After introducing us to Gündoğan, and letting us know about the places to shop, today Anne is sharing her tips on places she likes to eat at during her visits to the area.

By Anne, Guest Blogger

Nightlife

If you are looking for the 18-30 experience Gündoğan is not the place for you. There are no bars or nightclubs in Gündoğan. Occasionally music may waft across the bay from the larger hotels, as they put on entertainment for their guests, but in general the nights here are quiet and relaxing.

Evening entertainment is centred around the restaurants on the beach front.  Mealtimes are relaxed in Gündoğan with the company and conversation equally as important as the food.  Many of the restaurants have jetty’s which are filled with sun loungers and large cushions during the day and are then re-set for dining at night. So you are literally sitting on the water and you will see fish jumping in the clear water beside you.  As day gives way to night the beautiful sunset is replaced by the twinkling lights of the white houses on the hillsides around the bay

Restaurants in Gündoğan

This is by no means an exhaustive list just some of my current favourites.

Villa Rustica  

This is a beautiful restaurant in a courtyard setting on the sea front just beyond the square in Gündoğan. The property also includes accommodation and an art gallery.  The owner is European and speaks excellent English.

There is an excellent a la carte menu and also a  set dinner menu of 4 courses for 46 Turkish Lira.  All the food is high quality and the desserts are exquisite –  if you are a chocolate lover you must try the ‘volcano’.

Reana

Reana is a well established and very popular restaurant in Gündoğan and in peak season you will need to reserve a table.  It is a very pretty restaurant with white tiles, white wooden front and white furniture.

There is also an upstairs terrace which is wonderful on a warm night. The food is excellent with a good choice of meze and main dishes. They also have a desert which they are famous for called Orange Dessert or in Turkish “portakal”  the nearest I can describe it is very light Madeira  cake soaked in marmalade. It is served with homemade ice cream.

Meze are set out on a table close to the kitchen and wine is on a table beside them so you will be asked to come in with the waiter and you choose both at the same time.

A couple of the waiters speak a little English here and will help you with your selection as much as they can. There is seating inside, outside, and on the beach.

• Read a Review at Eat in Bodrum 

Terzi Mustapha’nIn Yeri (aka Plage café)

Translated as the ‘the tailor Mustapha’s beach café‘.  This restaurant is probably the most popular with locals and returning Turkish home owners / holiday makers.  Mustapha can be seen greeting everyone by name and his favourite word seems to be “hoşgeldiniz” meaning welcome.  This restaurant specialises in fish and there is usually a real buzz here with large groups of lively locals enjoying a “raki balik” meaning a traditional fish meal with lots of Raki!

In peak season it can be quite hard to get a table here and you will have to reserve a table which you will need to do in person as little English is spoken here and they won’t understand you by phone but will remember your face if you call in.

• Read a Review at Eat in Bodrum

 

Price for a meal for two in a traditional restaurant

Expect to pay between 60–100 Turkish Lira for two people for food and wine.

Typically a selection of  4 cold meze, one borek (5 large rolls), one dessert and a bottle of wine would be around 70 Turkish Lira allowing 40 lira for the wine so you can eat very reasonably here.

Portions of meze and dishes like casseroles etc. are quite large so often sharing dishes is sufficient. You will get unlimited bread to accompany the meze free of charge

 

Bella Italian restaurant

Bella is described as a ‘wine house‘ and has more of an Italian based menu including delicious pizzas.  If you are a cheese lover the ‘4 cheese’ pizza is mouth- watering.  They also do a very good local cheese plate as a starter and have a good choice of other dishes as well both Italian and Turkish. They do have a menu displayed outside and also usually have live music on a Saturday night. There is also quite a good cocktail menu here.  Seats inside, outside and on the beach.

Kay’s Restaurant

Kay’s restaurant combines the best of both worlds and offers both traditional Turkish fare and more international dishes and pizza.

There are often Turkish weddings and other functions here and you will be invited to join in or you can simply sit and watch the singing and dancing.  You will always get a piece of the wedding cake as well!  Kay’s also do take away pizza. 

Iskele Restaurant

Situated on busy corner just back from the beach Iskele is a great place to watch the world go by.  The menu is quite varied with pizza, traditional meat casseroles, steak, chicken and fish. Turkish hot bread commonly called ‘puffy bread ‘is available here.  Prices here are incredibly reasonable and it is popular with  tourists as the owner speaks quite good English.

Pamukkale

Located at the bus station this is the place to have a traditional Turkish breakfast to set you up before you head off on day out.

Very popular with locals.  Also do pizza and Turkish pizza called ‘pide‘ both meat and vegetarian. There is no alcohol served here but the food is delicious and prices very reasonable.

(The owners have another Pamukkale Restaurant nearer the beach, which is licensed for alcohol)

• Read a Review at Eat in Bodrum

Olira Hotel:   

The restaurant in the Olira Hotel is situated outdoors on the beach front and has a more international menu.  It is also a popular place for lunch with sandwiches, salads wraps, quesadillas etc

 

Coffee and cakes:

Just behind the Tansas supermarket in the square there is a beautiful bakery which also has some tables and this is a great place to have coffee and a selection of delicious fresh cakes and pastries. You can also try a Turkish tea or Turkish coffee here.  If you are self catering you can buy fresh bread and cakes to take home.

Drinks / Bars:

There are no bars as such in Gündoğan but you will be very welcome to sit and have a drink at any of the restaurants and cafes.  There is a beach bar which is part of the Istanbul Palace Hotel right down at the end of all the restaurants which has a nice seating area to have a drink and watch the sun set over the bay and hills of Gündoğan.

They have a good cocktail menu and a full range of spirits and beer. A nice touch here is complimentary nuts and fruit with your drink

Drink Prices:

Taxes on alcohol in Turkey, especially imported drinks are high, so best to check out the price first before you order. Ask for the drinks menu and you will see what is on offer and at what price.  Local drinks are cheaper than imported and you should specify if that is what you want or you will automatically be brought the more expensive imported brands. This is not an attempt to run up a bill but they genuinely believe this is what you want.  So just ask for ‘yerli – pronounced ‘Yaarlee’ or local.

 A local gin and tonic / vodka and tonic etc is 9 Turkish Lira.  Imported spirits are around 16 Turkish Lira

Local beer – Efes is  7 Turkish Lira and cocktails around  15 Turkish Lira.

 

• Read Anne’s Guest Article about Discovering Gundogan
• Read Anne’s Guest Article about Shopping in Gundogan
• Read Anne’s Guest Article about an Introduction to Turkish Wines