The Pyjamas Guide to Bodrum, Turkey
BODRUM
VILLAS: We stayed in a beautiful Airbnb villa in the Ortakent area. You can also arrange for a chef to cater your meals, it’s a great way to enjoy traditional homemade dishes.
HOTELS
RESORTS
Kempinski Barbaros Bay: this would be the Pyjamas choice for a large resort, beautiful & family-friendly
Bodrum Edition, Yalikavak
Yalikavak Beach Hotel: right in the middle of all the action in the Yalikavak Marina, if that’s your kind of thing
The Mandarin
Cape Bodrum Gundogan
BOUTIQUE HOTELS
Moon Hotel (cute boutique hotel): this would be the Pyjamas choice for a boutique hotel
Kuum Hotel
Macakizi Hotel
BEACH CLUBS/HOTELS
Macakizi Beach Club: this is the ‘trendy’ beach club in Bodrum, go for brunch/lunch, stay for sunset
Moon Beach: lovely little beach & pool (part of a boutique hotel), family friendly
Barbaros Bay (Kempinski Hotel)
Mandarin Hotel
Kai Beach
Blue Beach
Kuum Hotel
Xuma Beach: no kids under 6
The Edition Hotel: no kids under 14
ACTIVITIES
Bodrum Dolphin Park: you can swim with the dolphins, the kids loved it
Water Parks: Bodrum Aquapark & Pirates in the Cactus
Bodrum Castle: go in the late afternoon, just before sunset & enjoy the stunning view
WHAT TO EAT
Simit: popular Turkish bagel, perfect for breakfast
Lahmacun: traditional Turkish lamb flatbread, we loved the spicy Lahmacun at Nazar Gurme Bakery in Ortakent
Borek & gozleme: various kinds of pie stuffed with spinach, cheese etc, you can find them at the famers markets
Manti: their local meat-stuffed ravioli, served with a delicious yoghurt & tomato sauce
Dolma: traditional stuffed vegetables, with lamb, rice & herbs. I had stuffed zucchini blossoms for the first time
Their mezze dishes, especially the aubergine dishes are a must.
Kumpir (baked potatoes with various toppings)
Mayasiz ekmek (their local sourdough bread)
Lokma: try the chocolate-filled lokma at Lokmania in Barlar Street (downtown Bodrum)
Mastic ice cream
RESTAURANTS
TRENDY/DINNER
Miam: beautiful restaurant on the water, book in advance, ask for a table by the water & arrive in time for sunset & enjoy the charming views (MY FAVOURITE!)
Zuma, Fenix, Nusret (all in Yalikavak Marina): the see & be seen scene!
People at Kuum Hotel: set menu dinner & love music, fun
Mandarin Bar: for drinks
BODRUM DOWNTOWN (CASUAL)
Avlu (modern Turkish): charming restaurant in a small alley off the streets of downtown Bodrum
Kalamare (seafood)
Musto: lovely restaurant by the water
Cirali Doner (for doner kebabs with handmade pita lavash)
Memedof (Bodrum waterfront area)
OTHERS (CASUAL)
Limon: lovely outdoor place, like a farm, go for breakfast or sunset, make sure to reserve
Dramali: fun restaurant with live music, Ortakent
Hazine
Fiko
La Pasion (Spanish)
Ox (burgers)
Sunger (pizza)
Saki
TURKISH
Eski Koy: very good place if you want Turkish food, they are famous for Doner (very good quality meat)
Nazik Ana (authentic Turkish)
Iki Lokma (at the Avenue Mall)
Tepecik Doner (kebab)
Sirin (Iskender kebab)
Marmara
SEAFOOD
Mimoza: very nice seafood place, you dine on the beach, reserve and go sunset time
Eski Yer Balik: very good seafood place in Yalikavak
Melengec: seafood, Turkbuku
Mudavim (seafood)
Orfoz (seafood)
Gemibasi (seafood)
Arka Restaurant & Pizzeria
Andiamo
CAFES
Dibeklihan
Le Man Kulture
SHOPPING
Midtown Mall (biggest mall in Bodrum)
Check out these Turkish ‘high-street’ shops:
Twist (sort of like their Topshop)
Beymen Club (diffusion shop of Beymen)
Network
Ipekyol
Boyner: nice kids shop, buy the matching swimsuits & swim shoes
Chakra (nice home accessories)
Magnum Bar: enjoy your own customised Magnum ice-cream bar, my favourite was the dark chocolate, with pistachios & rose petals, with a drizzle of Ruby chocolate
Mini City: cute little play area downstairs
Yalikavak Marina (lots of shops, quite touristy)
Machka: nice Turkish brand
Beymen: high-end Turkish department store
Haremlique: beautiful home accessories, linens, towels
Bluemint: nice men’s swimming shorts & linen shirts
FOOD (what to buy)
Cingiloglu: lovely shop for cheeses, manti, meats
Nuts, especially pistachios, hazelnuts & pine nuts
Dried garlic
Dried apricots & figs
There is a farmers market in a different area of Bodrum every day of the week. Stock up on fresh fruits, nuts, dried herbs, cheeses, local foods, & some handcrafted linens etc.
PAZAR MARKET DAYS
Saturday: at Turgutreis (the biggest & best one)
Sunday: at Mumcular and Gumbet
Monday: at Turkbuku
Tuesday: at Milas and Golkoy
Wednesday: at Gumusluk, Gundogan and Ortakent
Thursday: at Yalikavak
Friday: at Bodrum and Bitez
CHEF
Chef Dogukan Saygi @_chefdou_
