Good Eats on Naxos, Greece: A Feast for the Family
Indulge in the culinary delights of Naxos, Greece as we take you on a journey through the island’s family friendly eateries and hidden gems.
The Splurge
In each of the cities we visited, we found one restaurant that we wanted to try out, it was our splurge dinner. We looked for places with great food, great ambiance, and a menu that appealed to everyone including the sometimes-picky kids. Stou Vasilarakiou came highly recommended by a local we met while exploring Naxos. She promised us the best steak of our lives and it didn’t disappoint, although it was a bit trickier to get to than we were expecting.
A Few Favourites (maybe more than a few)
- Our host recommended Apostolis, it was a gorgeous outdoor experience with great food. We made a reservation on the day of so had to eat a little earlier, the Greeks like their later dinners, once it finally cools off. This was the first spot where we got charged for the bread and olives that are often brought out at the beginning of a meal. Unless you decline, a small per-person charge will be added to the bill.
- Waffle House had amazing ice cream, the smell of waffles will help you find your way.
- Naxos Cheese Koufopoulos, you had me at cheese. This was some of the best and least expensive cheese I have ever tasted. We went back twice and ate a lot of charcuterie for easy dinners on Naxos. They let you have a taste before you buy so try out a few different kinds. They will even package some up to take with you back home.
- Hug Me was our favourite brunch spot.
- Pinocchio Sweets is where I found the delicious popcorn ice cream.
- Funky Hops Naxos is a great stop for a cold beer on a hot day.
- The Old Bakery has great bread, get there early to try whatever bread is on the table that day and don’t forget to bring cash.
- Avaton Café and Wine Bar sits atop the Kastro castle and has spectacular views, a great place for a drink in the evening.
- Taverna Paradiso at Maragas Beach about 15 minutes from Chora.
- Stou Vasilarakiou is run by a butcher, known for its great steak and is located about a half hour from Chora.
What’s in the grocery store?
Whenever we visit somewhere new, we love to check out the grocery store and see how it differs from our options at home. In Naxos, the grocery stores were small and while we still stocked up on staples we visited the local cheese shop, a traditional market with its bulk staples, and bakeries (and ate lots of charcuterie).
We had a few new favourites to add to our list, oregano-flavoured potato chips and popcorn-flavoured ice cream, I promise they are both amazing. I also can’t say enough about the cheese on Naxos, we had too many favourites to list.
