Naxos is hands down the Gastronomic Queen of the Cyclades. Although compared to other islands such as Mykonos, Santorini, and Paros, Naxos lacks several fine dining restaurants, it is an open secret that its culinary scene is one of the most palatable in Greece.

On a quick note, the best restaurants in Naxos that you should definitely not miss are:
• Axiotissa • Vassilis Tavern • Yucca • La Vigne

Table of content:
• Our Selection • Best locations • Best by type • What to order? • General information

OUR SELECTION OF RESTAURANTS

We have hand-picked the best 57 restaurants in Naxos and marked our favorite ones with a .

Map view
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Barozzi

Mediterranean Greek Cocktails Contemporary $$$
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Barozzi is a gourmet restaurant and cocktail bar located in central Naxos Town and housed in a renovated 1930s building, creating a unique environment. It offers Mediterranean and Greek cuisine, pairing traditional flavors with creative, modern platings. Both the dishes and many drinks are prepared ...
Town
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Kontos

Greek Local Traditional $$
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A very popular restaurant in Mikri Vigla beach with an advantageous location overlooking the turquoise waters. It mainly serves popular Greek dishes including souvlaki, the Greek fast food. It is ideal for families and meals after a day at the beach. Reasonable prices.
Mikri Vigla
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Axiotissa

Greek Local Traditional $$
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It is considered as one of the top places to eat in Naxos. Axiotissa will introduce you to the finest modern Greek and Naxian cuisine. You will find delicious meat, fish and vegetarian dishes as well as a wide variety of Greek and International wines. 3-4 days reservation in advance during high ...
Kastraki
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Vassilis Tavern

Greek Traditional Greek Grill $$
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In the most picturesque alley of Melanes is Vassilis Tavern, a place with fantastic food made of their own produce. If you want to try real local Naxos recipes, then Vassilis is the best place for good food and hospitality.
Melanes
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La Vigne Wine Bar & Restaurant

Wine Bar French International $$-$$$
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La Vigne is a wine bar offering a wide variety of wines from Greece and France. In addition, it serves fusion cuisine, combining Mediterranean, French and Asian flavors and recipes. Located in a narrow alley in central Naxos Town, it provides a cozy and welcoming environment for having a bite and ...
Town
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The Naxos Apothecary

Mediterranean Cocktails Art Cafe $$-$$$
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The Naxos Apothecary is the ideal place to have a cup of coffee, a glass of wine, or a healthy meal near the port of Naxos. Overlooking Portara and the sea, the Apothecary also provides various products made with natural ingredients, including body care products, candles, fragrances, and more.
Town
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Yucca

Greek Cocktails Contemporary $$-$$$
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Located right by the seashore of Maragas, Yucca is a modern beach bar & restaurant with additional accommodation facilities. It allows you to spend time in a beautifully designed beachfront environment, offering a wide variety of delicacies to try. Check it out for cocktails, snacks and more!
Plaka
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Metaxi Mas Tavern

Greek Traditional $$
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Metaxi mas is maybe one of the most popular choices for a good meal in Chora. On its menu you will find all the famous greek dishes at very affordable prices. It is strongly recommended for a classic Greek meze dinner, meaning many different appetizers to share in the middle of the table.
Town
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Paradiso

Greek Traditional $$
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One of the most photographed places of the island. This is not only a photogenic place but also the best restaurant to gaze at a sunset and eat fresh fish and seafood.
Agia Anna
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Pigi Tavern

Greek Local Traditional $$
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Due to the wonderful location and the delicious traditional Greek dishes, Pigi is considered among the best taverns in Naxos. It is found in Ano Potamia, next to a prehistoric water spring that gives water even today.
Potamia
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Stou Vasilarakiou

Greek Greek Grill $$
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Maybe the top destination on the island for meat lovers. This third generation family run tavern is located in a less touristy part of Naxos, Kinidaros village but has managed to become a pole of gastronomic attraction. The menu has a variety of delicious meat. Needs reservation.
Kinidaros
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Tortuga

Mediterranean $$$
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A prestigious fine dining restaurant in one of the most beautiful beaches of the island. European cuisine in a boho-chic atmosphere. Signature cocktails and an impressive wine list are also a plus.
Plaka
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Mitos Artbar

European Italian Italian Pizza $
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Mitos Artbar is an all day eatery in the picturesque village of Chalki. Either it's a power breakfast before hiking or a pasta and pizza dinner, everything served at Mitos’ is made with care and love. Here you will taste the best Greek Salad on the island!
Halki
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Antamoma

Greek Traditional $$
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Antamoma is a restaurant located in the southern part of Chora’s beach promenade, in front of the public parking. It is among the nice restaurants of Naxos and focuses on traditional Greek recipes but with a modern touch. It only uses local products of high quality from their own fields and from ...
Town
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Lefteris

Greek Traditional $$
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Lefteris at the inland village of Apiranthos offers rare gastronomic experiences served on a flower-bedecked veranda. The restaurant is celebrated beyond Naxos for its food offerings. Apiranthos makes for a nice excursion from Naxos Town but rewards the visitor with its picturesque village, history, ...
Apiranthos
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Typografio

Greek Local $$
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An ex-newspaper printing company of the 1920’s has turned into one of Chora’s most popular restaurants. Typografio is a tourist friendly restaurant serving modern Greek dishes and an interesting wine list.
Town
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Mikri Vigla Tavern

Greek Traditional $$
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The restaurant is wearing the name of its location - one of the most beautiful beaches on the Island of Naxos – Mikri Vigla. Actually the place’s name is Sahara or Limanakia and is a spot protected from the winds, just behind the big bay of Mikri Vigla, famous for windsurfing and kitesurfing. ...
Sahara
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To Elliniko

Greek Traditional $$
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The charming Elliniko restaurant is one of the most popular gastronomic destinations in Naxos. It combines a great setting with an inner spacious garden, deliciously cooked Naxian meals, and attentive service.
Town
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Rotonda

Coffee Shop Greek
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Rotonda is the perfect place for anyone that wants to try traditional Greek dishes prepared with fresh local ingredients while admiring the majestic view of the Aegean Sea. Offering lunch, dinner and drinks, it is a great option for any time of the day in a relaxing and picturesque environment.
Apiranthos
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Picasso Mexican

Mexican $$
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Since 2004, Picasso on the Beach Restaurant is serving Mexican food to its clients in Plaka. Located on the seaside, the place has been designed to offer every customer the chance to have a great meal overlooking the Aegean Sea at the same time. You can start your day with a good coffee and some ...
Plaka
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Kalliopi Tavern

Greek Local $$
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One of the best well-kept gastronomic secrets of the island is located near Moni village. It is a family run taverna with a very local touch. Its meat oriented menu is short yet delicious. Everything is produced and cooked in-house since the family has its own farm and animals. The food served here ...
Moni

 

BEST RESTAURANT BY LOCATION

Most of the restaurants in Naxos are located in Chora - both in the New Town and the alleys of the Old Town - and at the beaches.
Several restaurants lie at the most touristy beach resorts on the island, like Agios Georgios, Agia Anna, Agios Prokopios, and Plaka, where most of the hotels of Naxos are located.
There are many restaurants at most beaches and villages, so you can organize your excursions around Naxos without worrying about where to eat.

 

BEST RESTAURANTS BY TYPE

Discover the options you have for:

• Fresh fish and seafood

Paradiso, Palatia, and Axiotissa.

• Local Meat

Stou Vasilarakiou, Kalliopi, and Lefteris.

• Romantic dinner

Barozzi, Yucca, La vigne and Dal Professore.

• Eat like a local

Pigi, Vassilis and Kalliopi.

• Dinner on the beach

Paradiso, Palatia and Kontos Restaurant.

• Gourmet dinner

Barozzi

• Modern Greek cuisine

Axiotissa, Yucca, Petrino and, Typografio.

• Meze dinner

Metaxi mas

• Best "rosto"

Lefteris, and Axiotissa.

• Best Greek salad

Mitos and Axiotissa.

• Vegans and vegetarians

Axiotissa and Irini’s.

 

WHAT TO ORDER?

The menu is usually extensive.
Being on an island, restaurants in Chora and places near the sea serve fresh fish and seafood: garides saganaki (shrimps with feta cheese and tomato sauce), fried calamari, gavros marinatos (marinated anchovies), and grilled sardines are only some of the most infamous Greek dishes you will come across on the menu.
But Naxos has a stellar reputation in meat too. The Rosto is a local dish (garlic stuffed pork leg braised in wine accompanied by pasta or potatoes) that you need to try before leaving the island. Other popular meat-based dishes include rabbit braised in lemon and slow-cooked goat with macaroni.
In some traditional meat taverns, you will find kokoretsi (grilled intestines from lamb or goat), while you can try home-produced sausages almost everywhere.
Of course, all the well-known Greek recipes such as moussaka, gemista (stuffed tomatoes), kolokithokeftedes (zucchini balls), cheese pies, spinach pies, tzatziki, and others are available almost everywhere.

The Greek salad and fries are always protagonists when it comes to making the order.
Olives and olive oil are exceptional, whereas potatoes of Naxos are well-known in Greece and considered of excellent quality for their earthly and exquisite taste.

Furthermore, cheeses of Naxos (graviera, arseniko & ksinotiro) are very popular, with some kinds, like graviera, registered as protected designation of origin products.
Sometimes, depending on availability, you may find zamboni (ham), a cured meat that probably originated from the Venetians who conquered the island in the middle ages.

As for local wine, it is not the best in the country, but you can always give it a try. Of course, many restaurants have a wine list with excellent and world-renowned bottled wines from other islands like Santorini or Paros.

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

Naxos is one of the few Cycladic islands with water abundance, a good climate, and fertile soil. Therefore, it produces plenteous agricultural products.
Locals cultivate fruits and vegetables, and animals are bred throughout the island.
The vast majority of ingredients used in cooking are locally produced and as fresh as they can get.
Note that many tavern owners are farmers, breeders, or fishermen themselves. That results in the most palatable meals at very reasonable prices.

Naxos restaurants stand out for their delicious dishes and quiet atmosphere.
They range from Greek taverns with traditional food to international cuisines, like Mexican, Italian and French eateries.
Regarding setting and location, you will be surprised by numerous marvelous places. For example, many restaurants put their tables on the beach, just a few meters away from the sea, offering their clients a dinner with an unobstructed sea view and sunset.
Others, located in the Venetian Castle on a small whitewashed paved alley, serve just a small number of tables under the candlelight.
More authentic taverns are found in the villages of mainland Naxos and are situated in the main square, surrounded by a very traditional scenery.

Meal times

Lunchtime: 12:00 -17:00 / Dinner time: 18:00 - 24:00.
Note that in Greece, in general, and especially during the summer season when days are longer, people eat later compared to the European habits and meal times are very flexible.
Usually, lunch is served around 14:00 and dinner at around 21:00. Even if you arrive around 23:00, most establishments still operate and will serve you.

Reservations

Although restaurants and tavernas in Naxos had this easygoing atmosphere and showing up anytime would not be an issue for finding a table, this is not the case when it comes to successful eateries.
The circumstances have changed and in some cases, such as for Axiotissa restaurant, a reservation is recommended even four days in advance.
Reservations during the high season for our recommended restaurants are mandatory.

Tipping

Tipping in Greece does not work by percentage. An average tip, depending on how satisfied you are with the service, is around €2-5. Leaving no gratuity at all, however, is considered impolite.

Water

Tap water is drinkable in Naxos, but restaurants usually serve bottled water.

Communication

Every restaurant, even a small tavern, has a menu in English. Some might have a menu in other languages like French, German, or Italian.
The vast majority of staff members speak basic English, so communicating is easy.
They are also eager to introduce you to Greek cuisine and its ingredients.

Meze meal

As you will see on the menu, all restaurants in Naxos present their dishes by category: salads, appetizers, main dishes, fish, meat, etc.
If you are more than two people eating, you can order several appetizers and share them, instead of ordering main dishes. Greeks call such plates (small and savory) mezedes and accompany them with a spirit, usually ouzo or rakee.
That is very common in Greece and you will encounter many Greeks sharing their food.
The reason is that Greek cuisine has a variety of delicious appetizers and you will want to try as many as possible.

The Pikilia dish

If you prefer dining at traditional restaurants, you will probably come across the pikilia option.
Pikilia is the Greek word for variety, and the dish comprises a mixture of meats or seafood, depending on the type of establishment, and fried appetizers.
Ordering such plates is a very common food behavior among Greek people.
Like mezedes, it is a dish for the middle and diners share it.

Portions

In Naxos, portions are quite hearty. Also, note that meat dishes are usually accompanied by fried potatoes, rice, or pasta.

Prices

Prices in restaurants vary. Overall, Naxos is considered an affordable destination in terms of meals.
Also, it is a fact that restaurants on the island have the best prices for the offered quality, which is the finest.

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