Leila Cafe Kusadasi - One visit Perfect spot to stop for a quality cocktail drink and to people watch., located across from the boulevard with sea views on a corner in Kusadasi. The service was very welcoming and friendly, and the interior was stylish with a lounge vibe to sit and relax for the afternoon or evening. Much higher pricing than we've been experiencing elsewhere in Turkey; however, this could be just the nature of Kusadasi due to being a busy cruise port. However, the drinks could be doubles which would explain the higher pricing; they were on the stronger side. So, if you fancy a great cocktail and a local hotspot, Leila is a good choice, considering there are many tourist traps in Kusadasi.

Suadiye Marmaris Kuşadası - One visit Suadiye Marmaris in Kuşadası is a perfect location tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the Bazaar. While we didn't get to eat, their Instagram page was very encouraging with the delicious-looking burgers to visit again! We initially stopped to grab a takeaway coffee, but the great view of the old city wall, palm trees, roaming tortoises, and the cool breeze from the sea made it impossible for us not to stop and enjoy the moment. Even in the off-season, this cafe has a great vibe and is only minutes from the main tourist spots. It is a wiser choice than in the main tourist area.

Tomas Coiffeur - One visit Our first task for the day when exploring Kusadasi was to find a barber to remove all the unwanted grey and look presentable! We walked past Thomas Coiffeur in the bazaar, and Tomas was very welcoming, warm and friendly, and he was available immediately. Tomas took the time to cut and style my hair, and then to our surprise, the wax came out! There was plenty of laughter and fun with the bonus hair removal. Having hot wax around your ears and face sounds crazy, but it does remove all those embarrassing tiny hairs that you experience as you grow older. The one thing we have experienced during our Turkey travels is the excellent men's grooming. Not only do you receive a haircut, but very common to have all facial hair removed (be it hot wax, threading, burning or cutting) followed by a head and shoulder massage. You walk out feeling very respectable. The average cost is between AUD $6 to $10; we always leave a generous tip due to the exceptional service. Strongly recommend that you visit Tomas if you're a traveller; we noticed that many cruise ship team members see Tomas during port days, which is always a good sign.

Kiwi Restaurant (Ladies beach) - Three visits You know they are doing a good thing when you visit the same restaurant three times during your one-week stay in Kusadasi, Turkey. Not only do you become friends with the team, but you find other travellers coming back so that it becomes a social hub for good times. As you walk down the beautiful sidewalk nestled above Ladies beach, you're spoilt for choice. However, you will need to remain strong and not be lured into the more casual eateries along the street, but be sure to stop at Kiwi Restaurant. Insider tip for Kiwi Restaurant: despite what everyone else does, eating indoors at the edge affords you a better view of the Aegean Sea and some extra nice touches like cloth napkins. The restaurant has recently been fully refurbished and furnished with high-quality furniture indoors and outdoors. It has the perfect lounge chairs to relax, drink, and watch the sunsets. Where do we begin? By the end, the chef served our food simply because we all enjoyed the dining and conversations. Nothing beats being greeted with a big hug and smile by the entire team as you walk into the restaurant; we truly felt like family. The menu will accommodate everyone with an extensive selection, but you can be assured it is of excellent quality. All food is freshly prepared, including top-quality meats, which stand out. Kiwi Restaurant devotes itself to how fresh the produce is, and it's cooked with a light touch but perfection by the chefs. Think juicy steaks or mouth-watering lamb alongside freshly homemade pasta, pizza, succulent, moist prawns, or freshly caught fish. Each dish was delicious, but do try the Mexican cuisine too!! The wine list is minimal; however, the premium wine is competitively priced and goes perfectly with the food they serve. The lovely barman is always happy to make your favourite cocktail and has a couple of tricks that will make you sit back and soak up the sun and magnificent views. One more will always lead to a few more, served with a smile and laugh. Pricing is very reasonable, especially considering the quality and consistency of the food, service and that picture-perfect view. Be sure to take in a few sunsets; they are truly magical. Thank you to the wonderful boys who welcomed us with open arms each visit; you each hold a special place in our hearts.

Lucky's Club - 10 visits Lucky's Club Resto & Bar has you covered and ticks all Unique Life Style Hotel boxes. The exceptional Lucky's Club hotel restaurant encompasses a cafe, international seafood restaurant, lounge, beach club, and bar. Each time, the warm welcome you receive from the front and back of the house team is full of positive energy. Everyone is very friendly and attentive. We enjoyed two weeks at Unique Life Style Hotel, so we can genuinely confirm it is the best hotel in Kusadasi. We dined at Lucky's most days and enjoyed each time's energy and atmosphere. The view from Lucky's Club of the Aegean Sea is magical and uninterrupted; it will be the ideal place to chill over summer and the place to be. Sunsets are guaranteed, and you will be overwhelmed by the beautiful colours filling the sky over the Aegean Sea during the evenings. It's a popular place for breakfast with the locals, where you receive a Turkish full spread, which is plentiful and will keep you going all day. You can opt for à la carte, although the effort is focused on the Turkish breakfast spread. The restaurant's international lunch and dinner menu will keep you here for weeks. The food is exceptional and full of variety on both menus. The photos speak for themselves, but we recommend the Beef Nachos; they are the best we have ever experienced, quality and delicious. All the meat and Mexican dishes were incredible! You are spoilt with an excellent wine list and local and international wines to complement your meals. Pricing is very affordable, and we found it much cheaper inside the hotel at Lucky's Club than when we dined outside in like-for-like restaurants. Lucky's Club is a popular venue loved by locals and guests. They have a great selection of live music throughout the week and at weekends to keep you entertained. Be sure to enjoy the evening dancing, outstanding cocktails prepared by the lovely bar staff and the energy of the bands. We loved Legend Band ; they light up the room with energy and talent. They perform on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and it is best to book to reserve your seat as they fill the venue.

Unique Life Style Hotel - Two weeks Unique Life Style Hotel is the epitome of a luxury boutique hotel. A stay here will be one of the most memorable experiences in Kusadasi, with or without leaving the hotel. From the warm and friendly team throughout the hotel, the most luxurious rooms and grounds to the exceptional Lucky's Club , which encompasses a cafe, international and seafood restaurant, lounge, beach club and bar. Unique Life Style Hotel truly ticks all the boxes. Unique is genuinely the best hotel in Kusadasi; where you come for three days, and nearly two weeks later, you are still enjoying the energy and atmosphere of the hotel. We were fortunate to stay in three room types and were incredibly impressed by all three rooms, but hands down; our favourite was the large deluxe room with a garden view. Junior Suite Room Main Building — This stunning, spacious suite has the most magnificent balcony and separate lounge area. It is perfect for a family to enjoy. The only downside is that the suite receives no sunlight during the day, so if you need your daily dose of sunshine, you will need to escape to the poolside. Large Deluxe Room Garden View - This is our favourite. These rooms are well designed, spacious, large bathroom, a seating area to enjoy the views and relax with a book or enjoy room service. There is a large walk-in wardrobe to store all your belongings and a beautiful garden balcony to enjoy fresh air and sunshine. These rooms are also soundproofed and isolated from other rooms to ensure you have a night of uninterrupted sleep. Swim Up Comfort Room Main Building - These rooms are perfect for a short stay, exactly as described. From your inviting terrace, you can access a heated lap pool private and exclusive for these rooms). Although there is a small bathroom, the room is reasonably spacious, so ideal for a short stay only. The balcony opens the space and provides a perfect chillout nook to enjoy the sun and fresh air. The only downside is that they are prone to a little outside noise, so if you are hoping for a quiet night, you should book an alternative room. If you know you will enjoy live music during the evenings, this is perfect. The hotel has a beautiful pool overlooking Lucky's Lounge and the Aegean Sea. With ample sunbeds and cosy seating surrounding the pool, it will be the ideal place to chill over summer. Sunsets are guaranteed from Unique. You will be overwhelmed by the beautiful colours filling the sky over the Aegean Sea during the evenings. Breakfast is included in the room. The standard is the Turkish full spread, which is plentiful and will keep you going all day. You can opt for à la carte, although the effort is focused on the Turkish breakfast spread. The lunch and dinner menus at Lucky's restaurant will keep you here for weeks. The food is exceptional and full of variety. The photos speak for themselves, but we recommend the Beef Nachos; they are the best we have ever experienced, quality, and delicious. All the meat dishes were incredible! You are spoilt with an excellent wine list and local and international wines to complement your meals. Pricing is very affordable, and we found it much cheaper inside the hotel than when we dined outside in like-for-like restaurants. Unique Life Style Hotel is a popular venue loved by locals and guests. They have a great selection of live music throughout the week and at weekends to keep you entertained. Be sure to enjoy the evening dancing, the cocktails prepared by the lovely bar staff, and the energy of the bands. We loved Legend Band ; they light up the room with energy and talent.

Legend Band - Three gigs We became the legendary band groupies; they light up the room with their energy and musical talents. This high-energy band plays English and Turkish tunes, all with the power and energy to get everyone up and dancing. The group comprises six members, including a trumpet player. Each member is full of personality and talent. Victoria , the lead singer, and the band members are all in tune with each other, and they have lots of fun playing together. We enjoyed sitting back, enjoying the songs, and hanging out with the band members. If you get the chance, see them perform at Lucky's Club at Unique Life Style Hotel . They are the resident band and play on Tuesday and Saturday evenings at 9.30 pm. Be sure to book, as Lucky's Club gets sold out. Visit Legend Band on Instagram to stay updated with where they are next playing, all along the coastline around Kusadasi/Bodrum.

Intermezzo Music Bar - Two visits Intermezzo is a beautiful cocktail bar located in the tree-lined boulevard in Skopje. First and foremost, the cocktails are unique, all made with fresh ingredients and high-quality liquors. The team is amiable and full of positive energy, and the outdoor bar is a great place to sit and watch them create beautiful drinks. We visited during the hot summer afternoons, and it was delightful with the fans and outdoor air conditioning. The bar is a hotspot for locals and starts to get busy later in the evening. The decor is beautiful, and the outdoor space is very comfortable. You can settle in for the evening and enjoy the atmosphere and great tunes.

Amigos Ljubljanska - One visit A wonderful Mexican restaurant located on the edges of the Skopje Mall in Macedonia. The decor is beautiful and modern, with cocktails and food to match. We enjoyed more Mexican cuisine, each dish was delicious. The nachos are a must, as the corn chips are made in-house. The pulled pork was one of the best we have experienced. It was a wonderful place to catch up with friends enjoying great food and drinks. The staff were warm, friendly, and energetic. I definitely recommend it, and as an added bonus, you have an abundance of shops on the doorstep to get your shopping fix.

Augusto Coffee Shop - Three Visits What a great find. This small coffee shop lives up to its reputation. Our only regret was we didn't find Augusto earlier during our stay. Excellent quality coffee and fresh juices. Located in beautiful old town, surrounded by cobblestone streets and beautiful architecture. They also used friendly straws HAY! all natural and 100% biodegradable. A tip: sneak around to the lovely bakery just around the corner to enjoy a nice pastry while sipping your coffee.