Where to eat in Fethiye – a food and dining guide

Fethiye’s dining scene is much more than Turkish cuisine. From traditional to international dishes, the coastal city offers a variety of culinary delights that caters to all food preferences. When it comes to cuisine, Turkish people only settle for the best. Treat yourself to fresh seafood or traditional mezze while sipping on a refreshing Efes Pilsen near the beach. In the afternoon, join locals in some of the cosmopolitan cafes serving sweet pastries.

Pide, a delicious flatbread appetizer served with garlic butter and cheese, is not only a local specialty but is also popular throughout the country. Another typical dish is Sigara Borek, a feta cheese filo pastry roll.

 

Fethiye city center

 

Known as Fethiye’s old town, this area has many international and Turkish restaurants, which offer a great variety of Turkish international dishes. As you stroll around, your senses will be lured by the aromas of spice stands at the Tuesday Market and the sight of Turkish Delights shops. Grab a Turkish pancake or fresh mezze at Fethiye market or buy fresh seafood and have it grilled at one of the restaurants in the Fish Market. You can’t go wrong with grilled bream, bass and garlic prawns, particularly grilled calamari (izgara’da). Go to Hilmi Restaurant for a delicious marine experience.

 

• Hilmi Meat & Fish Market, Pazar Yeri 53.  

Along the harbor

 

Starting from the Karagözler in Fethiye and heading towards Çalış along the seafront, this area has a lively yet relaxing atmosphere next to the beach. With a great view of the sea, the restaurants along the harbor are busy all year-round and mainly serve Turkish food and fish. This is where Fethiye’s lifestyle is most visible: enjoying a scrumptious meal with drinks on a roof terrace. An excellent alternative to the fish market is Girida Balik Seafood Restaurant, a must-try for fish fans. It’s an eating experience; the seafood is to die for. Also, live fasil music heats up Fethiye’s winter nights.

 

• Girida Balik Seafood Restaurant, Cahit Gunduz Caddesi.

 

Çalış

 

Although Çalış is popular amongst tourists, the environment is more laid-back than in the city center. The restaurants in the area offer visitors the best of Turkish and western food in a chilled-out atmosphere. The main attraction is the Sunday Market, a tranquil version of the Tuesday market, where shoppers enjoy kebab, gozleme and hot village bread (bazlama). Traditional drinks, including ayran, are also available. Once you’ve been to the market, indulge yourself in a mouth-watering chili burger or delicious homemade kofte at Café Pazar. Find the best kuşbaşılı pide in Akdeniz Restaurant, an unmissable experience.

 

• Café Pazar, 43/A Yergüzler Caddesi, Foça Mahallesi, 48300. + 90 252 613 2106

 

Hisarönü & Ovacık

 

As a tourist resort, especially amongst British holidaymakers, Hisaronu boasts a varied selection of international cuisine, including Chinese, Indian, and English food. Western style burgers and all-time favorite chips can be had any summer day. For a curried night out, Shine Indian Restaurant is unbeatable to people-watch and savor Indian food: their butter lamb, chicken tikka masala, onion bhajis and meat samosas will send you through the roof. Western tourists flock to Pine Hill to indulge themselves in burgers made of the finest beef and delicious pide. Don’t miss the barbecue nights on Thursdays and try chicken legs and wings, sausages and sinfully delicious steaks.

 

• Shine Indian Restaurant, Dolphin Roundabout, 48380. +90 252 616 6467 • Pine Hill, Hisarönü Mh., Ata Cd, 48300. +90 252 616 6363