I was only able to stay one night but that was enough to appreciate this cute and functional apartment in front of the beach. Gisella was very helpful and was ready to explain anything about the apartment and the area.
When you walk across the little plank bridge over the torrent (o drive across the little torrent in a car), about 100 metres before you get to the apartment. it feels like you're outside the city. The beach has fairly smooth stones and pebbles – so you don't have to wear booties to go swimming – I copied the locals who just sat down and slowly slid over the stones into the sea. The apartment has beach chairs and an inflated little mattress, so you can relax on the shore. A couple of illuminated yachts were moored for the night a few hundred metres offshore, which added a festive touch.
The finest seafood restaurant I found in the neighbourhood was OPERA PRIMA (Via Lungomare IV Novembre, 15, 98035 Giardini Naxos) – 85€ for a great lunch for two with a bottle of excellent wine. To get away from the sound of traffic, reserve one of the window tables inside, with air conditioning that is not too cold.
At less than half the price of Opera Prima but with reasonable quality: Le Désir Piquant (nearby at Via Lungomare IV Novembre, 59, 98035 Giardini Naxos). If you'd like good wine, however, it would be best to bring your own and negotiate a service fee because there's only a poor-quality house wine.
There is a great lounge bar overlooking the mountains, sea and Taormina from the top 2 terraces of a 5-storey tower: TERRAZZA CAVALLARO (Corso Umberto I, 74/A, 98035 Giardini Naxos. Excellent gin & tonic made with Icelandic HIMBRIMI gin, excellent music. Call to make sure a private party hasn't reserved the whole place on the night you want to go (sorry, Airbnb won't let me write the telephone number). Usually open until after 2 or 3 AM.