails (the kitron distillery is just a few meters away), along with excellent coffee, Greek sweets (baklava, walnut cake, etc.), and light fare. By day there are more travelers, but at night, Kitron is almost entirely a locals bar. Hours are not exact; open from morning late into the evening. Note: There is a bar with the same name in Naxos Town, so use the map link above to find the right Kitron in Chalki village.
12. Yazoo Summer Bliss – Plaka Beach • $$
Map • +30 22850 41233
The best beach bar in Naxos. Yazoo is a lively beach bar and restaurant on stunning Plaka Beach, offering a delicious Cretan-Naxian menu, refreshing cocktails, and regional Greek wines. Yazoo is best-loved for their monthly full moon parties, lasting late into the night with DJs and live music and attracting hundreds of locals and travelers. Open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks, and snacks from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 a.m.
13. Santana Beach Club – Agia Anna Beach • $$
Map • +30 22850 42841
The most stylish beach club in Naxos. Santana offers an upscale beach experience with great signature cocktails, Greek and international beer and wine, and a casual Mediterranean menu with pizza, mix grill plates, pasta, and more. Beach parties are held all summer long on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays with the house DJ, and on select Saturdays with a guest DJ or live band. Parties usually begin around 4:00 p.m. Open all day into the wee hours of the night.
14. Oniro Wine Bar Restaurant – Naxos Town • $$
Map • +30 22850 23846
A hidden gem in the heart of the Chora, Oniro is known for its intimate atmosphere, friendly service, and its two roof garden terraces with sunset views over the village toward the castle and the sea. The food menu features Naxian specialties with locally sourced ingredients; highlights include kalogeros (beef stew) and gruyere kataifi (local cheese wrapped in shredded phyllo). The wine selection is much more extensive here than at other nearby bars and restaurants, and the house wine is excellent, but by-the-glass offering are limited. Open daily for brunch from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and for dinner from 6:00 p.m. to midnight.
15. Typografio – Naxos Town • $$
Map • +30 22850 22375
A picturesque restaurant set in a former newspaper press at the base of Naxos castle, Typografio offers a modern twist on classic Greek cuisine. Look out for the lamb fricassee, vegetarian moussaka, and braised chickpeas. Dining is al fresco on two rooftop terraces with views over the village to the sea (the upper terrace has the best views). Reservations recommended in high season.
16. Patatosporos – Agia Anna Beach• $$
Map • +30 69787 33402
Idyllic location for toes-in-the-sand dining, sunset sea views, and superb, local seafood dishes. Standouts include gavros marinatos (marinated anchovies) and salatouri (skate salad) paired with potato salad or zucchini croquettes. Open daily from 1:00 p.m. to midnight. Reservations recommended for dinner during high season.
17. To Spitiko – Naxos Town • $
Map • +30 22850 26212
Wonderful, family-run grill house at the port specializing in souvlaki and gyros, but offering a wide range of meat and veggie dishes (grown and made locally) accompanied by excellent Greek beer and wine. Super casual atmosphere great for catching the sunset, people watching, or for a quick bite before heading off to the nearby bars. Open for lunch and dinner from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.
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