This article aims to guide you through a curated selection of Naxos’ best beach bars, where the music, the people, and the drinks are as captivating as the panoramic sea views. From sandy shores to cozy terraces, these bars are the perfect spots to unwind, relax, and immerse yourself in the island’s vibrant beach life.
Please note: Opening hours may vary. We are not associated with these businesses, so we recommend verifying their operating hours before your visit. New entries? Contact us here.
01
Yucca
Right across Plaka Beach, where sun loungers and umbrellas are rented throughout the day and until sunset, Yucca is a trendy bar restaurant offering a chilled out experience under the canopy of a grand juniper tree, in a verdant and rocky beach setting. Its limited seating ensures an intimate atmosphere, ideal for those in search of something particularly romantic, all while looking out at the stunning sunsets that illuminate the sky and sea in dazzling hues. Yucca’s menu celebrates local ingredients, reimagined through a modern lens and inspired by the Cycladic kitchen, with a range of options including crisp, aromatic salads, fresh fish, quality meats, and indulgent desserts. The bar stands out for its inventive use of local ingredients used in distinctive signature cocktails, like innovative versions of the Bramble and Mai Tai.
02
Island
Island Bar is a magnet for both locals and travelers, celebrated for its quality drinks menu and upbeat beach vibes. This venue is a popular nightly haunt where the atmosphere is alive with music, dynamic lighting, plush white cushions, and buzzy crowds. On the shores of Agia Anna, one of Naxos’s most exquisite beaches, Island offers a front-row seat to the sea, with a side of top-shelf spirits. Classic cocktails like the Old Fashioned, Zombie and Margarita are on offer as well as signature drinks like Estes Glory (Gin, rum, pineapple, cucumber, ginger, lime) and Angel of Independence (Tequila, mezcal, lime, forest fruits, bubblegum, orange bitters). The bar presents a choice between highchairs and soft couches, ensuring comfort as you sip on your chosen spirit or a seasonal beverage, all while the beats set the rhythm for your night under the stars, which in peak season easily goes on till the early hours of the morning. Island Bar is also available for private bookings, perfect for celebrating milestones like weddings, birthdays, or anniversaries.
03
Like Home
Like Home bar, true to its name, envelops you in a familial embrace, pairing delicious classic and signature cocktails with stunning views from its balcony. The venue features an open-air terrace for those serene golden light moments that transform as the night unfolds into a vibrant dancefloor inside and out, pulsing with mainstream dance rhythms. Southeast Asian wooden carvings, platters of top-notch sushi, and people dancing under the open sky are the essential Like Home ingredients, where the atmosphere is as inviting as the panoramic views of Naxos Town’s harbor and castle.
04
Swing
Located on the seafront in Naxos’ main town near the Old Market, this place stands out as one of the Cyclades’ premier destinations for molecular mixology. This unique bar invites customers to experience cocktails like never before with creations such as the experimental Jelly Mojito or Melon Bubble, artfully served on spoons. For those who prefer their drinks in a more traditional form, the outdoor terrace offers sunset views accompanied by the rhythmic beats of swing music. Space is a premium, so arriving early is advised to secure seating or be prepared to enjoy your drink standing.
05
Banana Beach Bar
Keep your toes in the sand from morning till very late at night at this quintessential beach bar. As dusk descends on Banana Beach Bar, the ambiance shifts, heralding the beginning of cocktail hour with a change in the musical backdrop. It’s the perfect moment to savor a refreshing G&T, a zesty mojito, or a sweet strawberry daiquiri, or to delve into the array of unique mixes featured on the extensive cocktail list. Situated on Agia Anna beach, Banana Beach Bar is ideal for both lively parties and a quiet, romantic meal, and often also serves as a popular wedding party venue.
06
The Rum
Rum Bar offers a fantastic vantage point and year-round service, with original and well-mixed drinks made with (as its name suggests) a variety of top-notch rums that keep it in people’s minds and hearts. Rock classics and occasional live music performances set the tone, while their inventive drinks menu, featuring local ingredients that add a unique taste dimension to classic recipes, delight the senses. The Rum Bar has the bonus of offering glorious sunset vistas over the sea from its terrace, set over the yacht harbor in Naxos’ main town where it is located.
07
Yazoo Summer Bliss
Yazoo Summer Bliss on Plaka beach is renowned for its wild full moon parties and romantic wedding events. The large, sea facing bar restaurant draws a youthful, jubilant crowd thirsty for handcrafted cocktails and often happy to pause for its delectable Cretan-Naxian dishes. Get there early and start with breakfast and coffee and stay for a party vibe that makes cocktail drinking second nature, especially as some are made using herbs and fruit from the bar’s garden. Signature creations to try include the Walking Dead (pineapple puree, spices & four different rums) and the Pink Fizz (gin-based, with rosemary cordial and grapefruit soda).
