Cyclades Islands

As usual check the web sites www.booking.com and www.hotels.com  and look at information on line and in guide books. It is important to know where the ferry port is on the island and how easy it is to travel around the islands before settling on where to stay. Also be aware that most towns are hilly with steps and carrying baggage can make this hard work.

Naxos

We stayed on our first visit at the Chateau Zevgoli, it is up the hill slightly above the old town and is a gem. The rooms are lovely, splash out and get the suite on the top floor with a terrace next door and brilliant views. The owner also has two other places the Hotel Apollon nearer the port and Castro Apartment further up the hill.

On a recent visit we stayed at Anassa Studios, just behind the waterfront these have been very well designed and managed. We stayed there again on our most recent visit and enjoy the style and the location.

Syros

We chose the Hermes Hotel at the far end of the waterfront for our most recent visit, it is a large hotel with well appointed rooms and in a good location. On our previous visit we stayed at the Hotel Aegli.We returnedto the Hermes for our most recent visit and again enjoyed our stay.

Tinos

Check out the usual web sites or guide books, we stayed at the Poseidonio Hotel on the waterfront, it was in a great location and the staff were helpful .

Paros

For our first stay in Paros we stayed at the Oasis Hotel which is just be the port, the rooms re simple but the location is excellent.

Mykonos

The Zorzis Hotel, 30 Kalogera Street, is a lovely, locally owned hotel in a traditional building in the heart of the old town but very peaceful. Breakfast served in the garden is excellent and the owners had recommendations for eating at all price levels.

 

Naxos

Restaurants

Lucullus, Old Market Street, we visited om out first stay on Naxos sadly it was closed next time we visited nut on this recent visit it was open and as good as before. The rabbit is just wonderful as are the lamb chops in an olives and thyme sauce. The owner, cook and waiting staff are lovely.

Metaxi Mas, is at the end of Old Market Street past Lucullus  & Vassilis and has become a favourite, on this visit we went three times.  We really enjoyed the traditional cooking and the really great service, it is a real gem. Booking is advised for dinner as even though it has expnded getting an outside table can mean a wait.

Taverna Vassilis, Old Market Street, we visited during an earlier stay and being the end of the season it was quiet, the food and service were good but it is more expensive than some of the other options nearby.

Meze2, Paralia, the waterfront, is excellent, the fish and seafood top notch, the word is the local fishermen come here to eat. Very reasonably priced and again very pleasant owner and staff, it is very popular particularly at night.On a return visit it was still popular but I was a bit disappointed with the dishes.

Boulamatsis, is just behind the front almost directly above Cafe Lotto, it is modern looking but with old school Greek cooking. We went twice and loved the food, amazing value and there are a couple of tables on the small terrace overlooking the port. We returned twice on this most recent visit and it was again excellent, incredible value for the quality and lovely family story about the owners.

Gemma, Naxian Bistro, just off the front close to the Xenia & Coronis hotels, this was a real find, a lovely space with excellent wines, great service and although we didn’t eat there the food look excellent, A good selection of some excellent Greek wines, do give it a try.

Labyrinth, Old Town, follow the Old Market Street and look out for the signs, this is very smart and has a lovely garden but the food was not quite as good as the hype, however it was still an enjoyable experience, booking definitely recommended.

There are loads of places to eat in the town along the waterfront and in the old town streets behind, you would never go hungry here.

Bars

Naxos Café, opposite Labyrinth above is a great place for an evening drink, very pleasant owner, great music and a gem for people watching in the narrow street. Still as good as on our first visit to the island.

Notos Wine Bar, is in the maze of old street and we found it by chance while exploring, it is a lovely bar with a garden area & terrace and some very good wines.

The Paralia is full of cafes and bars with lovely sofas where you can sit and watch the people and the boats, along at the end furthest from the port there are a couple of more trendy young bars doing cocktails and with a louder volume of music.

The bars we liked this visit on the Paralia were Cafe Lotto and Prime Cafe Bar and at the other end of the waterfont Cream & Coffee. Kitron Cafe is very popular but they try to press you into tasting their liqueurs when you only want to stop for a beer. 520 Cocktail Bar & Restaurant has a lovely terrace overlooking the port and drinks are reasonably priced.

Syros

Restaurants

Cantina Analogue, Parou, Ermoupoli, was a great find, the modern take on traditional Greek food was so very good, we went twice during a recent visit and loved the food and atmosphere, highly recommended. Popped in this time for a drink and still good but lack of shade at lunchtime outside is a shame.

Seariani Fish & More, Peloponnisou, Ermoupoli, was another place we chanced upon and were so impressed with the look & friendly staff that we booked for dinner. The food was excellent and the service very friendly although rather slow, but definitely worth it for an unhurried meal.

Arme, Akti Petrou Ralli, Ermopouli, is one of a number of restaurants on the water front and we enjoyed an lovely lunch with excellent service, good food and very reasonable prices and of course a great setting.

Stin Ithaki Tou Ai, Kyparissou Stefani Klonos 1, one of a number of places in this street, I had read good reports so tried it on our most recent visit and were delighted with the food and service, in fact we went three times in five days for dinner, amazing value.

Taverna To Petrino, Kyparissou Stefani Klonos 9, another one in the same street enjoyed it but not as much as Stin Ithaki above.

Ta Giannena, Kanari Square, at the end of the row of bars and restaurants at the port opposite Hotel Hermes this grill restaurant is popular with locals and is great value, service variable but definitely worth visiting.

Bars

The waterfront is lined with bars and choosing one can sometimes be a bit of pot luck but we struck lucky with our choices which became firm favourites.

Chalandriani, Akti Petrou Ralli 16, our favourite bar on this most recent visit, Great staff and owner and excellent selection of drinks always served with complimentary snacks.

Plaza,  Akti Petrou Ralli, another recommended bar in the same port facing street as above.

Okio, Akti Petrou Ralli 18, another good choice, pleasant staff made it a good stop for a pre or post dinner drink. A good choice of drinks, complimentary snacks and of course a great location.

Cocoon, further along the waterfront towards the centre of town was a second favourite and was a regular stop for an iced coffee in the morning.

Belle Epoque Plateia Miaoyli, is one of a number of cafes in the main square but was without a doubt our favourite, excellent friendly service, good range of drinks, complimentary snacks and happy hour cocktails while people watching.

Porte, Cocktail Gallery, Androu 3, is a very cool bar with lovely outdoor seating, it offers not just cocktails but service can be very slow.

Tinos

Restaurants

To Koutouki Tis Elenis, Gagou 5, this gem of a restaurant had great reports and we were not disappointed. We went three times during our stay, the food is excellent, the service lovely and the house wine and prices amazing value.

They have a cafe/bar down a few steps from the restaurant which does a large variety of drinks, always served with free generous snacks and also does meze, again lovely staff and incredible value, very popular with a local crowd.

Tinos Ise, Evaggelistrias 21, we found on our first afternoon when we stopped for a drinks at this nice looking small grill place in the main street. The family who run it are lovely and we ate there, excellent gyros, and stopped for a drink on a couple of occasions.

Marina, Panormos Port, when we took the bus over to Panormos we were immediately taken with the small port town and its idyllic setting. Having wandered around the front and had a beer at a lovely waterside cafe we looked for somewhere for lunch and spotted Marina and the fact that it was already attracting customers made us choose it. We were delighted great service and food and excellent value for money.

Bars

Our favourite bar was the one attached to and just below restaurant To Koutouki Tis Elenis however there are plenty to choose from.

Piazza, is one of many on the harbour front  just past the old port and was our choice because of the service most of these also do food,

There is a lovely area of lanes with col cafes, bars and restaurants just below Paxamadi street and these lead to another area of restaurants heading towards the new port.

Paros

Restaurants

Taverna Mouragio, Waterfront, Parikia, we found this while looking for another restaurant and were lucky enough to get a table on the waterfront terrace. The dishes we had were excellent as was the house wine and friendly service made it a great choice.

Taverna Mira, Waterfront, Parikia, we booked this for dinner but due to the weather had to eat indoors not on the terrace. It is very popular and has a wide menu, I preferred the ambience of Mouragio but would return.

Apostolis Ouzeri, Livadia Beach, Parikia,  we found this by chance on our walk to the beach and stopped for a drink and a couple of small dishes, wish we had been able to return as the food and friendly service were great.

Zorbas, just at port by Oasis Hotel, Parikia was a great place for a simple gyros lunch.

Oasis Cafe, Port, below the Oasis Hotel, Parikia, great for breakfast or lunch or just for a drink. The staff were friendly and the location at the port great for seeing the activity of island life.

Bars

Pinoklis Kafepotopoleio, Waterfront, Parikia, was a firm favourite for an evening drink. Excellent beer and wine choice, generous complimentary snacks and friendly service.

Rodi Cafe, Waterfront, Parikia, nearer the port this was a lovely place for a drink while watching the sunset, a lovely owner and a very local feel it was another favourite.

Pirate Bar, Market Street, Parikia, this is the original cool bar in the old town and pleasant to sit outside and watch the world go by and admire the cool boutiques.

Mykonos

Restaurants

Koursaros, Meletopolou, is without a doubt the best fish restaurant in the town, the design, service and food is all top notch as is the clientele but it comes at a price and it is very expensive, particularly if you have the whole fish sold by the kilo.

Nisa, 10 Kalogera Street, is excellent, either get a table on the terrace, best for people watching, or the garden. The food is excellent but the prices put it in the expensive category.

To Maereio, 16 Kalogera Street, is very highly rated and is reasonably priced but it does not take bookings therefore we never managed to try it out but it was always packed and queues of people waiting.

Kalita, 31 Kalogera Street is attached to the Fresh Hotel but run separately, has a good reputation and the menu looks good and reasonably priced but very popular so did not get a chance to try it, definitely book in advance.

Kadena, on the harbour is a smart modern bar and café with good food on our visit, the seafood linguine was excellent and reasonably priced.

Bars

Bubbles Bar Gallery, Agios Vlassis, what more can you ask for, a lovely bar doing great cocktails, wines etc. that is also a chocolate shop and has brilliant music and is run be a lovely lady called Despina who is an excellent host. Cushions on the church steps for the younger ones, more comfortable seats for the older ones, it is a gem !

Katerina’s is a bar restaurant in Little Venice and is a great waterside terrace for pre dinner drinks with and a restaurant downstairs which has a good reputation. All the bars in this area get a bit younger and rowdier later at night !

Toro Loco; is a wine bar that specialises in Spanish wines in one of the streets running of the waterfront. It is very nice but at night very noisy mainly from the bar opposite.

White Bar, Matogianni Street, which is in one of the three main streets, is great to sit outside and watch the people, it also does food.

There a loads of bars and cafes on the harbour front, some very local and cheap some upmarket and very expensive you can take your choice.

Drink

Ouzo is of course probably the best known Greek drink and while still seen being drunk with meze it has apparently lost popularity presumably as people change their drinking habits and more cocktail type bars open up.

Cocktails are popular both in the cities and on the islands, and many of the island waterfront bars are great for happy hour drinks.

Lager type beer such as Mythos and Alpha is very commonly drunk but look out for other excellent ones such as Mammos, Fix and Eza.  There is also a push on small craft breweries with more ale type beers such as IPA’s and these craft beers are available in bars and also restaurants.

Lastly wine, and in more informal eating places house wine by the litre is both cheap and drinkable, white, rose and red are usually available. If you are going to try more upmarket wine then it is worth doing some homework before you go to learn about grape types. Greek wines are gaining more and more admirers so check out some of the wine bars that have opened in recent years.

 

Naxos

Wandering through the town, going up to the top of the hill where there is a museum and some fascinating buildings, the whole town is just lovely and the beach is a nice change with loads of places to eat.

The bus office is just by the port and they have a timetable that shows the services to some lovely beaches around the island and inland to the mountain villages of Filoti, Halki and the lovely Apiranthos.

Tinos

Tinos town surprised me with the variety of places to eat and drink, for culture the church which is the reason the pilgrims visit is a highlight. The island itself has many villages to visit and it is a beautiful island, we loved Panormos on the other side of the island.

Syros

Ermopouli is an impressive town and a delight to wander round, on the hill above is Ano Syros a steep climb or a quick bus trip. You can also visit by bus the seaside town of Galissas and the beach at Finikas.

Paros

Paros has certainly become more popular over the last few years, on our first visit we stopped on route between islands at the port town of Parikia. This time we stayed in Parikia the main town for a few days, there is a lovely old town to explore with chic boutiques and a good range of restaurants and bars. The town of Naoussa to the north is gaining a reputation as a trendy and smart destination.

Mykonos

Wandering the streets, getting lost, everyone does, see the windmills, photograph the pelican. There is also a small town beach but buses go to the various other main beaches on the island.