11 Best Bars in The Turquoise Coast, Turkey

Lively little bars and meyhanes have been popping up in the narrow, winding alleys south of the Ulu Cami, and this cozy, atmospheric wine house is one of the best. Tables are set in and around the courtyard of a two-story old stone Antakya house, giving each one a sense of privacy. The friendly young staffers bring out generous servings of free nibbles with orders of the reasonably priced wine, sangria, and beer. There’s a small menu of bar food but no hard alcohol or full meals.

The white terrace here offers gorgeous views of the moonlit beach, making it the perfect place to cool down with a frozen cocktail or fruit smoothie after a day in the sun. The staff is courteous, and the food menu is eclectic (albeit pricey). Note that the terrace closes for winter at the end of October, but the bar is open year-round.

Perched over the Mediterranean next to the ancient Hıdırlık Kulesi, the clifftop Castle Café and Bistro is a great place to watch the sun set with a drink in hand.

A well-chosen selection of high-quality Turkish wines, a pleasant bar staff, and cool jazz on the stereo make up for this little spot’s odd location in a small shopping mall. Cocktails are on the menu as well, and during the day, it’s a café—one of the rare places in town making proper espresso drinks. Dal doesn’t stay open late (only till 10 pm), but it’s a mellow alternative to the often noisy tourist bars lining Maraş Cad.

This popular Irish bar in the middle of Kaleiçi has friendly servers, a good beer selection, and international sporting matches on the TV. A wide-ranging menu of better-than-average food gives it a bit of gastropub flair.

A Kaş nightlife stalwart since 2007, Echo is in stone building—a former stable for camels—by the harbor. Nightly in summer, it hosts live bands and DJ sets, with music ranging from funk, blues, and jazz to Turkish rock and pop classics. 

Chilled-out bar by night and family-friendly eatery by day, the bar-restaurant at Help Beach serves up live music, a wide array of cocktails, and surprisingly good food (from schnitzel and nachos to traditional Turkish options) under climbing vines in a small cove about 5 km (3 miles) outside of Fethiye.

Behind the ruins of Fethiye’s ancient theater and offering beer-garden-like seating on its small patio, Minimal has a laidback vibe, a well-stocked beer fridge, and good music on the stereo, with occasional live acts on the weekends. It’s a refreshing change of pace from some of the tourist-trap nightspots in nearby Paspatur.

The action begins after sunset at places like the Royal Castle, which claims to be the oldest bar in Side. It's just inland from the water, on the southwest corner of the old town, and its publike atmosphere includes televised soccer games that keep British patrons happy. There is also live music most evenings in season. Be warned, though: drink prices can be steep.

Near the seafront on the road to Antalya, this hugely popular disco and restaurant are part of the same sprawling complex. Two large bars among the palm trees have a dance floor cooled with outdoor air-conditioning (really!). Drinks start flowing at 11 pm, and the music doesn't stop until about 5 am. Free transport to or from Alanya is available for groups of five or more.

Part of a small Turkish chain of café-bars (the first one was in Eskişehir), Varuna Gezgin has a cozy multistory interior lined floor-to-ceiling with books and travel-related ephemera. It also has a big back garden, making it a suitable option for all seasons. There’s an international menu and a good list of local beers.