The Muğla Province is a real haven by the Aegean Sea, and so its best restaurants, of course, focus on freshly prepared meze and grilled fish. From Bodrum to Fethiye, Marmaris to Datça, as well as the lesser-known Akyaka, we chose some of the best restaurants to enjoy some excellent Aegean food.
You won’t have to guess too long about what this laid-back restaurant specializes in because Ahtapotçu Mehmet Usta translates directly to “The Octopus Man Mehmet.” A tiny restaurant, the amazing octopus is served grilled and whole and accompanied by a cold glass of beer. What else could you want on a hot summer’s day?
A restaurant and hotel, Sardunya’s bungalows, beach, and waterfront restaurant all make full use of the beautiful Aegean. The menu includes calamari, octopus, and bream fresh from the sea, grilled and served to a table that overlooks the sunset on the water.
One of Bodrum’s best restaurants requires that you make a reservation in advance because the place is always full when it’s high season. A display of fresh fish and meze greets you as soon as you walk into Memedof so that you can choose what you’re in the mood for. Tables sit on a deck that’s right on the sea—you can imagine how beautiful the view is.
More of an enchanted garden than a restaurant, Limon is one of the best places to watch the sunset while you sip on a cocktail from the bar. Afterward, sit down at your table and order from the excellent menu of Turkish classics made from the freshest ingredients.
Overlooking the abandoned yet beautiful ghost town of Kayaköy, some say that Levissi Garden has breathed life back into the Kayaköy village. Located inside a historic home that’s around 400 years old, the restaurant is known for its extensive wines and excellent Aegean dishes, as well as a pretty amazing Turkish breakfast.
Located in the Fethiye Fish Market, Hilmi is a real Aegean-style seafood restaurant, complete with blue-and-white tables and chairs and musicians that play classic Turkish songs. The chef’s specialties include stuffed calamari, fish köfte, and shrimp stew (with plenty of butter and spices).
Right on the beach in Datça, one of Muğla’s most non-touristy and nature-heavy towns, Hüsnü’nun Yeri is all about fresh fish complemented by the deep turquoise hues of the Aegean. White wooden tables with blue tablecloths line the waterfront where you can definitely take off your shoes and dig your toes into the sand.
This Turkish-German restaurant possesses more upscale flair, including a tasting menu that showcases the best ingredients the Aegean has to offer. Located by the sea in a lovely white house with overflowing bougainvillea bushes, Culinarium is also a perfect place for a romantic dinner for two.
Set between the mountains and an iridescent stream, you probably won’t run into any tourists at this locals’ favorite restaurant in Muğla’s Akyaka neighborhood. A real Turkish meyhane (tavern), there are a few tables right inside the water so that you can cool off your feet while you dine on excellent meze varieties such as stuffed calamari and olive salad.
Olta Restaurant is a beautiful dining establishment that sits on a small dock right over a stream, which is so clear that you can see straight to the bottom. A favorite in the very off-the-beaten-path Akyaka neighborhood in Muğla, you’ll find superb meze and fresh fish all prepared with love.
