The dining scene of Side mixes the fresh seafood of the harbor, the traditional Turkish kitchens, and the atmospheric restaurants of the old town, and the peninsula town packs the good eating into its small area. This guide covers the local restaurants of Side by the style and the setting, so the visitor eats the best of the town.
The Fish Restaurants of the Harbor
The harbor of Side is the dining room of the town, and the fish restaurants are its stars. The restaurants of the waterfront serve the catch of the day — the sea bass, the sea bream, the red mullet, the prawns, the calamari — grilled or fried with the lemon and the olive oil; the tables along the water give the views of the boats and the Temple of Apollo; and the meze spreads and the salads accompany the fish. The harbor fish dinner, with the rakı or the white wine, is the classic Side evening, and the setting is the memorable one.
The practical note: the harbor restaurants are the atmospheric ones, and the tables with the temple views are the sought-after ones; the fish is priced by the weight, and the confirmation of the price comes before the order; and the dinner reservations are the wise ones in the summer.
The Old Town Restaurants
The restaurants of the old town serve among the ancient stones, and the dining is the atmospheric one. The old-town restaurants sit along the pedestrian lanes and in the courtyards, with the tables under the pergolas and the vines; the menus are the Turkish-Mediterranean ones — the meze, the grills, the kebabs, the pide; and the evening brings the lanterns and the music to the lanes. The old-town dinner is the experience of the setting, and the history is the backdrop of the meal.
The Meze and the Traditional Kitchens
The meze is the heart of the Turkish table, and the meze houses and the traditional restaurants of Side do it justice. The spreads cover the classics: the haydari, the cacık, the hummus, the baba ganoush, the stuffed vine leaves, the grilled octopus, the white cheese, and the fresh bread; the meze meal is the shared, the social one, and the plates arrive in the procession; and the traditional kitchens of the town serve the home cooking — the stews, the stuffed vegetables, the kebabs. The meze and the traditional food of Side give the taste of the Turkish kitchen.
The Kebabs and the Grills
The grills of Side give the meat eaters the excellent meals, and the kebabs are the stars. The şiş kebab, the Adana kebab, the köfte, and the chicken wings come off the charcoal grills, with the rice, the bulgur, the salad, and the lavash; the pide — the Turkish pizza — comes in the boat shape with the cheese, the meat, and the egg; and the lahmacun is the thin, the crisp one. The grill restaurants of the old town and the town serve the meats at their best, and the charcoal flavor is the signature.
The Breakfast Spots
The Turkish breakfast in Side is the meal to plan around, and the breakfast spots of the town serve it in the generous style. The table fills with the cheeses, the olives, the tomatoes and the cucumbers, the eggs, the honey and the kaymak, the jams, the sucuk, the fresh bread, and the çay; the breakfast terraces and the gardens of the old town give the settings; and the morning meal of the region is the leisurely one. The breakfast in Side is the abundant one, and the sea breeze accompanies it.
The Casual Eateries and the Street Food
The casual side of the Side dining gives the lighter meals and the quick bites. The gözleme — the thin flatbread filled with the cheese, the spinach, or the potato — is the Turkish classic, and the gözleme places do it well; the balık ekmek — the fish sandwich — is the harbor classic; the dondurma — the stretchy Turkish ice cream — is the sweet pause; and the juice bars squeeze the pomegranate and the orange on demand. The casual eating of Side is the good one, and the grazing through the day is the pleasure.
The Seafood Specialties of the Region
The Mediterranean coast around Side supplies the seafood that fills the menus, and the regional specialties are worth the knowing. The sea bass and the sea bream are the staples, grilled whole with the salt; the red mullet is the local favorite, small and sweet; the octopus and the calamari come grilled or in the salads; and the fish of the day changes with the catch. The question of the day — “what is the fish today?” — opens the best of the menus, and the harbor of Side serves the freshest.
The Desserts and the Sweets
The sweet tooth is served well in Side. The baklava comes in the pistachio and the walnut varieties; the künefe — the shredded pastry with the cheese and the syrup — is the regional favorite; the Turkish delight, the dondurma, and the rice pudding round out the choices; and the tea houses and the dessert parlors serve the sweets with the çay and the Turkish coffee. The after-dinner sweet is the ritual of the Turkish meal, and the sweets of Side finish the meals properly.
The Drinks of Side
The drinks of Side complete the dining experience. The rakı — the aniseed spirit — is the traditional accompaniment to the meze and the fish; the Turkish beers and the local wines are the standard ones; and the çay and the Turkish coffee run through the whole day. The sunset drink at the harbor, the rakı with the meze, and the çay after the meal make the rhythm of the Side days, and the drinks of the town accompany the food of the region.
The Dining Practicalities
The practicalities of the Side dining: the dinner reservations are the wise ones at the popular restaurants in the summer; the fish is priced by the weight, and the price confirmation comes before the order; the service charge is the included one at most restaurants, and the tipping of the ten percent is the customary one; and the cards are accepted at the most places, with the cash useful at the smallest ones. The dining scene of Side is the well-run one, and the standards are the high ones.
The Cooking Classes and the Food ExperiencesnnThe foodie of Side can go beyond the tables and into the kitchens. The cooking classes of the region teach the Turkish dishes — the meze, the gözleme, the kebabs, and the sweets — and the classes combine the market visits with the cooking and the eating; the village experiences of the hinterland serve the meals in the farmhouses, with the produce from the gardens; and the food tours of the town walk the harbor, the old town, and the sweet shops with the tasting stops along the way. The food experiences of Side make the visitor the cook as well as the eater, and the recipes travel home with the memories. The kitchen of the region is the generous teacher, and the class ends with the table full.n
The Family-Friendly DiningnnThe dining of Side welcomes the families, and the restaurants of the town cater to the young diners. The casual spots — the pide, the gözleme, the lahmacun — are the children’s favorites, and the simple dishes please the picky eaters; the high chairs and the family tables are the standard ones at the most restaurants; and the ice cream and the desserts end the meals happily. The family dining of Side is the easy one, and the early dinners suit the family schedule. The restaurants of the town give the children the welcome, and the meals become the family moments.n
The Takeaway
The dining of Side gives the fish of the harbor, the meze of the traditional kitchens, the grills of the charcoal, and the breakfasts of the morning, all in the setting of the ancient town. The harbor for the seafood with the temple views, the old town for the atmosphere among the ruins, and the casual spots for the quick bites — the choices cover every mood and every budget. The visitor eats well in Side, and the meals are part of the memory.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best restaurant in Side?
The best depends on the mood: the harbor restaurants for the seafood with the temple views, and the old-town restaurants for the atmosphere among the ruins.
Is Side food expensive?
Side is the moderate one by the Turkish resort standards, and the lokantas and the casual spots give the excellent value.
Do I need to book Side restaurants?
The booking is the wise one at the harbor and the popular old-town restaurants in the summer.
What is the signature dish of Side?
The grilled fresh fish from the harbor, served with the meze spread and the rakı.
Are there vegetarian options in Side?
Yes — the meze spreads, the salads, the gözleme, and the vegetable dishes give the plentiful vegetarian eating.
All Over Information
The All Over Information editorial team researches and writes practical English-language guides to Turkey. Facts are checked against official and local sources before publication, prices are published as dated ranges rather than quotes, and guides are revised when things change. We accept no sponsored posts, paid placements or paid links.
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