Naxos - Dining

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Naxos

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Overview

Dining The guide was updated: 2024-09-17

Perhaps surprisingly for an island, Naxian cuisine is known more for its meat than seafood: grass-fed beef, lamb, goat meat and poultry often feature as primary dish ingredients on the island restaurants' menus. Try the Naxian specialty Easter dish called "patoudo" — stuffed lamb meat with herbs, often served with the celebrated regional potatoes. Meals often start with a round of small plates called "meze". These are made with seafood, meat, and vegetables. The island is also known for locally-produced wines and cheeses like gruyer, arseniko, xynomizithra, xynotyro and mizithra.

Delfinaki (Lionas)

Delfinaki (Lionas)

Delfinaki offers a warm welcome and excellent local cuisine largely made with home-grown ingredients and fresh fish. A meal will be normally followed by a complimentary drink and/or dessert, the hospitable owners often insisting that guests bring some house delights along with them upon departure.

Rotonda (Apeiranthos)

Rotonda (Apeiranthos)

No establishment on Naxos is quite like Rotonda — a unique restaurant set on the hilltop, with panoramic (360-degree) views unfolding before diners' very eyes. The view alone would be worth the trip, but the Restaurant has excellent contemporary Greek and Mediterranean cuisine to show for its fame.

Ostria (Moutsouna)

Ostria (Moutsouna)

The on-site restaurant of Ostria Inn is one of Naxos' hidden gems. The establishment offers sea-view dining on a charming, airy outdoor terrace. Some of the menu highlights include the vegetable mille-feuille, octopus carpaccio and feta topped with honey and sesame seeds for dessert.

Antamoma DeliCuisine (Naxos Town)

Antamoma DeliCuisine (Naxos Town)

The longstanding family restaurant (now run and recently reinvented by the family's son) showcases local ingredients at their finest. Meat, seafood and vegetables are all locally-sourced and cooked the Naxian way with an elegant modern twist. Dine with direct view of the majestic sunset.

Nostimon Hellas (Naxos Town)

Nostimon Hellas (Naxos Town)

The concise menu of Nostimon Hellas offers substantial variety, with a selection of grilled meats, fish and seafood dishes, pasta and risotto, as well as a rather extensive list of hot and cold appetizers. The ingredients are mostly locally-sourced. The house wine comes highly recommended.

Sarris Tavern (Naxos Town)

Sarris Tavern (Naxos Town)

The excellent value Greek tavern is located only a stone's throw away from the Naxos' waterfront, smack in the middle of a busy touristy street. Despite the prime location, the tavern charges vary fair prices for the generous portions of authentic Greek food served.

Taverna Axiotissa (Kastraki)

Taverna Axiotissa (Kastraki)

Beyond any doubt one of the finest on the island, Axiotissa is known first and foremost for its organic dish ingredients and wines, all grown and produced by the owners. Naxian fish, meat, and vegetables are all cooked to perfection (do try the daily specials). Booking essential for evening dining.

Sto Ladoxarto (Naxos Town)

Sto Ladoxarto (Naxos Town)

A carnivore's paradise, Sto Ladoxarto is a restaurant specializing in meats — primarily the grilled variety. Orders normally come with a side of potato wedges and a salad, and meals are often followed by a complimentary chocolate "kormos" dessert. Offers views over the harbour (among other perks).

Giannis Tavern (Halki)

Giannis Tavern (Halki)

Take a seat in the shaded leafy square in the very heart of Naxos and tuck into an authentic Greek culinary creation. Meat and chicken are the focal points; these are accompanied by a variety of sides and traditional layered dough spinach and cheese pies.

Metaxi mas (Naxos Town)

Metaxi mas (Naxos Town)

Located in one of the tiny town alleys (do sit outside if the weather allows), Metaxi mas offers some of the best-value local meals in the old market area. Try one of the saganaki varieties, the melt-in-your-mouth veal with vegetables, or any of the dishes, with a complimentary dessert afterwards.

Matina & Stavros Tavern (Kronos)

Matina & Stavros Tavern (Kronos)

The family-run tavern's pleasant garden invites guests to a casual lunch or dinner. Select from the concise menu consisting primarily of varying dishes of the day (lamb is often on the menu), pairing your choice with a very decent house rose wine.

O Giorgis (Melanes)

O Giorgis (Melanes)

The standout establishment in east-of-the-Hora village of Melanes, O Giorgis serves very decent home-made Greek cuisine to those who happen to pass through the settlement on a hiking route. Try one of the pot stews, or — at the weekends — savour a piece of whole-roasted pig.

Akrogiali (Agia Anna)

Akrogiali (Agia Anna)

One of the go-to venues for dining and beach relaxation in Agia Anna, the Akrogiali grill tavern features a changing variety of spit-roasted meat on a daily basis. As the sun goes down, its waterfront sunbeds are replaced by exceptionally inviting dining tables.

Meze 2 (Naxos Town/Plaka)

Meze 2 (Naxos Town/Plaka)

Sea view doesn't come at the expense of quality at this waterside restaurant, serving delicious local meze. Seafood is the true star of the show: try octopus, mussels, and, of course, fish caught that same day as part of small plates cooked Naxian- and Cretan-style.

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