Cedar Cafe

Cedar sits directly on Plaka Beach, one of Naxos's longest stretches of fine white sand, about 8 km south of Naxos Town. It operates as a beach bar, café, and full restaurant across a single long day — opening at 10am for coffee and running through cocktails until 2am. The vibe is deliberately low-key: shade under a large tree, soul music, and a menu that borrows from multiple cuisines without trying too hard.

The website quotes a five-star Google reviewer describing it as "more relaxed and bohemian" than the polished spots nearby — and that's a fair summary. Cedar doesn't position itself as a fine-dining destination; it positions itself as the place you stay at longest.

What to Expect

The menu spans breakfast and coffee in the morning, beach food through the afternoon, and cocktails into the late evening. The food side covers wraps, spring rolls, and burgers alongside Greek dishes, so there's something for travelers who want local flavors and those who want something quicker. Cocktails are a core part of the offering once the afternoon crowd arrives.

The setting is beachfront — you're eating with direct views of Plaka's turquoise water — and the shade tree mentioned in reviews makes a genuine difference on hot July and August afternoons when other spots along this beach can be uncomfortably exposed. The atmosphere shifts from relaxed café in the morning to a livelier bar scene in the evening without a full change of setting.

Cedar is closed on Fridays, which is worth noting if you're planning around it.

How to Get There

Plaka Beach runs along the southwestern coast of Naxos. From Naxos Town, follow the main coastal road south through Agios Prokopios and Agia Anna, continuing roughly 8 km in total. Cedar sits on the beach itself, so look for signage once you reach the Plaka stretch.

By car or scooter, the drive from Naxos Town takes around 15–20 minutes depending on traffic in summer. Parking along the Plaka road is generally available, though it fills up quickly on peak summer afternoons.

Local buses from Naxos Town run to Plaka Beach in summer — check the KTEL Naxos schedule for current timetables, as frequency increases in July and August. From the bus stop, Cedar is a short walk along the beachfront.

There is no ferry access specifically to Plaka; visitors arriving at Naxos port should plan on the road route.

Best Time to Visit

Cedar is open from late spring through summer and into early autumn — standard for beach-facing businesses on Naxos. For coffee and a quiet breakfast, 10am on a weekday morning before the beach fills is the calmest option. If you want the full beach-bar atmosphere, arrive mid-afternoon when the crowd is settled and the cocktail menu becomes relevant.

July and August are the busiest months across Plaka. Arriving early (before noon) or late (after 7pm) gives you a better chance of a good table with a view. The evening hours — when Cedar runs until 2am — are popular with both visitors staying along the Plaka stretch and those who drive down from Naxos Town for a longer night out.

Should you visit in June or September, the beach and bar are quieter, temperatures are still fully warm, and the sea at Plaka is clear and calm.

Tips for Visiting

• Check the Friday closure. Cedar is the only day of the week it shuts — easily forgotten when planning a beach day.
• Arrive before 1pm for shade. The tree cover is finite; later arrivals may find the shadier spots taken.
• The phone number is +30 2285 041005 — worth a call in peak season if you want to confirm capacity or ask about reservations.
• Combine with a swim. Plaka's water is shallow and clear well offshore, so plan to eat and then stay, or swim first and arrive for lunch.
• The evening stretch from 9pm onward tends toward cocktails and a more social atmosphere rather than full meals — adjust expectations accordingly.
• The eclectic menu suits mixed groups. Spring rolls alongside Greek dishes means travelers with different preferences don't need to compromise.

What's Nearby

Plaka Beach itself is the main draw — approximately 4 km of mostly undeveloped coastline, backed by low dunes and cedar trees (the café's name makes sense once you see them). Several other beach bars and tavernas operate along the same strip, but Cedar sits among the more casual, tree-shaded spots rather than the more built-up southern end.

Maragkas, a small inland village, is a short distance east. Further south from Plaka, the road continues toward Kastraki Beach and eventually the quieter southern tip of the island. Back north, Agia Anna has a small harbor with additional tavernas and a more village-like feel if you want variety across a full day.