Al fresco dining is essential to summer holidays. Enjoy delicious food and drinks with Bodrum’s warm sunshine, blessing breeze, and unwinding views of the blue seas.
Vamos Bodrum
Vamos Bodrum’s design is an Instagrammable, effortless answer to the hot summer, with every interior detail bringing the perceptible temperature down. As is the case in all of the Aegean region, white is dominant, with ample free space making the entire venue look more airy, ensuring privacy between tables. With two outdoor seating areas that include a front and back garden and large indoor space, Vamos is expecting high demand. The simple, yet classic brasserie menu comes with no surprises, including familiar staples such as salad, pasta, and pizza from the wood burning oven. Homemade lemonade varieties are a nice, refreshing touch. There is also a full bar rounding out the offering.
Atatürk Bulvarı 1146 Sokak No.1, Bitez, Bodrum; T: 0252 363 00 59; I: @vamosbodrum
Off Gümüşlük
Taking advantage of its multi-functional location, Off Gümüşlük serves as so many things that none of its local competitors can keep up. The main area is technically a restaurant, but it also becomes a place hosting various workshops in the daytime and live music in the evenings, where artisans set up items for sale during artisanal market days, and where you can exchange your wedding vows with a sea view backdrop. The menu changes on a daily basis and stands out among other places in the area. There are special menu nights, long breakfasts on Sundays, and seasonal cocktails from the bar which can be served at your table on the beach. A shady backyard is ideal for an afternoon unwind or a coffee break.
1131 Sokak No.1, Gümüşlük; T: 0538 921 53 54; I: @off_gumusluk
Flamm
Situated on the crystal clear waters of the fishing village of Gölköy, Flamm hotel offers a boutique experience to its guests. With 16 rooms, a private beach, and a Mediterranean fine dining restaurant at your service, the only thing between you and the waves will be a veil of luxury. Of course, location is everything, but the hotel’s superb lunch and dinner menu are the icing on the cake. During the day, guests enjoy the fresh Flamm burger and stone oven baked pizza, while at night they savor grilled octopus with eggplant puree, steak Café de Paris, and kadayıf with raspberry sauce. Refreshing drinks are available throughout the day such as the Green Power cocktail made with elderflower, complementing the relaxed atmosphere of this seaside hideaway.
Yalı Mahallesi, 30. Sokak No.3, Göltürkbükü, Bodrum, Muğla; T: 0252 357 76 00; www.flammbodrum.com
Zeytinlina
Founded by the former mayor of Yalıkavak, Mustafa Saruhan, and his wife Hülya, Zeytinlina is a place with a mission to serve the best of local produce and promote good practices as far as local food production is concerned. Its breakfast is a minor legend among Yalıkavak locals with its fresh veggies from its own garden, delicious homemade jams, and savory pastries to die for. In the summer, always make sure to book a morning spot ahead of time. Daytime and evening menus include a quality selection of meat cuts, light salads, seasonal fish, as well as comfort foods such as pasta or burgers. There are plenty of refreshing drinks to choose from as the place includes a full bar. Keep in mind the added bonus: all this can be enjoyed at Zeytinlina’s beach!
Plaj Caddesi No.64/1, Yalıkavak; T: 0252 385 57 58; zeytinlina.com
Barboom
The dining order at Barboom is the same as in any other traditional fish restaurant: a selection of mezze on a tray is followed by hot starters and a fish serving of your choice. With a name playfully referring to the local fish delicacy, rumor has it Barboom’s barbun (red mullet) is particularly worthy of your attention. The enjoyment of delicious food and a full stocked bar is heightened by Barboom’s ambience, with a deck that extends into the water, so that you are surrounded by gently lapping waves. When the sun sets below a distant mountain, there are few more beautiful—or popular—places to be. The restaurant is only open in the summer, reservations are highly recommended.
Aşağı Mahallesi, Şendoğan Caddesi, No 15, Yalıkavak; T: 0537 208 72 14
Baa Bahçe
Meant for sharing, hence fitting the restaurant’s ambiance perfectly, Baa Bahçe menu boasts an extensive selection of seasonal meze – rare ones, such as pistachio tarator dip or mutabbal (a Middle Eastern eggplant salad) hail from Hatay province. Displayed in vitrines by the entrance, customers can choose favorites the moment they walk through the door. The meat is also of excellent quality, so if you’re an enthusiastic carnivore and think a regular portion will not suffice, Baa Bahçe can prepare an entire lamb, roasted on a rotating grill by your table. Gazebos spread around the spacious garden ensure privacy for large groups, while patio tables are ideal for couples. An excellent wine list, as well the reasonable prices, can easily turn the last remaining sceptic into Baa Bahçe’s returning guest.
Bergamut Caddesi No.75, Bitez; T: 0535 106 20 20; I: @baabahceplus
La Plage
La Plage Beach, Restaurant and Bar blends into the waterfront setup due to its airy decor. Being a part of an exquisite property comes with certain expectations – although casual in style, La Plage pays great attention to details. Presentation of the dishes goes well with the flavors, while ingredient simplicity stands for everything you want from light summer food. Pulling it all together, the ambiance manager makes sure the tunes you hear in the background go well with what you are eating. Is the place a fit for foodies? Definitely. Who else would appreciate panko-fried calamari with crispy pumpkin, tartare and avocado sauce or maple-marinated salmon gravlax with pineapple chutney, crispy fennel and black grape foam? But if you like your comfort food as well, the place has a pages-long menu featuring burgers, sandwiches, pizzas and pastas. Either way, a signature cocktail is the perfect companion to any plate.
Caresse, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Bodrum; Adnan Menderes Caddesi No.89, Asarlik Mevkii, Bodrum; T: 0252 311 36 36
