The best restaurants in Paros serve fresh seafood, handmade pasta and creative Greek cooking, led by the harbour tables of Naoussa and the old-town tavernas of Parikia. The island has become one of the Cyclades’ finest food destinations, at fairer prices than Mykonos. This guide covers the top restaurants, the best areas to eat and how to book a table.
Eating well is a highlight of any visit, built on the produce in the guide to Paros food and wine. The best tables cluster in two towns. The sections below cover where to eat.
Where is the island’s food hub?
The island’s food hub is Naoussa, whose harbour fills every evening with diners eating fresh seafood and drinking local wine. The fishing-port town holds the densest cluster of top restaurants, from classic seafood tavernas to creative modern kitchens.
Naoussa is the heart of the island’s dining scene. Each evening its picturesque harbour fills with tables, where the day’s catch is grilled metres from the boats and local wine flows late into the night. The town blends classic seafood tavernas with stylish modern restaurants in its whitewashed lanes, drawing food lovers from across the island. Its mix of setting, fresh produce and ambition makes it the place to eat, set out in the guide to Naoussa Paros. A handful of tables lead the way.
Which are the top restaurants in Naoussa?
The top tables in Naoussa include Glafkos and Sigi Ikthios for seaside seafood, Mario for a special dinner, Maremma for Italian above Kolymbithres, and Soso for creative meat dishes. Meltemi offers the classic beachside taverna experience.
Naoussa’s restaurants span every style. Glafkos serves seafood by the water and ranks among the island’s best, while Sigi Ikthios, overlooking the old harbour, is an institution for fresh fish and charming service. Mario, run by a well-known chef, is worth booking for a special dinner, and Maremma, above Kolymbithres beach, does handmade pasta with burrata and truffle. Soso, in a narrow alley, offers more meat than most, from roasted shank to octopus over fava, while Meltemi is the classic beachside taverna. These tables reward a reservation, set within the wider things to do in Paros. Parikia has its own scene.
Where do you eat in Parikia?
In Parikia you eat across the widest range on the island, from waterfront tavernas to old-town gardens, with a quieter vibe than Naoussa. Cuore Rosso is prized for pizza, Basilikos for traditional Greek in a garden, and SAMA for polished Cycladic cooking.
The capital offers variety and a calmer mood. As the main port, Parikia has the most places to eat overall, from sea-view tavernas along the promenade to cafés, bakeries and modern restaurants in the old town. Cuore Rosso serves the island’s best pizza with daily handmade dough, Basilikos sets traditional Greek dishes and fresh seafood in a charming garden, and SAMA brings a dressed-up approach to Cycladic cooking with local produce. Prices run gentler than in Naoussa, set out in the guide to Parikia Paros. The villages add a rustic option.
What about the villages and beaches?
Beyond the two towns, the villages of Lefkes, Marpissa and Prodromos serve traditional home-style cooking at gentler prices, while beach tavernas grill the day’s catch by the sea. These suit a relaxed lunch or a rustic dinner away from the crowds.
The island rewards eating beyond the main towns. The mountain village of Lefkes and the eastern hamlets of Marpissa and Prodromos hold traditional tavernas serving slow-cooked dishes and local cheeses with a view, at lower prices and a slower pace. Beach tavernas at the likes of Santa Maria and Golden Beach grill fresh fish and serve cold wine by the sand, perfect for a long lunch. These rustic tables balance the polished town restaurants, complementing the guide to Paros villages. Booking the popular tables matters in summer. The questions below cover the points travellers ask most.
Do you need to book a table?
You should book the popular restaurants, especially in Naoussa, a day or two ahead in July and August and earlier for a special dinner. The best seafront and harbour tables fill fast in peak season, while village tavernas rarely need a reservation.
Booking ahead is wise for the best tables. Naoussa’s harbour restaurants and the island’s celebrated kitchens fill quickly in July and August, so reserving a day or two ahead, and earlier for a special meal, secures a good table. The waterfront tables in Parikia also book up at sunset. Village and beach tavernas usually welcome walk-ins, though confirming opening days in the shoulder season avoids a wasted drive. A good meal rounds off a day of beaches and sightseeing, set within the wider Paros itinerary. The questions below cover the points travellers ask most.
Are there beach restaurants and tavernas?
Yes, beach tavernas and restaurants line the sands at Santa Maria, Golden Beach, Kolymbithres and Piso Livadi, grilling fresh fish and serving Greek dishes by the sea. They make a relaxed lunch or an informal dinner with your feet near the water.
Beach dining is a pleasure in its own right. Tavernas and beach bars at Santa Maria, Golden Beach, Kolymbithres and the fishing harbour of Piso Livadi grill the day’s catch, serve calamari, Greek salads and cold wine, and let diners eat with sand underfoot and the sea in view. They suit a long, lazy lunch between swims or a casual sunset dinner, more relaxed than the town restaurants. Some of the best restaurants in Paros are these simple seaside spots, set within the wider guide to Paros beaches. Fine dining has grown too.
Are there fine-dining options?
Yes, the island has a growing fine-dining scene, led by chef-run restaurants and design-hotel kitchens around Naoussa. They pair Cycladic and Mediterranean cooking with local produce, polished service and sea views, for a special dinner.
The island reaches well beyond the taverna. Chef-led restaurants and the kitchens of the boutique design hotels, mostly around Naoussa and the northern beaches, offer creative Cycladic and Mediterranean menus built on island produce, with tasting plates, careful wine pairings and stylish settings. Tables such as those at the leading design hotels and the celebrated Naoussa kitchens reward booking ahead for a special evening. This upscale scene sits alongside the harbour tavernas, giving real range, set out in the guide to Paros boutique hotels. Prices vary across the island.
How expensive is eating out?
Eating out is moderate by Cycladic standards, cheaper than Mykonos or Santorini. A taverna meal with wine runs a sensible price, village tavernas are cheapest, and the chef-led and harbour restaurants of Naoussa cost more for a special dinner.
The island offers good value for the Cyclades. A meal at a traditional taverna with local wine is reasonably priced, and the village tavernas of Lefkes, Marpissa and Prodromos are the cheapest, serving hearty home cooking. Naoussa’s harbour seafood restaurants and the chef-led tables cost more, especially for fresh fish sold by weight, but still undercut the prices of Mykonos and Santorini. Choosing the village and beach tavernas for everyday meals and saving Naoussa for a treat balances the budget, set out alongside the guide to Paros food and wine. Knowing what to order helps.
What local dishes should you order?
You should order fresh grilled fish, sun-dried gouna mackerel, grilled octopus and local cheeses such as graviera and mizithra, paired with Parian wine. Finish with thyme honey desserts or almond sweets for a taste of the island.
Eating local is the way to know the island’s table. Fresh fish grilled simply, the Parian speciality gouna of sun-dried mackerel, grilled octopus and sea-urchin salad showcase the sea, while wild greens, capers, fava and the cheeses graviera, mizithra and krasotiri represent the land. Slow-cooked meat and stuffed vegetables fill the village tavernas, and the crisp local wine ties it together. Thyme honey desserts and almond sweets round off a meal. Seeking out these dishes, rather than the generic tourist menu, rewards a visit, set within the wider things to do in Paros. The questions below cover the points travellers ask most.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best food in Paros?
The best food is in Naoussa, the island’s dining hub, whose harbour fills each evening with seafood tavernas and creative modern restaurants. Parikia offers the widest range at gentler prices, and the villages serve traditional home-style cooking.
Which are the top restaurants in Naoussa?
Top Naoussa tables include Glafkos and Sigi Ikthios for seaside seafood, Mario for a special dinner, Maremma for Italian above Kolymbithres, Soso for creative meat dishes, and Meltemi for a classic beachside taverna experience.
Do you need to book restaurants in Paros?
You should book the popular restaurants, especially in Naoussa, a day or two ahead in July and August and earlier for a special dinner. Village and beach tavernas rarely need a reservation outside the busiest summer weeks.