Where to eat/drink

Náxos town - Chora

In Chora there are a lot of restaurants and taverns everywhere, and because of this there is a risk of getting an uninspiring meal. In the touristy places it is often more focus on quantity rather the quality, and they don’t worry that much about using good quality supply for their cooking. But luckily enough there are exceptions from the general rule. I will add them here as soon as I come across them

Η Καλή Καρδιά - The Good Heart was the first restaurant situated at the waterfront of Chora. They serve freshly cooked traditional Greek food and have specialities from the grill. Another option is to buy a complete meal which includes: chicken/pork/veal, small Greek salad, tzasiki and wine. This is a good option if you have dinner on your own. Friendly service.

...δτης Ει´ρινς - Irini's is another good restaurant by the seafront, offering traditional Greek food and pleasant service. The meatballs are excellent and the Greek salad lovely.

ΚΙΤΡΟΝ ΝΑΞΟΥ, ΒΑΛΛΗΝΔΡÁ - KITRON NAXOS, VALLINDRAS is a combined coffee and cocktail bar and local wine and liqueur shop. I enjoy this café with the tasteful interior displaying the different local wines, liqueurs etcetera, in a stylish manner. The coffee I have had here, mostly cappuccino, have been tasty. I also recommend a local cherry liqueur that include cognac. To view photos from interior and exterior, please see Naxos photo section, folders 2007 and 2008. Another thing, please do not miss the related coffee shop, Citron Café, in Chalki village, just beside Valllindras distillery, see section Chalki below.

Ακταίον is a fancy coffee shop specialising in chocolate and pastry. The coffee is good and pastries are tasty. FYI: they have an awesome toilet!

Plaka

In the article Where to stay I mention how I came across tavern and studios: ΑΡΩΝΗΣ - Aronis. From the very start I have liked the home made local Naxian food that they offer. Nowadays they even have a handwritten menu, but I prefer to enter the kitchen to see today's specials.

To sit down in this tavern, whether it is for a lunch during day time or later in the evening for dinner, is very relaxing. The view in front of you is the beach and sea and on distance Páros island. Evening time you will experience the beautiful sunset.

Since my first meal here I have learned that they grow their own vegetables and really do care to have local products in their kitchen. So I always try to get back here every time I visit Náxos. For photos, see the photo section, folders 2001, 2002 and 2004.

Mikri Vigla

I talk about about Hippocampus Club in previous in article Where to stay.The food they serve in the restaurant is getting better for each year. It's a pity that so few people find the way to this tavern! The food is very tasty and well done. Combined with a local wine you will experience Greek food at is finest, this on a small and rather unknown place like this! It's not a fancy tavern, but my experience is that you find the best food in Greece where you seldom expect it. Well, since 4-5 years I now know where I probably should go to find good food: outside the mainstream tourist places. Please visit Hippocampus Club if you love Greek food and prefer a relaxing and tranquil place.

The last time I was there I got the opportunity to taste a sweet local Naxos cheese: ΜΙΖΥΘΡΑ - Michitra, made by relatives living in Filoti, with milk from goats at the slopes of mighty Zeus.

For photographs of the place and surroundings, see photo section, folders 2000, 2001 and 2004!

Pyrigaki

I have a favourite spot on this beach behind some rocks for protection from wind and viewing. After a couple of hours in the sun its very rewarding to visit the nearby tavern ΤΟ ΤΡΑΠΕΣΑΚΙ - The Small Table. They offer typical Greek village kitchen food and fresh fish.

Chalki

A wonderful new coffee shop is now established just beside M.G Vallindras Naxos Citron, namely Citron Cafe. The café is rather small inside but have a magnificent and tasteful interior. If you prefer to sit outside there is a small garden related to the café. The price level is reasonable compared to down by the coast and the espresso is well done. For photo, see the photo section, folder 2004.

When it comes to coffee I must admit that Greek coffee doesn't do the trick for me. Maybe I step on some ones toe, but Greek coffee is a primitive form of coffee compared to a well done espresso which give you the rich flavours of coffee. Espresso can to some extent be compared to a fine wine! Ok, I really enjoy a ice-cold frappé during my stay in Greece, as well during summertime home in Sweden (based on instant coffee from Greece; the Swedish equivalents doesn't give the same good result and taste.).

Filoti

Most restaurants and coffee shops are centred along the road passing through the village. For a little more calm and relaxation I suggest the tavern ΤΟ ΠΕΥΚΟ, 50 metres from the main road.

Apiranthos

On the road down to Moutsouna, 500 metres from Apiranthos you find the spot Ai-Lias and Paradise Restaurant. It's a nice, tranquil place right out in the nature, more or less, despite the fact that the road passes by. But the are hardly any traffic on the road so it is a peaceful place.

Here you find tasty traditional Greek food. The approach for year 2004 was a general price per dish of €2,5 each. Very good price for such delicious food made with from their own source for food, their own garden opposite the road. Another thing that I experienced for the first time is that they offer cold water for free, from their own well. Up there in the mountain there isn't any problem to drink clean water from a local well!

Telephone and address: +3022850-61 111, Ai-Lias, Aperathos, Náxos.

Kanaki

Kanaki is a little settlement, or rather a very small summer resort with a couple of pensions/hotels and taverns. Nearby you find Psili Ammos beach. There is a pleasant tavern ΝΙΚΟΛΑΕ - Nickolaus, with a nice view towards Psili Ammos beach and on distance Donoussa Island. Beside a tavern they also have studios with kitchen to let. Their overall concept is agro tourism, whereas they put an effort in serving good food from quality sources in the area. If you want a calm stay in a remote area, I would highly recommend Nickolaus tavern and studios!

Note: it seems like they have open only during high season, July-August. 
I'm not sure about this, but there were no one here in June 2004, and 
all times since then, I have been passing other periods but the main 
season, it has been closed.

Koronos

I've been visiting this mountain village several times. It's a very tranquil place where you can find "peace of mind". My favourite tavern there is ΤΟ ΓΕΘΥΡΙ - The Bridge. This is a typical family establishment with helpful and friendly service. The most typical in this area is the Koronos-cheese a local more mild variant of the feta-cheese. I've been told that you can see how well a restaurant is run by looking at the toilet. When it comes to this tavern, they have one of the most clean toilets I've seen in Greece!

Telephone and address: +3022850-51 219/51 405, Koronos, Náxos.

Koronida

On the way to Apollonas, you passes Skado village. If you turn left at the fork you reach Koronida after 5 km. This is Náxos highest situated village, a very calm and quiet place. There are some "tourist" taverns on the main road that passes the village. However, if you park your vehicle, and walk up in the village you soon arrives to tavern ΚΑΤΣΟΥΛΗΣ.

This is a genuine Greek tavern and I would think that this is the main local tavern of the village, where the villagers prefer to go. Anyway, I experienced a terrific lunch there at a very low price and friendly service by the personal in this family run establishment. This is a nice alternative to the touristy taverns down by the coast or more busy mountain villages!

Telephone and address: +3022850-52 202, Koronida, Náxos.

Comments

Add New