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Located next to a 19th-century Ottoman house at the edge of the harbor, Smiley's has been an open secret among Turquoise Coast yachters since 1987. Relax in the fresh air beneath vines, flags, and fishing nets, and enjoy a reasonably priced and generously portioned meal of some of the best kebabs and seafood in Kaş, as well as some of its friendliest service. Try the Greek-style grilled calamari and brightly flavorful mezes (the reasonably priced mixed-meze plate is a good deal; make sure the roasted eggplant in garlicky yogurt is included). Head downstairs to see the restored Lycian cistern.
Liman Sokak, Kas, Antalya, 07580, Turkey
Known For
- Good mezes
- Grilled calamari
- Chicken with almond sauce
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A down-to-earth, traditional Turkish restaurant in often tourist-oriented Kalkan, Ata is (as the name suggests) known for its tender, flavorful kebabs, which come in medium- and large-portion sizes. The menu also includes pide (Turkish flatbread) cooked in a wood oven and the classic array of mezes, salads, and hot starters. The casual seating is on a patio overlooking the main road into town.
Şehitler Cad. No: 21, Kalkan, Antalya, Turkey
Known For
- Mixed grill
- Mixed meze plate
- İskender kebab
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Serving up tasty home-cooking in a contemporary setting, this friendly, good-value option near Hadrian's Gate has a small menu focused on meatballs and other grills, traditional Antalya-style bean salad, and meat- or potato-filled mantı (dumplings). Don’t be put off by the entry through a narrow passageway: it opens up into a pleasant café-style dining area that's bright, airy, and filled with plants.
Erbaş Pasajı No: 40, Antalya, Antalya, Turkey
Known For
- Köfte (meatballs)
- Piyaz (bean salad)
- Mantı (dumplings)
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Those who are tempted by Turkey's fish markets but have nowhere to cook for themselves can head to Fethiye's lively local market area. For a small charge, several casual restaurants will cook your purchase, adding mezes and salads. Non-fish eaters can buy steak instead on the same system. Everyone has their favorite spot: Hilmi and Öztoklu are both reliable choices.
Fethiye, Mugla, 48303, Turkey
Known For
- Grilled octopus
- Red snapper
- Meze
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A few blocks north of the fray, Flash attracts more locals than tourists and survives on word of mouth. It’s known for soups, steaks, kebabs, and meat stews cooked in a clay pot (kiremit); it also makes nice, oven-fired pide and lahmacun (wafer-thin spiced-meat flatbread). Come ravenously hungry, and you may have room for a dessert of künefe, a rich confection of cheese, strands of dough and sugar syrup sprinkled with pistachio.
Hacet Cad. 32/A, Alanya, Antalya, 07400, Turkey
Known For
- Adana kebab
- Lamb shish kebab
- Meat stew in clay pot
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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Tour groups often fill this restaurant at dinner for good reason: the food is both delicious and inexpensive, a combination that also makes it popular with locals at lunch. The restaurant also offers a nice, traditional Turkish breakfast. Expect all the usual Turkish dishes, plus local specialties including soups, stews, and börek pastries.
İstiklal Cad. No. 20, Antakya, Hatay, 31001, Turkey
Known For
- Chard leaves stuffed with meat
- Tepsi kebab (spiced minced lamb cooked in a tray)
- Aşur (wheat and beef stew)
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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Part of the Gunay's Garden villa complex, this tranquil spot in the far corner of Kaya village blends the best of Turkish and European cuisine, using homegrown ingredients as much as possible. There is a good range of largely organic starters; try the mixed meze plate for a taste of everything. Mains include excellent fish, steak, pizzas, and a lovely oven-cooked lamb. As befits the hotel's family-friendly ethos, there's also a kids' menu.
Gumruk Sokak, Kaya, Mugla, 48300, Turkey
Known For
- Salmon in saffron sauce
- Baked aubergine
- Steak
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Nov.–Mar.
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With a prime spot right on the beach, Karakuş is one of the best places for dinner and drinks in the entire Olympos-Çıralı area. The mezes and oven-fresh flatbread are delightful, and the beachfront scene is serene.
Çıralı Sok. No: 546, Çirali, Antalya, Turkey
Known For
- Great mezes
- Grilled sea bass
- Seafood pasta
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This homey lokanta is a good-value place to grab a quick bite after visiting the nearby castle. Choose from the daily array of traditional Turkish stewed or sautéed meat and vegetable dishes displayed at the counter, or order a grilled kebab or spit-roasted döner. It’s in the maze of streets below the citadel on the inland side, next to Eski İbrahim Ağa Cami.
36. Sok., No: 69, Marmaris, Mugla, 48700, Turkey
Known For
- Döner kebab
- Moussaka
- Kuru fasulye (stewed white beans in tomato sauce)
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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An Ölüdeniz institution, this casual restaurant set just back from the seafront at the eastern edge of town serves up hearty fare at reasonable prices. In addition to its crisp, thin-crust pide (flatbread) with a wide variety of toppings—including vegetarian options such as spinach or mushrooms—Kumsal’s large menu encompasses kebabs, pizza, fish, and international dishes. The service is friendly, and there’s an open-air terrace upstairs, away from the heat of the pide oven.
957. Sok. No: 13, Ölüdeniz, Mugla, Turkey
Known For
- Assorted pide (flatbread)
- Chicken casserole
- Grilled sea bass
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This excellent, straightforward Turkish restaurant is on the western edge of the bazaar and favored by locals for its kebabs, pide (Turkish pizza), and traditional casseroles. It's open all day, morphing from a breakfast joint in the morning to a family restaurant in the afternoon to the perfect place for a late-night snack at 3 am. The same owners also operate the somewhat more upscale Meğri Restaurant in the center of the bazaar.
Çarşı Cad., No. 30, Fethiye, Mugla, 48300, Turkey
Known For
- İskender kebab
- Pide
- Döner kebab
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. in winter
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After paying your respects to St. Nick, retire to this bakery-café, the local branch of a popular Turkish chain, to enjoy arctic air-conditioning and a cold drink or tea accompanied by fresh baklava, the diamond-cut honeyed pastry with nuts. Until early afternoon Nur also serves su böreği, a salty pastry flavored with crumbly cheese.
Kolcular Sok., Demre, Antalya, 07570, Turkey
Known For
- Baklava
- Ice cream
- Su böreği (savory pastry with crumbly cheese)
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A homey, peaceful retreat on the southern edge of the old city serves great coffee, fruit smoothies, homemade American cakes, and home-cooked lunches that include both Turkish and Asian dishes. Part of the St. Paul Cultural Center, it's one of the rare inexpensive eateries in central Antalya with distinctive and high-quality food. There's a library of exchange books on-site, as well as a gift shop with some lovely and unusual offerings (notably traditional jewelry from eastern Turkey) and a garden so quiet it's hard to believe you're so close to Kaleiçi's main drag.
Yenikapı Sok., No. 24, Antalya, Antalya, 07100, Turkey
Known For
- Cashew chicken
- Carrot cake
- Mantı (Turkish dumplings in yogurt sauce)
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed weekends and last 2 wks of Aug. No dinner
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This restaurant on the Netsel marina has a lot more style and dignity than you would guess from the name, and it's a great escape from the mass tourism of Marmaris. The house specialty is tender, oven-cooked, Anatolian lamb; however, the chef also prepares octopus, pasta, pizza, steak, Turkish grills, and divine desserts.
Marmaris, Mugla, 48000, Turkey
Known For
- Oven-cooked lamb
- Grilled calamari
- Steak in mushroom sauce
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Every Turkish village has a fırın: a tasty, unpretentious bakery that churns out a daily bounty of smooth puddings, flaky pastries, fresh bread, and sweets. The amazing thing about this one is that it's survived in the heart of touristy Kaleiçi—and with reasonable prices. Options include spicy spinach börek and incirli cevizli muhallebisi, a milk pudding flavored with local figs and walnuts.
Balıkpazarı Sokak, Antalya, Antalya, 07100, Turkey
Known For
- Spinach börek
- Milk pudding with figs and walnuts
- Baklava
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Continue up the hill beyond Tlos to the nearby village of Yaka Köyü (it's signposted) and you'll reach the vast but peaceful Yakapark Restaurant, which is on the site of a now-demolished windmill and which has become an attraction in its own right. The enormous space, which seats up to 600 people, has its own trout farm, guaranteeing the freshest of fish. Water is everywhere here, gurgling around traditional Turkish wooden platforms where diners sit, and there is even a little channel in the bar where fish can swim around your chilled beer. Bring a bathing suit if you dare—the waters of the wading pool are so icy, owners promise a free drink to anyone who can withstand them for 10 whole minutes. If you can manage for a full 15 minutes, your drink and entire meal are free.
Yaka Köyü, Mugla, 48300, Turkey
Known For
- Fresh trout
- Reasonable prices
- Nicely chilled beer
