Dede Restaurant - Two visits Dede Restaurant in Marmaris, Turkey, lets the quality of its food, service and surroundings drive its business instead of the traditional aggressively spruiking nature of the other restaurants hugging the foreshore of the harbour. We ate here twice during our two-night stay in Marmaris, which is a testament to the high service levels and food quality. The team are so positive, with plenty of laughter and smiles that make your dining experience even more rewarding. On our first night, we met a lovely couple, and we fast became friends; it was a night full of laughter and fun. Dede Restaurant is what we class as fine dining so that you can choose from the freshest of fish on display to tasty steaks and much more. The menu is varied enough but not so large that it would compromise the food quality, the chef brings his A-game, and you won't be disappointed. The swordfish was mouthwatering! Dede Restaurant is the place to enjoy a slow lunch or dinner with premium wine more than a sunset cocktails venue. For cocktails, Alice Marmaris is the place to be. The white table clothed tables take this restaurant up a level compared to most other dining establishments along the marina in Marmaris. Perfect location for a lazy afternoon lunch or dinner while gazing at the various charter boats trying to lure another group of tourists into a tour. This is a premium restaurant, so expect to pay for the quality of the food and surroundings; think crisp white linen table cloths and impeccable dressed team members. With an extensive wine list covering both old and new world wines, plenty of hidden gems will make you want to return. We felt like part of the family after only two visits. Thank you to Baran and the incredible team from front to back of the house; you made our stay in Marmaris very enjoyable. Fun facts about Dede restaurant, source Dede website : Dede started business as a cafe in 1973 by Ali Denizelli (1888 – 1992) at the same spot where it is today. Ali Denizelli lived a long life, mostly on the sea serving on his clipper as a postman for many years to and from Marmaris and Rhodes Island. His healthy life of 104 years was credited mainly to his simple diet mostly comprising of seafood and his lifestyle on the sea. Since its foundation, our establishment has remained in the family having been converted to a beautiful restaurant meeting the needs of today. Ali’s grandchildren now run the restaurant. By naming the restaurant Dede (Grandfather) is an attempt to keep alive his name and memory.

Pineapple Restaurant - One visit Pineapple Restaurant is one of the few dining establishments in Marmaris, with white tablecloths while still giving you a view of all the yachts moored within the marina. Good service, and they even handled our request to move as the sun slowly crept over our table. Nothing better than having a cheat day and enjoying a pizza. Yes, we ordered a Hawaiian (sorry to all those purist pizza lovers, Sally could not miss this opportunity). It reminded us of being back home in Australia. There is nothing better than starting your meal with a Mojito, and the bar ensures only the freshest ingredients are used in your cocktail. The yellow and white awnings give you that relaxed seaside vibe and suit this restaurant; ignore the logo (as a designer, I would not be proud of that design!). It doesn't represent the beautiful dining experience you will receive; therefore, don't be put off by casual branding. Pricing is reasonable considering the location, design and ambience. The wine list was large enough to ensure all taste styles were well catered.

Sunset Boutique Hotel - Two nights Sunset Hotel Marmaris is a lovely boutique hotel ideally located in the centre of Marmaris in the heart of the historical Kaleiçi district. You are right in the port, surrounded by restaurants and a stone's throw from the bazaar for shopping. We selected the Superior Double with Balcony, the most significant room, to ensure we could enjoy the balcony, which gives you great views of the harbour and beautiful hills. The place is spotlessly clean; the only issue would be based on the price point. It's time to retire the grandmother style bedding; this would take this to five-star immediately with new crisp fresh white bed linen. Some creative photography made the relatively tiny bathroom look more significant than reality, but stylish, modern, and hot water was aplenty. You could easily sit outside and watch the sunset and the boats bob in the water as the lights dance over the sea. We did have breakfast included, but unfortunately, we didn't eat breakfast simply because Turkish breakfast tends to be too filling for us digital nomads. The hotel has strong wifi throughout, and the rooftop bar and restaurant host amazing views of the harbour and a friendly little bird. We found the location perfect; you could easily explore all the dining and bar scenes, as everything was on your doorstep. Marmaris is a very popular tourist hotspot, being a port city and a high number of all-inclusive resorts. To obtain the authentic nature of Marmaris and shelter ourselves from the hectic tourism, we loved Dede Restaurant for dining and Alice for cocktails. The family who runs the hotel are lovely and friendly, very accommodating and will make sure your stay is as you expect.

Halil's Place - Two visits Sitting alongside a crystal clear stream fed from the surrounding mountains takes your breath away. Halil's Place is a hidden gem of a restaurant. It will provide you with an immediate sense of calmness. Halil's Place is located in Akyaka, the pearl of the Aegean in Mugla province and a short 30 minutes from Marmaris (the hectic tourism town). Akyaka is a true treasure in Turkey on the southern coast. Being the shoulder season, our expectations were low; however, the team at this restaurant again proved us wrong. There are plenty of warm smiles, and when Can the chef comes out for a chat and photo-op, you know you've found the right place. Excellent pricing, especially considering the pristine and peaceful location and delicious food. Take your time and peruse the wines on display; the pricing varies; however, you can find a reasonably priced couple. The chef takes his time to ensure your freshly caught fish is cooked to perfection, while there are plenty of meat dishes to keep Wayne happy. They host an excellent range of fresh fish each day. I was very impressed with my grouper; it was delicious, deboned, thicker in texture, and not strong in taste. There are so many dining choices perched along the river; however, we found this was the only one that allows you to sit directly next to a freshwater stream, with no barriers. You can easily spend an afternoon watching the local friendly eels, ducks and all the birdlife, enjoying the crystal clear water bubble across the rocks and small waterfalls. It was pure joy.

Alp Suites Safran - Two nights Beautiful, modern and stylish accommodation in Akyaya, Mulga, a beautiful coastal town bordered by mountains, the sea and a creek, and Byzantine homes! Akyaka was another new part of Turkey for us, two hours south of Bodrum. Alp Suites delivered and more. This two-bedroom apartment is perched on the side of a hill, and you are surrounded by mountains, with beautiful views across the valley of Gökova Bay and the castle currently being restored. The design is Byzantine, yet the interior is that of a very stylish beach house; think whitewash floors, extensive artwork, and classic interior styling. Very well equipped for cooking at home, as a spacious kitchen with floor to ceiling windows to enjoy the view. We loved the views and the two full showers with plenty of hot water; the only thing was some minor cleaning of the sunbed by the simply stunning large shared pool (10m in length). Sally enjoyed doing some laps while I soaked up the sun. A short stroll away, approximately 15 minutes from the Çay Creek, some beautiful waterside restaurants, and a few supermarkets (however, these markets lack fresh produce and meat, so you need to visit the centre of town, about 25 min walk, or 5 min drive). We walked into the centre of Akyaka. It truly is beautiful, a quaint town full of Byzantine architecture, crystal clear waters and birdlife, engulfed in a forest of pine trees, mountains, and a lovely beach, something for everyone. This apartment is better suited to those with a car; however, we handled it, as we dined out twice at the most magical Halil's Place, approximately 15 minutes walk. The apartment is also more suited for holidaymakers as it lacked a work area for us digital nomads to work comfortably.

Chinabloom - Two visits Finally, a quality Asian dining venue on the Aegean sea in Turkey, Chinabloom in Bodrum, is well worth hunting out. It was incredible; we loved it so much we dined here twice. Chinabloom is located right at the end of the eating street in the centre of Bodrum, directly opposite the Bodrum marina and yacht club. Stay strong and bypass all the other restaurant owners trying to talk you into their place (always a bad sign and something that we find annoying, to be honest). The service is fabulous and very attentive, without being too pushy. The team learned all about our five-month journey around Turkey, especially our extended stays in Asia, with plenty of laughs and smiles. The menu is Chinese, Japanese and Thai, with an excellent selection of all three cuisines. Where do we begin? The Peking duck is outstanding, not like the typical Hong Kong heart inducing fatty duck; instead, the skin is cooked to perfection, with the fat removed to see the tender meat. While the menu is very extensive, the quality was exceptional, with the chef showing his light touch to all the dishes we sampled. Please don't skip the Japanese beef gyoza; they were delicious! We ate here twice and honestly wished we had more time to sample more of the menu. Every dish was presented to delight your eyes, while the flavours and freshness of the ingredients ensured we thoroughly enjoyed our meal. The wine list was extensive, and we paired our meal with a French Sancerre, which held up well against all the flavours of the food. The mixologist comes in at 3 pm, allowing you to explore some unique cocktails made with passion. This restaurant oozes style with a sophisticated and stylish decor that matches the food quality, surrounded by mosaic artwork with portraits of beautiful ladies from each region. You'll be pleased with the views across the marina to the main castle, a perfect location for a slow lunch or watching the lights sparkle across the marina at night. We found the pricing to be very reasonable, especially some of the gems on the wine list and the quality of cocktails, and not to mention the outstanding level of the ingredients and preparation of the meals. The extra few steps are well worth it when considering the entire package that Chinabloom delivers. We wish we had known about Chinabloom during our visit to Ankara last year.

Divan Pub Bodrum - One visit Divan Pub in Bodrum Marina, Turkey, has the best potential due to its location and stunning design, but unfortunately, they were skipping a beat. The service levels were poor, but the wine was not poured (first world problems), difficult to get service attention, plates were not cleared, and utensils and food were scattered around on the floor on neighbouring tables. We intended to enjoy a slow lunch, but after being seated, we were quick to have a snack and drink to move on; there seemed to be a heartbeat missing. The snack we ordered was a cheese platter, which unfortunately left a lot to be desired, especially for the snack price ($18). Good selection of wines, although a little overpriced for local wines, compared to other establishments and regions in Turkey. They have the most beautiful rooftop, which is perfect for chilling and enjoying the magnificent views of the Bodrum castle and marina. The indoor dining is very stylish too. A little love and this place can become a beautiful oasis to enjoy a cocktail and lunch or dinner tucked away from the busy marina's hustle and bustle.

Cliff Bodrum Restaurant & Bar - Five visits Cliff Bodrum is the main restaurant in the luxury five-star boutique hotel Allium Bodrum , located on Bodrum peninsula, Yalikavak in Turkey. The team have a beautiful energy and vibe. The staff are always happy to talk and share wonderful stories and recommendations of their country. Nothing is too complicated; the whole team work seamlessly together. You can feel the energy and enjoyment they have working at Allium. The lovely team deliver consistently at five-star service levels, and you can see the pure enjoyment of being around the guests to make sure their experience is superior. Cliff restaurant is where the food doesn't get sidelined by the view. You'll enjoy beautiful blood orange and red sunsets that take your breath away during the evening or lunches enjoying the turquoise waters of the Aegean Sea whilst sampling the culinary delights. Cliff Bodrum is not only the hotel's main restaurant, but they have a bar where you can enjoy a more casual and relaxed seating enjoying the magnificent views, sunsets over the Aegean and enjoying a signature cocktail or beverage. We enjoyed breakfast, lunch and dinner; all standout meals. Firstly, the breakfast is à la carte (very refreshing for a hotel). After so many average buffets, it was a blessing to experience breakfast on a whole new level, your choice instead of a traditional Turkish breakfast (which tends to be quantity over quality). We are talking about every item being cooked to order in an impressive open plan kitchen, freshly prepared by a passionate team of gourmet chefs. If you are new to Turkey, you can't leave without trying the pide, and Cliff Bodrum is an excellent example of the traditional pide; we love the beef cube edition; it is full of flavour with a thin crispy base. Enjoying your lunch with a cool breeze while soaking up that extraordinary view with a glass of wine, what's not to enjoy? Service is excellent and cannot be faulted. Exquisite dinner with a fantastic sunset, yes, please! We have been busy sampling the lunch and dinner menus, and the pictures speak for themselves. A very extensive wine list covering all regions of the world, while with more premium pricing, you'll find some gems in the list that are very well priced to complement your meal. Allium Bodrum is the perfect resort for a relaxing getaway, and you are blessed with having Cliff Bodrum Restaurant and Bar on your doorstep, a true luxury escape.

IKON Happy Moon's - Two visits IKON is part of the Happy Moons group located in Yalikavak on the Bodrum Peninsula in Turkey. IKON is a stylish and relaxing establishment to sit back and enjoy a few drinks and food while checking out the stunning superyachts in the marina and national park. It feels like we're constantly writing about excellent service, but the reality is service in Turkey is simply outstanding; when you leave the restaurant hugging the staff, you know you've had a great lunch that might have turned into dinner. We opted for the delicious and mouthwatering burger and a tender curry chicken, both perfect. We enjoyed Kofta and steak kebab on our next visit and treated ourselves to desserts. The team behind the bar crafted some very tasty cocktails. We loved the great big balls of ice flavoured with garnish, all the classics, and several new cocktails with a twist. The wine list was a little limited, and pricing was above average for the quality of wines on offer. The decor and design, think billowing white sheer curtains, views of yachts and the national park, and you know you're in the right location for a slow lunch. The insider's tip is to get a table right at the end of the main restaurant, it has the best views, and you can sit side by side and hidden away from the direct sunlight. Very reasonable pricing considering the location in Yalikavak and the quality of the food and cocktails, it will definitely be busy during the summer season.

Bodrum Menemene House Prv - One week This Airbnb in Turkbuku on the Bodrum Peninsula, Turkey, matches the photos on the website ideally - it is absolutely spotless, relaxing and beautiful. A bonus was the views are better over the Aegean Sea than you perceive from Airbnb. Its location is only a five-minute gentle walk to the beach and all the excellent little restaurants, bars and beach clubs. The kitchen is fully equipped, and they even supply cleaning products, e.g. dishwashing tablets, laundry detergent, surface spray, paper towel, etc., something of a rarity in Airbnb all over the world. There is a Macro Centre , an extremely impressive supermarket just a three-minute walk with absolutely everything you would require for an extended stay, including an extensive range of international wines, beers and spirits. There is also a beautiful store nearby called Hatice aunt , full of natural goodies for the home and the body, you must visit! Along with sugar-free Turkish delight. The table setting outside overlooking the bay is perfect for sitting with a nice glass of wine or cocktail and watching all the action occurring in the bay. There is also a lovely cosy setting on the deck. We found this Airbnb ideal for self-catering; we decided to stay in and just nest, as we've been travelling now for five-plus years, and after a few weeks in a hotel, it was much needed. We enjoyed home cooking, playing Turkish scrabble (which was a challenge when using English words), enjoying champagne and views, and some Easter treats. During the warmer weather, you can also enjoy the pool; there were quality sunbeds available for sunbaking; we were just on the edge of Spring, so we needed a few more weeks to enjoy the pool. Can, your host is very responsive and always there for you, Alev is the lovely onsite contact, and she is a pleasure to have around.