Taverna Ntalas / Dalas Tavern

Taverna Ntalas — known in Greek as Ταβέρνα Ντάλας — sits in Koronos, one of the highest and most traditional villages on the island of Naxos. At 4.9 stars across more than 430 Google reviews, it earns that rating not through atmosphere gimmicks but through consistent, honest cooking rooted in Naxian mountain tradition. If you are already planning a drive into the island's interior, this is where you stop for lunch or dinner.

Koronos itself sits in the northeastern highlands above the Tragea plain, surrounded by terraced slopes and old emery-mining history. The taverna is part of that fabric — a place where locals and visitors share the same tables and the same food.

What to Expect

Taverna Ntalas operates as a classic Greek family taverna: no elaborate tasting menus, no fusion detours. The kitchen draws on what Naxos's mountain villages have always produced — slow-cooked meats, fresh vegetables from local gardens, and the island's celebrated potatoes, which are among the finest in Greece thanks to the volcanic upland soil.

Web descriptions reference "genuine Mamadi food," pointing to the broader tradition of interior Naxos cooking: hearty, unfussy dishes built around locally raised pork and lamb, legume stews, and homemade pites. Expect the kind of meal that holds you through an afternoon of driving mountain roads. The setting is described as relaxed, which in practice means you can linger over a carafe of local wine without feeling rushed.

The taverna is open every day from 7:30 AM to 11:00 PM, so it covers breakfast through late dinner — a rarity at this altitude that makes it a practical anchor for a full day in the mountains.

How to Get There

Koronos is roughly 30 kilometres northeast of Naxos Town, reached via the main road through Engares and then up through Skado and Mesi. The drive takes around 45 minutes in good traffic and is straightforward, though the final approach into the village involves narrow switchbacks typical of Cycladic mountain roads. A standard rental car handles it without difficulty; a scooter is manageable but requires care on the bends.

There is no direct public bus service to Koronos from Naxos Town on a tourist-friendly schedule — the village is served by the KTEL regional network, but connections are limited and timed for local commuters. For most visitors, a rental car or organised taxi is the practical option. Parking is available in the village square area near the main approach.

Best Time to Visit

Koronos sits high enough that summer temperatures are noticeably cooler than coastal Naxos — a genuine relief in July and August, when the village also sees fewer visitors than the beaches. Spring (April to early June) is excellent: the terraced hillsides are green, crowds are thin, and the kitchen is likely working with seasonal produce at its peak.

For the meal itself, lunchtime on a weekday gives you the best chance of a quiet table and unhurried service. Weekend lunches draw more Greek families from other parts of the island, which adds atmosphere but also fills the room faster.

Tips for Visiting

• Book ahead for weekends. Call +30 2285 051219 to reserve, especially in July and August and on Sunday lunchtimes when local families tend to come up from the coast.
• Combine with Apollonas. Koronos is on the natural route between Naxos Town and the northern coastal village of Apollonas, where the unfinished ancient kouros statue lies in an old marble quarry. Build a loop day around both.
• Try the local potatoes. Naxian potatoes have protected designation status in Greece — if they appear as a side or in a stew, order them.
• Arrive hungry. Portions at traditional Naxian tavernas tend toward the generous; ordering one main per person plus shared starters is usually plenty.
• Check seasonal hours off-season. The listed hours cover the main season. If you are visiting between November and March, call ahead to confirm the kitchen is open.
• Bring cash. Mountain villages on Naxos sometimes have card-reader reliability issues; having euros on hand avoids any friction.

The Koronos Setting

Koronos is one of the island's best-preserved mountain villages and was historically tied to the emery-mining industry that once drove Naxos's economy. The village centre has a working kafeneio culture — older men playing backgammon in the square, cats on stone walls, a church with a carved belfry. After eating at Taverna Ntalas, a short walk through the alleys takes you past neoclassical facades and vaulted passageways that have changed very little in the past century. The combination of a proper meal and an unhurried wander through the village makes the drive from the coast worthwhile on its own terms.