Palas Ilıca

With its bohemian-style garden where you can dine amid herbs and vegetables, the centrally positioned building draped in grapevines, and the authentic handmade porcelain, this restaurant has a distinct character. Inside, all kinds of fragrant delights are on display, ready for you to select. Freshly baked pumpkin pie with yoghurt, fried courgette flower with ricotta and fresh herbs, or traditional manti stuffed with yoghurt and chilli oil – these generous sharing dishes are simply irresistible! Grown on site, the produce is second to none. That, in combination with the female chefs' home-style

Alaçati is a picturesque town with a lot to offer, but Amavi is the place to be for foodies. Walk through the cocktail bar, where DJs play in the evening, and take a seat in the trendy restaurant, which exudes its own unique elegance. Seafood takes pride of place here – there's even a fish aging cabinet visible in the open kitchen. Each dish is creative, vibrant and bears the chef's signature. A compelling dining experience defined by playful textures and intense, layered flavours.

Rustic yet refined, warm and welcoming – Terakki is a gem. Nab a table on the terrace by the well and observe how the chefs skilfully balance authenticity and modern influences in their own take on generous Aegean cuisine. Think crispy fried veal liver seasoned with thyme, garlic and parsley, or succulent wild sea bass fillet with cherries for a hint of fruity vivacity and accompanied by a velvety cauliflower purée. The exceptional ingredients speak for themselves, requiring no embellishment. The hospitality of the service team comes as a delightful bonus.

The narrow, stone-paved streets of Alacati are always buzzing with activity. Tucked away in one such lane is this alfresco restaurant, whose lively atmosphere instantly draws you in. Gökhan Safkan allows Turkish flavours to seamlessly merge with Bosnian influences, creating a heady mix in dishes such as artichokes cooked with onion and garlic in an orange-infused broth, or succulent pljeskavica (Balkan meat patties) and delicately grilled, ultra-fresh sea bass. This laid-back place puts the emphasis on fun, and the steady stream of dishes emerging from the kitchen is testament to this. You hav

Head to GAIA BY THE SEA hotel, follow the path to the rear and immerse yourself in the romantic atmosphere of this outdoor restaurant. The view of the water is utterly captivating! You even make this a regular treat: Chef Tolga Kamiloğlu brings his experience to bear in a contemporary take on Turkish cuisine, which is detailed and elevated with the occasional Asian influence. Highlights include the charcoal-grilled baby calamari with cherry tomatoes in a jus of tomato, vinegar and mirin, and the orange-themed dessert with lime sorbet, yuzu sorbet and yuzu jelly – each plate delivers an experie

This family-run Turkish osteria is tucked away in one of Çeşme's charming side streets, making it the perfect stop after a day of shopping or relaxing on the beach. Super-fresh fish and seafood is served straight off the boat at lunchtime, in simple dishes that showcase the natural flavours of the produce in all their glory. Start with mezze such as artichoke hearts with spring onions and crushed raspberries, then move on to prawns grilled to that perfect point of translucency, with an exquisite jus just begging to be mopped up with every last piece of bread – no unnecessary frills, just the b

Italian