Roadside Cafes

If you want to enjoy a good selection of traditional Turkish dishes at a reasonable price, why not visit one of the small local cafes that line the back roads of the Bodrum Peninsula.

Doga Cafe

One of our local cafes, the Doga Cafe (pictured here on the left), is on the main, Gümüşlük to Yalikavak Road.  (About 2km outside of Gümüşlük just past the new Migros store).

The Doga cafe opened up at the beginning of the 2011 season, and we spotted it on our way home from a day of  browsing around Turgutries market.  I like supporting local businesses, and because it was a hot day, it seemed like a perfect time to stop off for a quick Efes and a few meze, en-route.

Men at Work

As we enjoyed our ice-cold brew, we also watched the progress of the proprietor and his teenage son, pouring concrete to extend the outside patio area.  Although the entire conversation was held in Turkish, it was easy to interpret the exchange between father and son.

The universal language of “Father knows best”, and the rolling eyes and deep sighs of a long-suffering son, made better viewing than a day-time soap opera.

Efes and Traditional Meze

The extra large bottles of Efes were cheap, and the proprietor and his wife were eager for us to sample their traditional home cooking, and forced complimentary meze on us.  Neither of this friendly couple spoke any English, but the power of sign language and plenty of smiles reigned supreme, and the stuffed zucchini flowers, hydari and fava dishes were delicious.

These savvy small-business owners had exhibited the kind of customer service that would entice us to return — and they welcomed us with smiles and waves of recognition each time we passed.

We visited the Doga Cafe a couple more times, and although there’s no menu, you can go up to the inside counter, to take a look at what meze are on offer.

Dolmuş Timetable to Yalikavak

The Doga cafe seems to attract a wide array of locals, and it’s a popular rest stop for Dolmuş drivers.

Check the Dolmuş timetable to Yalikavak, which is posted on the outside wall of the cafe. (This timetable is for the service that connects Turgutreis to Gol-Turkbuku, traveling via Kadikalesi, Gumusluk, Yalikavak and Gundogan).

Amenities

If you’re traveling this road by car, you can pull off the road, and park adjacent to the cafe.  The bathroom facilities are basic – and consist of a small outside toilet.

Drop into the Doga Cafe

If you’re traveling along the Yalikavak to Gümüşlük road, why not stop off at the Doga cafe, and sample some tasty, and inexpensive home cooking.

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