Rotonda - Cafe Bar Restaurant

Rotonda sits on the road between Filoti and Apiranthos, right next to the circular chapel of Ai Giannis (St. John the Round). The terrace looks out over the Aegean and the inland valleys, making it one of the better sunset spots in central Naxos. Run by George and Kallia, it opens early for coffee and homemade sweets, serves lunch and dinner, then turns into a cocktail bar with a resident DJ after dark.

What to Expect

The menu centres on grilled meats: chicken fillet stuffed with Naxos gruyere, slow-cooked pork belly, burger patties with yogurt and tomato sauce on pita (called giaourtlou), and premium cuts including pork tomahawk, Black Angus picana from Creekstone Farm USA, and ribeye from The Black Farm Uruguay. Starters and mains start around €16. You can also stop in for just coffee and pastries in the morning or cocktails and mezze in the evening — the place shifts function throughout the day.

The dining area is outdoors, tiered to maximize the sea view. Sunset brings out a crowd, so tables fill early between May and September. A DJ plays from mid-evening onward, leaning into lounge and house — volume stays conversational until around 22:00, then picks up. The vibe is less traditional taverna, more contemporary Mediterranean cafe-bar.

How to Get There

From Naxos Town, drive east toward Filoti (about 18 km, 25 minutes). Continue past Filoti on the main road toward Apiranthos. Rotonda is on your left, roughly 2 km before you reach Apiranthos village, marked by the round stone chapel of Ai Giannis on the hillside. There's parking along the roadside and in a small lot just below the restaurant.

If you're staying in Apiranthos, it's a 15-minute walk west along the road — mostly downhill on the way there, uphill on the return.

Tips for Visiting

• Arrive before 20:00 for sunset seating — the western-facing terrace fills fast in summer, and walk-ins may wait or sit inside.
• Book ahead for groups — Rotonda hosts events and handles larger parties, but you need to reserve by phone or email.
• Bring a light layer — the elevation and open terrace mean it cools down after the sun drops, even in July.
• Expect music volume to rise — if you want a quiet dinner, come earlier in the evening or choose a table farther from the DJ booth.
• Check the meat sourcing — the premium steaks (picana, ribeye) are imported and priced accordingly; local pork and chicken dishes offer better value if you're watching the bill.

Best Time to Visit

Sunset is the peak hour, typically between 19:30 and 21:00 from June through August. If you want the view without the crowd, aim for a late lunch around 15:00 or an early dinner at 18:00. The restaurant operates from morning coffee service (around 08:00) through to midnight or later, so you can also stop for a nightcap on the way back from Apiranthos. Off-season (April, May, October), the terrace is quieter and the light softer, though opening hours may be shorter — confirm by phone if visiting outside peak summer.

What's Nearby

Apiranthos village is 2 km uphill: marble-paved lanes, four small museums (folklore, natural history, geology, fine arts), and a couple of traditional kafeneia. The walk from Rotonda to the village center takes about 20 minutes on foot. Filoti, the largest mountain village, is 2 km the other way, with more tavernas, a central square, and the trailhead for the Zas summit hike. The Ai Giannis chapel next door is worth a quick look — it's a small, whitewashed rotunda with 360-degree views and typically unlocked during the day.