Taverna Nostimies Plaka

Taverna Nostimies sits in the Plaka area on Naxos's western coast, close enough to the beach that you can come straight off the sand and settle into a meal of Greek home-style cooking. The name itself — nostimies means "tasty things" in Greek — sets the expectation plainly. This is a traditional taverna, not a beachside bar with a laminated menu, and the food reflects that distinction.

Plaka is one of the longer stretches of fine white sand on Naxos, running south of Agia Anna and drawing a mix of families, campers, and independent travelers. A taverna at this end of the coast that leans into home cooking rather than tourist shortcuts earns attention from regulars who've figured out where the better plates are.

What to Expect

The kitchen at Nostimies turns out the kind of Greek dishes that take time to make: slow-cooked lamb, stuffed vegetables (gemista), moussaka built from scratch, and oven-baked fish. These are mageirefta — cooked dishes prepared earlier in the day — the backbone of traditional Greek taverna dining and a world apart from grilled-to-order tourist fare. Portion sizes at this style of taverna tend to be generous, and the olive oil used throughout will almost certainly be local Naxian.

Seating is typically casual — expect shaded outdoor tables, the kind of setup suited to a long lunch rather than a rushed dinner. The clientele tends to skew toward guests staying in the Plaka area and returning visitors who know the road.

How to Get There

Plaka sits roughly 8 km south of Naxos Town (Chora). By car or scooter, follow the coastal road south past Agios Prokopios and Agia Anna; the Plaka settlement is signposted and the drive takes under 15 minutes. Parking along the Plaka road is generally easy to find.

By bus, KTEL Naxos operates a route from Naxos Town toward Plaka during the summer season — check the current timetable at the bus station in Chora, as schedules change year to year. The stop closest to Plaka will leave you a short walk from the taverna.

On foot from Agia Anna, the beach path heading south along the shore reaches Plaka in about 20–25 minutes — a straightforward walk on flat sand.

Best Time to Visit

Lunch here makes the most sense after a morning at the beach, when the kitchen's slow-cooked dishes are at their best and the midday shade of a taverna terrace is genuinely welcome. The Plaka area is busiest in July and August; arriving by 12:30 or after 14:00 tends to ease any wait for a table.

For a quieter experience, late June and September offer the same warm weather with noticeably thinner crowds. Many smaller tavernas along the Plaka coast close for the winter, so plan a visit between May and October.

About Plaka's Taverna Scene

Plaka's dining options are fewer and more informal than those in Naxos Town or even Agia Anna, which is part of the appeal. The trade-off for the quieter setting is that you're eating exactly where you spent the day — no transfer needed, no change of clothes required. Tavernas in this area generally source produce locally; Naxos has an unusually strong agricultural base for a Greek island, with its own potatoes, cheeses (graviera, arseniko), and vegetables appearing regularly on menus.

Tips for Visiting

• Arrive hungry — home-style Greek portions at a traditional taverna are rarely small.
• Ask what was cooked that day rather than ordering off the full menu; the freshest dishes are whatever the kitchen prepared in the morning.
• Bring cash as a backup — card machines can be unreliable at smaller establishments in this area.
• If you're eating after a swim, the outdoor seating means sandy feet are never an issue.
• Pair the meal with a carafe of house wine; local Naxian white wines made from the Assyrtiko grape are worth trying if available.
• The walk back along the beach after lunch is one of the better ways to spend an afternoon on Naxos.