A guide to food and drink in Antalya Region
Many of the restaurants in the Antalya region specialise in making homemade and authentic Turkish cuisine, particularly in the smaller resorts. But you’ll also find an array of European and international foods such as Italian, Indian, and British restaurants. Dinners are available that suit all wallets, from a delicious kofte or light meal at a beach bar right up to those offering fine dining.
Exploring Antalya's delicacies
The incredibly flavourful Antalyan cuisine is a blend of both Arabic and Mediterranean cultures. Many of the meals you’ll eat on Turkey holidays are prepared with wheat and corn elements. Breakfasts are generally small appetisers with items like cheese, olives and eggs on the menu. A traditional lunch includes kebabs, meatballs or Turkish pizza.
When going out for dinner, make sure you order something authentic to Antalya like the kulaki soup made up of chickpeas and diced mea or tahinli piyaz – a dried bean salad. Antalya also knows how to brew a good strong cup of coffee, best served sweetened with sugar.
Full of flavour at Ocakbasi Restaurant, Side
Set among ancient ruins in Side is this traditional Turkish restaurant. Meals here are exploding with flavour and colour. For starters, try their houmous platter, which comes with flatbreads and dips. Mezze style dishes are very popular at Ocakbasi and you can order bite-sized portions of baked aubergine mixed with vegetables, barbecue fish and kebabs. Don’t be afraid to branch out to try some more traditional items – the waiters will be only too happy to explain what each item is on the menu.
Family nights at Simply Caddie Beach Restaurant, Belek
Located right on the beach, you’ll receive incredible service and views at this Mediterranean and international restaurant. The options are endless when it comes to the menu. Start off with some fruity cocktails and bruschetta, have a peppercorn steak for dinner and make sure to leave room for the popular honey-flavoured ice cream. Sit outside on the patio to enjoy your meal while looking out over the ocean. Children are very welcome at this restaurant and there’s plenty of child-friendly options to choose from, including fish and chips.
Food with a view at Arma, Antalya City
This is the place to dine for far-reaching views across Antalya City’s marina, old town and the mountains beyond. The building itself used to be a factory and a flour mill before it reached its current incarnation as a fine dining restaurant. The prices are higher the average here but service and styling are exceptional, as is the food. You can share a mezze platter, choose from a seemingly endless list of seafood including calamari, seafood linguine, salmon tartare and seabass, or dine on succulent steaks and koftas.