The Fish Net

The Fish Net — known locally as Dichti, or Το Δίχτυ — sits directly on Moutsouna beach on the eastern coast of Naxos, about 30 km from Naxos Town. It has been serving fresh fish and traditional Greek seafood since 1960, which makes it one of the longest-running tavernas on the island. The setting is straightforward: tables on the sand or just off it, the Aegean in front of you, and a menu built around whatever came off the boats that day.

Moutsouna itself is a small, quiet fishing village that sees far fewer tourists than the western coast. Getting here requires a deliberate choice — you don't pass through Moutsouna on the way to anywhere else. That self-selection tends to keep the crowd manageable and the atmosphere unhurried.

What to Expect

The menu centers on the kind of Greek seafood that travels badly and tastes best within sight of the water: grilled whole fish by the kilo, fried anchovies (gavros tiganitos), octopus, and calamari. Alongside the fish, the kitchen puts out crisp salads, pasta dishes, and a selection of small plates to start. Coffee and handmade desserts round out the meal if you want to linger.

This is not a fine-dining room with white tablecloths. The appeal is the location and the simplicity — beach-casual service, honest portions, and ingredients sourced locally. The rating on Google (3.6 from over 400 reviews) reflects a mixed but loyal crowd; expectations calibrated to a village taverna rather than a Naxos Town restaurant will serve you better here.

For reservations or questions, call +30 2285 068255 or check the restaurant's website at moutsouna-naxos.com.

How to Get There

Moutsouna is on the east coast of Naxos, reached by driving inland from Naxos Town through the mountain villages of Filoti and Apiranthos, then descending toward the coast. The road is paved but narrow in stretches, and the drive takes roughly 45–55 minutes. A car or scooter rental is effectively required — no regular bus route connects Naxos Town to Moutsouna.

Parking is informal near the beachfront; space is generally available outside peak August weekends. There is no boat or ferry service to Moutsouna from other parts of the island.

Best Time to Visit

The restaurant operates seasonally, in line with most east-coast Naxos establishments. Summer (June through September) is the operating window, with July and August bringing the busiest period. Lunch on a weekday in June or early September gives you the calmest conditions and the same sea views without the August crowds.

Early evening is pleasant for the light and temperature, though the eastern coast loses direct sunlight before the west. If you're combining the meal with a swim, the beaches between Moutsouna and Panormos to the south are clear and largely empty by mainland Greek standards.

Tips for Visiting

• Call ahead in peak season. The taverna is small and beachfront tables fill up on weekends in July and August.
• Order the fish by the kilo. Ask what's fresh that day rather than defaulting to the menu; the daily catch varies.
• Combine with a beach day. The coastline between Moutsouna and Panormos has several undeveloped beaches worth stopping at before or after lunch.
• Bring cash. Card acceptance in small east-coast villages can be unreliable; it's worth having euros on hand.
• Account for the drive. The mountain road through Apiranthos is scenic but slow. Budget an hour each way from Naxos Town.
• Check opening days before driving out. No confirmed daily schedule is publicly listed; a quick phone call saves a wasted trip.

The East Naxos Coast Context

Moutsouna was historically an emery-shipping port — the area's emery mines, once among the most productive in the world, used the village's harbor to export the mineral. That industrial past is largely invisible now, replaced by a quiet fishing-village character. The Fish Net's longevity since 1960 puts it roughly in the middle of that transition, and the restaurant's name and identity are tied tightly to the sea and the local catch rather than to any tourist-facing reinvention. For visitors willing to make the drive across the island, it offers a version of Naxos that the Agios Prokopios beach strip does not.