Banana Beach Bar

Banana Beach Bar has been running on the Naxos riviera since 2000, which makes it one of the longer-standing operations on this stretch of coast. Located at Plaka — the long, sandy strip that extends south from Agia Anna — it functions as both a full-service restaurant and a beach bar, covering the day from breakfast through to late-night drinks.

The address puts it directly on the Plaka coastline, at coordinates that place it roughly mid-way along one of Naxos's most popular sandy stretches. With a 4.5-star rating across more than 340 Google reviews, it has built a consistent following among both repeat visitors and travellers encountering Plaka for the first time.

Hours run from 9:00 AM to 3:00 AM every day of the week, which is a broader window than most beach bars on the island. That span effectively covers coffee and breakfast, lunch, afternoon cocktails, a proper sit-down dinner, and a late session after most kitchens have closed.

What to Expect

Banana Beach Bar occupies the kind of spot where you can arrive for a mid-morning coffee and end up staying until after midnight without it feeling odd — the operation is set up for exactly that. The setup is part beach lounge, part restaurant, with seating that faces the water along the Plaka shoreline.

Plaka beach itself is a long stretch of fine sand backed by low dunes and tamarisk trees, with shallow, clear water that gets progressively deeper at a gentle gradient — well-suited for both families and casual swimmers. The bar is positioned to take full advantage of the afternoon light and the prevailing northwesterly wind that cools this coast in summer.

Food runs across a full day's worth of meals. Breakfast is available from opening, and the kitchen stays active well into the evening, which is less common on this stretch. Cocktails are a stated focus, and the bar stays open until 3:00 AM daily — late enough to qualify as a proper night venue once the beach crowd thins out.

The atmosphere shifts over the course of the day. Mornings are quieter, with swimmers and people setting up for beach days. By afternoon the bar fills with people arriving from the water. Evenings take on a more social, music-oriented character as the sun drops and the kitchen transitions to dinner service.

What to Order

The bundle doesn't specify a full menu, so avoid taking specific dish claims as definitive — but the bar's own positioning covers breakfast, lunch, dinner, and cocktails, which indicates a kitchen broad enough to handle full meals rather than just snacks.

For drinks, the cocktail list is the main draw in reviews and social media content. Classic beach-bar formats — frozen drinks, rum-based cocktails, and local spirits — tend to dominate these menus on Naxos. Greek wines and local Kitron liqueur (a Naxos specialty made from citron leaves) are worth asking about. Beer selections at most Plaka beach bars include both Greek lagers and imported options.

For food, the combination of breakfast-to-late-night service suggests a menu with significant range. Greek mezze-style starters, grilled fish, pasta dishes, and simple beach-day plates are common across comparable operations. Confirming the current menu directly by phone (+30 697 873 3402) or via the Facebook and Instagram pages is the best approach before planning a meal.

How to Get There

Banana Beach Bar sits along the Plaka coastal road, south of Agia Anna village. From Naxos Town (Chora), the drive takes roughly 10–15 minutes heading south on the main coastal road through Agios Prokopios and Agia Anna. The road runs close to the beach from Agia Anna southward, making beachfront venues easy to identify by sight.

By local bus, the KTEL Naxos service connects Naxos Town to Plaka with several daily departures in high season. The stop closest to Plaka is either at Plaka proper or at Agia Anna, from which it's a short walk south along the beach or beach road.

On foot from Agia Anna, the beach walk south takes around 10–15 minutes along the sand. From Agios Prokopios, the walk is longer — allow 25–30 minutes along the beach.

Parking is available along the Plaka road, though spaces fill quickly on peak summer days. Arriving before 10:00 AM or after 5:00 PM makes parking considerably easier. There is no formal car park, so most visitors use the roadside verge that runs alongside the dune line.

Best Time to Visit

Banana Beach Bar operates through the main Greek summer season, broadly May through October, with the core busy period running July and August. The Plaka stretch gets busy in peak summer but remains more spacious than the closer-to-town beaches at Agios Prokopios and Agia Anna.

For beach use, the morning window from opening until around noon gives you calmer sea conditions and fewer crowds. The Meltemi — the northerly summer wind that can be strong on Naxos — typically builds through the afternoon on exposed stretches, and Plaka faces generally westward, meaning it can catch afternoon wind. That same wind keeps temperatures manageable, but it can make long umbrella sessions uncomfortable on gustier days.

For cocktails and evening dining, arriving around sunset is the most atmospheric window. The sun sets over the water from Plaka's perspective, making west-facing seating particularly good in the early evening. Late arrivals can use the full 3:00 AM closing window — the bar is one of the later-closing operations in this part of the island outside Naxos Town itself.

Shoulder season visits in June or September offer lower crowd density and more relaxed service, while keeping full summer temperatures.

Tips for Visiting

• Book ahead for dinner in peak season. The combination of beach location and late-night hours makes this a popular destination for evening meals in July and August. Call +30 697 873 3402 to check availability before making the drive from Naxos Town.
• Bring cash as a backup. Card acceptance at Plaka beach operations can vary, and network outages affect card terminals on busy days. Carrying some euros avoids inconvenience.
• Use the morning opening for a quiet breakfast. The 9:00 AM start is earlier than many beach bars on the island. Arriving before the main beach crowd turns up gives you first choice of seating and a much calmer atmosphere.
• Check the wind before committing to an afternoon session. On days when the Meltemi is running hard, Plaka can be sandy and choppy in the afternoon. Mornings are reliably calmer.
• Walk the beach rather than driving between stops. The Plaka-to-Agia Anna stretch is flat and walkable. Arriving by car and then moving along the beach on foot is more practical than repositioning by road.
• Follow the bar's Instagram for seasonal updates. The account (@bananabeachbar) posts current conditions, events, and menu updates. Useful for checking whether the bar is open in early or late season before traveling.
• Factor in the late closing. If you're staying in Plaka or Agia Anna, Banana Beach Bar is one of the few options open past midnight in the area. It functions as a de facto late venue for the local stretch.
• Sun lounger availability. Many Plaka beach bars operate sunbed rental areas in front of their premises. Confirming the current lounger setup directly with the bar avoids turning up expecting equipment that may have changed.

History and Context

Banana Beach Bar opened in 2000, which by the standards of Naxos beach hospitality is a significant run. The Plaka and Agia Anna area developed into a tourist zone later than Agios Prokopios to the north, but has grown steadily into one of the island's most visited coastal stretches. Operating continuously for over two decades means the bar has seen the Plaka strip evolve from a quieter, more local stretch to the summer destination it is now.

The name references the banana-shaped curve of the Plaka coastline, a loose arc of sand running from Agia Anna village southward. The bar's social media handle references the "Naxos Riviera" — a term occasionally used for the unbroken coastal run from Agios Prokopios through Agia Anna and down to Plaka and Mikri Vigla, about 12 kilometres of connected sandy beach.

Plaka itself remains less built-up than the beaches immediately north of it. The tamarisk-backed dunes behind the beach have been partially protected from overdevelopment, and the overall character of the area is more low-key than Agios Prokopios.