Designed to Travel: An Inside Look at Aqua Breeze Villa in Naxos
Interior design maven Christine Gachot and her fellow designer husband John open up their travel diaries
It’s a perfect summer afternoon. I’m relaxed, lounging on a chaise with the soft sounds of ocean waves from the mesmerizingly clear Aegean Sea and views of kite surfers dancing in the air. My only concept of time is the fact that I’m on the final chapter of the book I started reading on our flight here, yesterday. It’s been nothing but uninterrupted bliss all afternoon.
That was day two of a glorious two weeks I spent in Naxos with my family and dear friends. It’s here that John and I decided to visit for our annual summer vacation—a decidedly off-the-beaten-path destination to unwind and embrace slow, Mediterranean living. The island’s diverse landscape is enchanting, a place where rugged, mountainous terrain meets a delicate coastline.
Making an entrance…
As we’d expected, it has a quiet charm that feels tranquil compared to some of its rowdy neighbors. We’ve always preferred the quaint to the scene when it comes to vacation, whether it’s New York’s Shelter Island or France’s Brittany. With its uncrowded beaches, gracious hosts and local warmth, spectacular topography, and some of the freshest, most delicious food, Naxos is authentic and unhurried, and the perfect setting for a family holiday.
With a serene escape in mind, we opted to rent a villa instead of staying in a hotel. After flying into what felt like the set of a Wes Anderson film that was the charming Greek island airport, a driver swiftly loaded up our bags and brought us to the Aqua Breeze Villas where we met Angelos. A dear man who cares for the house, Angelos introduced us to the property, which sits on the lushest landscape of an island that’s otherwise defined by sculptural boulders and intense rock formations. An irrigation system that sounds like soothing rainfall in the evening sustains the villa’s vibrant vegetable garden and greenery.
With two villas on the property, our accommodations included five bedrooms, three outdoor dining areas—including a pizza oven—and our own pool. It all connects to a private beach area for both villas on the beautiful white sand Plaka Beach, where we of course spent most of our time and befriended the family next door. At the villa, the beds were super comfortable, and the whitewashed interiors provided the perfect backdrop for the glowing Grecian sun. The views from our room were perfectly framed to capture the silhouette of Paros.
The hospitality experience certainly rivaled that of most hotels. There were always fresh towels. The amazing team would move around without notice, quietly washing and pressing our laundry and cleaning every single day–a true feat considering our villa housed three young men, a girlfriend, and me and John; along with various guests in and out all day.
Come hungry…
The concierge services were incredible, too. We enjoyed two wonderful dinners at our villa cooked by a talented local chef. The first night was a fully decorated and formal dinner party where the team grilled local meats and fish in front of us, and served the most beautiful roasted aubergine salad, homemade bread, and a bounty of vegetables. The occasion also included a full staff that assisted in setup and cleaning. Later in the trip, we hosted a beach party for 20 people. When the boys requested hot dogs and hamburgers, the chef grilled some extraordinary beef with caramelized onions served on freshly baked brioche buns. For me (a pescatarian), she crafted a crazy tasty shrimp patty, without prompting.
There was more delicious cuisine to discover in town, too. Naxos is one of the most self-sustaining Greek islands, with incredible local meat, cheese, and fruits and vegetables. Everything we ate was super fresh! One of our favorite spots on the island was Axiotissa Taverna, which uses only local organic ingredients with an emphasis on animal activism. Because it’s such a local gem, it can be challenging to get a reservation—but we were lucky! We enjoyed a dinner of Naxian salad, local cheese, and freshly caught fish inside by the kitchen one night, so much so that we went back for takeout another evening.
Another restaurant we loved was Avaton 1739, located at the top of a castle within the Chora. While Axiotissa Taverna is more about the food than the view, Avaton has both. The view of the city and the sunset was breathtaking, but I was focused on the kitchen and staff. With a seemingly famous (and local darling) chef, the exceptional ops team took things seriously but also played into the young, upbeat crowd. Though not authentically Greek, it was, hands down, probably one of the best meals we had, from finely chopped ceviche to the melt-in-your-mouth lamb. The local treasures of Naxos are in abundance. At Apanemi, you pick out your fish, while two of the owner’s sons make the cheese and bread. Do not miss the sunset here; the sun literally drops through the Temple of Apollo, perfectly framed. We explored the supermarket and discovered vacuum-packed olives and delicious cheese, nuts, and sweets.
Papyrus was our stop for vintage books, which we frequented often, as we all read more books than we brought. My favorite find to visit was Belman, a beautiful and well-curated store of books, artist’s beach bags, art, and textiles. We also loved how there was a cute bar next door where each cocktail had its own number. “I’ll have a 47 please!” The town of Naxos is lively late into the evening, but in a way that’s leisurely and not overwhelming. There was never a need to rush off the beach to get ready for dinner. It’s casual, too. We were all about lightweight, comfortable clothing, not dressing up too much. The boys did a little vintage shopping in town, and we all had our eyes peeled for silver jewelry and olivewood pieces. I met a woman from Wisconsin who sold beautiful linens in an airy space called Gallery Cassiopeia. Linens were everywhere!
While the island also produces their own wine, at the end of the trip John remarked that he had never seen me drink so much beer. It was all about the backgammon and beer for me! After a sun-soaked day on the beach, a cold beer was as refreshing as a swim in the perfectly chilly sea. Though I’m used to the warm Caribbean currents, by day two I relished the temperature of the chillier Mediterranean water. Our days felt so manageable. Unless we had a little excursion planned, we would sit all day on the beach with no real schedule. I’m a sunset person, so the fact that Plaka Beach is on the West side of the island was incredible. The stars felt so close at night, and the moon seemed to never go to sleep.
Make yourself at home…
When we weren’t relaxing, we were busy playing! John went sailing around the island and went out on a fisherman’s boat one afternoon. We all squeezed into a tiny Fiat and drove around the town exploring beautiful churches and venturing out for lunch. We watched the mesmerizing kite foilers from the Paralia Mikri Vigla beach and enjoyed the panoramic view of Paros—where one of our GACHOT team members was getting engaged, congratulations Christina!—across the water. We played football in the deliciously soft sand next to other families playing soccer and volleyball. Not to mention the many contests we had with slingshots and stone skipping.
Our film buff boys absolutely adored visiting the local outdoor theater, Cine Naxos, to get their fix. While the movie offering wasn’t extensive, the overall theater experience was amazing—small, kind of strange, and a whole lot of fun!
That extra mile…
The food, the landscape, the views—there are so many local treasures on Naxos, but none more so than the people. Everyone we encountered was kind and generous! John thought it felt like the Montauk of his childhood, with dirt roads and small-town vibes. One night, John and I packed a bag to spend an evening at the nearby Athina Studios & Suites Hotel. We were greeted with a heartfelt welcome by the owner herself, Athina, who is somewhat of a local legend of hospitality on the island. Her warmth was immediately evident, and I imagine she personally checks-in every guest! I delightfully accepted a cold prosecco and learned that the hotel was started in 1996 by her father—it is truly a family business, run with lots of love.
The hotel features thoughtful design, with easter egg surprises in the floor, including anchors and mermaids. The basket lights were a perfect accent to the well-curated open-air pergola at the Yucca beach bar. The breakfast was delicious, as was our dinner—a Naxos Pot of breadcrumbs layered with cheese and vegetables paired well with the classic Greek Naxian salad with local cheese and bursting-with-flavor tomatoes.
The takeaway…
Whether you book the perfect villa or opt for a boutique hotel (like the brand-new Laguna Coast Resort, which I had the pleasure of touring), the island of Naxos is a lovely place for a family vacation. It’s a refreshing balance of leisure, charm, and genuine local hospitality.
Don’t miss…
Cocktails and snacks on Plaka beach, at Paradiso Taverna. This hidden gem is a must-visit at sunset! The colors are mesmerizing. Don’t overpack—come with room to bring back linens to enjoy while you are there and for your collection. And if you’re missing gritty New York, head to Hawaii beach for some graffiti-adorned ruins and incredible swimming. The water is gorgeous, and the setting memorable. Instead of flying, we took the ferry back to Athens. The four-hour journey across the Aegean is stunning, a watercolor of Mediterranean blues dotted with picturesque island landscapes.
Next time…
I am going back and certainly want to stay in our much-loved Aqua Breeze Villa, but now I’m ready to island hop and visit The Rooster Antiparos!