Cafe bar Mylos

Cafe Bar Mylos sits along the Naxos–Apeiranthos road, roughly in the interior of the island, and it operates as two intertwined experiences under one roof: Antamoma, a restaurant serving traditional Naxian food and drinks, and Mylos 360, a fully functional historic windmill that visitors can explore, tour, and use as the backdrop for a slow afternoon or a sunset meal. The combination is unusual enough to stand on its own — this is not a taverna with a decorative grindstone in the corner, but an operating mill where the cultural programming is as deliberate as the menu.

With a rating of 4.9 from 86 reviews, the place clearly lands well with the people who make the detour to find it.

What to Expect

The restaurant side, Antamoma, focuses on Naxian cuisine — think dishes built around the island's own produce: local cheeses like graviera and arseniko, slow-cooked meats, and seasonal vegetables from the inland villages. The drinks list leans into local flavors, with cocktails timed for the late-afternoon light that comes through from the west.

Mylos 360 is the windmill component: a visitable, working structure where guided tours explain the mechanics of traditional milling and the broader agricultural history of Naxos. Bread-making workshops are on offer, giving visitors a hands-on connection to the grain-to-loaf process that shaped life in the Cyclades for centuries. The mill's upper position on the road gives it an open view toward the horizon — the 360 in the name is not purely marketing.

Opening hours run daily from 2:00 PM to 10:00 PM, which makes this firmly an afternoon and evening destination. Come mid-afternoon for a tour, stay for dinner as the light drops.

How to Get There

The address places Cafe Bar Mylos on Epar.Od. Naxou–Apiranthou, the provincial road that climbs from Naxos Town toward Apiranthos and the marble villages of the interior. From Naxos Town (Chora), drive east on the main inland road; the journey takes roughly 20–25 minutes depending on traffic through Galanado and Chalki. There is no direct bus route that stops at the door, so a rental car, scooter, or taxi is the practical choice. Parking is available roadside. If you are staying in one of the inland villages like Chalki or Apiranthos, the drive is short and the road is well-signed.

Best Time to Visit

Afternoon arrival — around 3:00 or 4:00 PM — gives you time to take the windmill tour before the dinner crowd arrives. Sunset here, roughly between 7:30 and 8:30 PM depending on the season, is the obvious draw, and the elevated inland position means you get an unobstructed view rather than one framed by beach umbrellas. Summer weekends fill up; if you are visiting in July or August, a phone reservation is worth making. The shoulder months of May, June, September, and October offer cooler temperatures and a calmer pace, which suits the workshop format well.

History of the Windmill

Windmills were a fixture of Naxian life from the medieval period through the early twentieth century. Naxos, as the largest and most agriculturally productive island in the Cyclades, relied on working mills to process wheat and barley grown in the fertile Livadi plain and the terraced inland fields. Many of the island's windmills fell out of use after mechanized milling arrived, and most now stand as empty stone towers. Mylos 360 is among the few restored to functional condition, which gives the guided tour here a practical dimension that a museum display cannot replicate.

Tips for Visiting

• Reserve ahead for dinner — the sunset slot fills quickly in high season. Call +30 697 485 6421 or check the website at antamomamylos.com.
• Combine with the inland route — pair a visit here with a stop in Chalki or Apiranthos, both within 15 minutes along the same road, for a full day in the Naxian interior.
• Arrive for the tour first — the windmill tours are more enjoyable in daylight; plan to arrive by 4:00 PM if you want to do both the tour and dinner.
• The bread-making workshop needs advance booking — it is not a walk-in activity; contact the venue directly to arrange a session.
• Dress for the interior — evenings in the Naxian hills are cooler than on the coast, even in summer. A light layer is useful after 8:00 PM.
• It is open every day of the week, so there is no risk of arriving on a rest day.