Naxos treats the beach bar as a small stage set: sun-bleached cabanas, low teak decks that slip almost imperceptibly into the Aegean’s bright blue. The soundtrack drifts from Balearic lounge to crate-digged disco, cocktails arrive in ceramics the shade of sea glass, and the horizon offers its nightly fade from tangerine to violet. What follows is a hand-picked itinerary of the island’s most magnetic enclaves, each one tuned to a different moment – noon’s barefoot lull, dusk’s salt-sweet aperitivo, midnight’s easy thrum. Consider it a field guide to the art of lingering, Naxos style, best explored photo by photo.
Please note: Opening hours may vary. We are not associated with these businesses, so we recommend verifying their operating hours before your visit. New entries? Contact us here.
01
520 Premium
Effortlessly stylish with a breeze of island decadence, 520 Premium on the seafront knows exactly how to flirt with both your appetite and cocktail cravings. It opens early and keeps the lights gleaming into the night, making it a versatile hangout.
Expect elevated Greek flavors—octopus carpaccio, smoked eggplant dips—and inventive drinks laced with herbs and island fruit. The vibe? Chic without trying too hard. A DJ spins on weekends, ramping things up after sunset.
02
Naxaki
Part beach bar, part lazy-day dreamscape, Naxaki hums with that barefoot luxury that’s impossible to fake. Tucked just outside Naxos Town on the sand, it opens from mid-morning and stretches into dusk.
The menu leans toward Mediterranean cuisine with a healthy twist—think quinoa bowls, zesty ceviche, and cold-pressed juices—but you can just as easily settle in with a frozen margarita and do nothing. Live DJ sets drift in with the sea breeze on select afternoons.
03
Yucca
Right across Plaka Beach, where sun loungers and umbrellas are rented throughout the day and until sunset, Yucca is a trendy bar restaurant offering a chilled out experience under the canopy of a grand juniper tree, in a verdant and rocky beach setting. Its limited seating ensures an intimate atmosphere, ideal for those in search of something particularly romantic, all while looking out at the stunning sunsets that illuminate the sky and sea in dazzling hues.
The menu celebrates local ingredients, reimagined through a modern lens and inspired by the Cycladic kitchen, with a range of options including crisp, aromatic salads, fresh fish, quality meats, and indulgent desserts. The bar stands out for its inventive use of local ingredients used in distinctive signature cocktails, like innovative versions of the Bramble and Mai Tai.
04
Toro
Toro is where the night gets its second wind. With an energizing sea view, this moody, low-lit cocktail den is all velvet shadows and bass-heavy beats.
The bartenders mean business, slinging serious drinks—smoky mezcal concoctions, citrusy gin fusions—with the flair of a magician. Open from early evening till late, it’s more intimate than rowdy, with DJs keeping things sultry and slow-burning. Not for early risers.
05
Island
A magnet for both locals and travelers, this hangout is celebrated for its quality drinks menu and upbeat beach vibes. This venue is a popular nightly haunt where the atmosphere is alive with music, dynamic lighting, plush white cushions, and buzzy crowds. On the shores of Agia Anna, one of Naxos’s most exquisite beaches, Island offers a front-row seat to the sea, with a side of top-shelf spirits. Classic cocktails like the Old Fashioned, Zombie and Margarita are on offer as well as signature drinks.
The bar presents a choice between highchairs and soft couches, ensuring comfort as you sip on your chosen spirit or a seasonal beverage, all while the beats set the rhythm for your night under the stars, which in peak season easily goes on till the early hours of the morning.
06
Like Home
Like Home bar, true to its name, envelops you in a familial embrace, pairing delicious classic and signature cocktails with stunning views from its balcony. The venue features an open-air terrace for those serene golden light moments that transform as the night unfolds into a vibrant dancefloor inside and out, pulsing with mainstream dance rhythms.
Southeast Asian wooden carvings, platters of top-notch sushi, and people dancing under the open sky are the essential Like Home ingredients, where the atmosphere is as inviting as the panoramic views of Naxos Town’s harbor and castle.
07
The Ocean Club
A longtime legend on the Naxos nightlife circuit, The Ocean Club plays many roles: beachfront café by day, sleek cocktail haunt by night, and full-on indoor dancefloor come midnight. Set right by the port, it pulls a mixed crowd—locals, travelers, yacht-set nomads—and serves everything from freddo espressos to champagne spritzers.
The music you’ll bop along to here is mainly, but not only, deep house and retro funk, with seasonal guest DJs that keep the beats rolling till sunrise.
08
Swing
Located on the seafront in Naxos’ main town near the Old Market, this place stands out as one of the Cyclades’ premier destinations for molecular mixology. This unique bar invites customers to experience cocktails like never before with creations such as the experimental Jelly Mojito or Melon Bubble, artfully served on spoons.
For those who prefer their drinks in a more traditional form, the outdoor terrace offers sunset views accompanied by the rhythmic beats of swing music. Space is a premium, so arriving early is advised to secure seating or be prepared to enjoy your drink standing.
09
Banana
Keep your toes in the sand from morning till very late at night at this quintessential beach bar. As dusk descends on Banana Beach Bar, the ambiance shifts, heralding the beginning of cocktail hour with a change in the musical backdrop. It’s the perfect moment to savor a refreshing G&T, a zesty mojito, or a sweet strawberry daiquiri, or to delve into the array of unique mixes featured on the extensive cocktail list.
Situated on Agia Anna beach, Banana Beach Bar is ideal for both lively parties and a quiet, romantic meal, and often also serves as a popular wedding party venue.
10
The Rum
Rum Bar offers a fantastic vantage point and year-round service, with original and well-mixed drinks made with (as its name suggests) a variety of top-notch rums that keep it in people’s minds and hearts. Rock classics and occasional live music performances set the tone, while their inventive drinks menu, featuring local ingredients that add a unique taste dimension to classic recipes, delight the senses.
The Rum Bar has the bonus of offering glorious sunset vistas over the sea from its terrace, set over the yacht harbor in Naxos’ main town where it stands.
11
Peppermint
If you’re craving a break from the party pace, Peppermint is the island’s slow-sipping sanctuary. Calm, earthy, and stylish in an unfussy way, it’s all about good coffee, easy vibes, and clean eats—flatbreads, hummus plates, and fresh salads are the norm.
Located just off the beach, it opens early and stays mellow into the evening. Think low-fi music, a gentle breeze, and maybe a chilled glass of local white in hand.
12
Yazoo Summer Bliss
Yazoo Summer Bliss on Plaka beach is renowned for its wild full moon parties and romantic wedding events. The large, sea facing bar restaurant draws a youthful, jubilant crowd thirsty for handcrafted cocktails and often happy to pause for its delectable Cretan-Naxian dishes. Get there early and start with breakfast and coffee and stay for a party vibe that makes cocktail drinking second nature, especially as some are made using herbs and fruit from the bar’s garden.
Signature creations to try include the Walking Dead (pineapple puree, spices & four different rums) and the Pink Fizz (gin-based, with rosemary cordial and grapefruit soda).
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