Naousa is a stylish village on the northern coast of Paros, one of Greece’s Cycladic Islands. Naousa (sometimes spelled Naoussa) is the most sophisticated village in Paros, and is home to the island’s best restaurants, bars and nightclubs. It isn’t as busy or over-developed as the villages in Mykonos, fortunately, but everything definitely moves at a faster pace than in other major villages in Paros, like Parikia and Lefkes. When we visited Paros for three days in July, we spent an evening in Naousa. Unlike Parikia, there’s no beach within the village, but there are beaches a short drive or bus ride from town. In this guide I’ve included the best things to do in Naousa and the best restaurants, tavernas and bars in Naousa, including Sigi Ikthios and Agosta.

Naousa: One of Paros’ Best Villages

Aside from eating, the traditional white-washed village is fun to explore, there are plenty of shops and the traditional harbour is very beautiful. There’s also a Venetian fort on the edge of the harbour, which is accessible by a walking stone “bridge” (or raised path). Naousa would be a good choice of places to stay in Paros, but I’m glad we stayed in Parikia, which is a little bit quieter (despite being the island’s port town, and still a major village). The nightclubs in Naousa are on the edge of town, but they bring a different crowd to the village, compared to the types of tourists you get in Parikia.

Read more: Paros Travel Guide

Eating & Drinking in Naousa

Highlights of visiting Naousa revolve mostly around eating and drinking: the island’s famous bakery, Ragoussis, has a large venue in Naousa, and the waterfront is jam packed with beautiful bars and restaurants. We had pre-dinner drinks overlooking the water at Agosta, followed by dinner at Sigi Ikthios, which was one of the best meals of our entire trip.

Ragoussis Bakery

Ragoussis is a well known bakery on Paros, that has been family-run for generations. I’ve never seen anything quite like it – the cavernous bakery is full of glass cabinets and pastry cases, with a wide range of local sweets and pastries. Most of them are sticky and sweet with honey, made with fried dough or phyllo pastry and  dusted with crushed nuts, but even within the parameters of these three popular ingredients, there was so many variations of desserts!

Agosta

Agosta is a lovely cocktail and wine bar, tucked away on the second story of a small building in the heart of the Naousa waterfront area. The outdoor verandah has views to the water on both sides, making it the perfect spot for enjoying a glass of wine and some snacks before dinner later in the evening. They have a great local wine list, and I was so surprised that it was not very busy, despite the crowds below.

Sigi Ikthios Restaurant

Sigi Ikthios is one of my favourite restaurants in Paros, with a beautiful setting on the waterfront in Naousa. The menu celebrates local produce and traditional cooking techniques, with plenty of elegantly presented dishes that share the island’s history and culture. I loved the food and wine here, and the service was warm and friendly. Make sure you make a reservation (even if you just swing by an hour or two before dinner), because during peak service times the restaurant is fully booked.

Trickster

Trickster is an excellent cocktail bar for a pre- or post-dinner drink in Naousa, as it specialises in apertifs and digestifs. The impressive cocktail menu offers sophisticated, well-balanced cocktails which celebrate the bitter flavours of apertifs and digestifs while making them totally palatable. I loved the cocktails here, and would definitely return if I was ever back in Naousa.

Naousa’s Venetian Fort 

The Venetians occupied Naousa from the 13th-16th centuries, as part of the Duchy of Naxos founded by Marco Sanudo. There was once a medieval Venetian castle at Naxos, and today all the remains are the ruins of the seawall and part of the fort, which are partially under water. The castle was built in the late 13th century, and renovated in the 14th century by the ruling family Sammoripa, to protect Naousa from pirates. Eventually, in 1537 Naousa’s fortress failed and the island was looted by the infamous pirate Barbarossa.

The Naousa Harbour & Waterfront

Naousa’s greatest asset is its beautiful harbour and waterfront area, which is a hive of activity.  Fishing boats crowd the harbour, although most of the activity these days is from tourists visiting the restaurants and bars which line the waterfront. It’s exactly what I hoped a village in the Cyclades would look like, and despite it’s popularity it has held onto an authentic charm.

Naousa’s Traditional Cycladic Village

Naousa has a large, well-preserved traditional Cycladic village, similar to the villages in Parikia and Lefkes. It’s a maze of winding, narrow streets and alleyways, it’s car-free and there are dozens of tiny shops, bars and restaurants around every corner.

Have you been to Naossa? Is Paros somewhere you’d like to visit? Let me know what you think in the comments!