PORTER Postcard: Bodrum
Once a boho hideaway, Bodrum is now firmly on the fashion crowd’s summer circuit. Exceptional hotels, improbably turquoise waters and restaurants that blend contemporary design with culinary flair all make a very strong case for an Aegean escape this year. By ELLIE ROBERTSON
Long before the superyachts descended on Yalıkavak marina, Bodrum was simply Halicarnassus – birthplace of Herodotus, and home to one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Legend has it that Antony built an island off the coast here as a gift for Cleopatra, but Roman Generals aside, Bodrum was once Turkey’s best-kept secret, with only Istanbul’s creative crowd escaping to the Aegean coves. Luckily for the rest of us, word got out and, these days, the peninsula has evolved into one of the Mediterranean’s most luxurious summer destinations, where whitewashed hillside houses now converge with a coastline of five-star hotels and glamorous beach clubs. You’ll find something on the Turkish Riviera for everyone: intimate beaches, culinary hotspots that span Michelin-star chefs to traditional beachfront tavernas, historical landmarks and a nightlife scene set on rivaling Ibiza.
The hotel scene
Set across 150 acres of Paradise Bay on the peninsula’s northern coast, Bodrum’s Mandarin Oriental has an alluring, blissful edge because it feels more like an exclusive residential estate than a traditional hotel – featuring pools, tennis courts, two private beaches and 11 separate restaurants and bars, including an outpost of beloved Cantonese restaurant Hakkasan. It’s the perfect choice for those seeking complete escapism: villas disappear into pine forests, private beaches are connected by winding pathways, and the scale allows everyone to find their own secluded corner. The spa is among the region’s finest, featuring A-list favorites such as Augustinus Bader and Biologique Recherche. The restaurants – offering everything from relaxed beachfront lunches to refined evening dining – make it easy to spend several days without ever feeling the need to leave. New for summer 2026 is the Jacquemus beach pop-up – an undeniably chic spot.
For those looking less for seclusion and more for cultural buzz, a stone’s throw from Yalıkavak’s marina, The Bodrum Edition has a cool but considered aesthetic (think ivory tones, warm wood and the smell of the hotel’s signature Le Labo scent of black tea and bergamot filling the air) that’s become synonymous with The Edition brand. The 110 rooms, suites and villas are furnished with deep soaking tubs, rain showers and, in several cases, private plunge pools looking out towards the Aegean. What sets The Bodrum Edition apart is its lively social calendar, from art therapy to DJ sets. Don’t forget to pack your Lululemon for sunrise yoga and breathwork classes.
MATTEAUGathered organic cotton-poplin midi dress
TOHUMSamsara sterling silver and seashell beaded necklace
ERESLynda bead-embellished swimsuit
JACQUEMUSRaffia-effect leather sandals
The restaurants
Turkey’s answer to the Amalfi Coast now counts three Michelin-starred kitchens. A destination in its own right, Chef Osman Sezener’s restaurant called Kitchen has held its star for three consecutive years. The menu traverses the Aegean coastline, featuring fish caught in local waters, beef pastrami from Kastamonu in the north and prized morel mushrooms plucked from the Riviera town of Fethiye. Dinner is served on the garden terrace, lined with olive trees and overlooking a picture-perfect vista.
At Mezra Yalıkavak, chef Serhat Doğramacı – Turkey’s Michelin Young Chef of the Year in 2025 – cooks a seasonal tasting menu entirely over wood fire, using produce grown in the restaurant’s own gardens a few meters from the kitchen. Reserve well ahead: the dining room is small, and word has traveled fast.
For traditional meze served with sunset views, take your pick of the restaurants lining Gümüşlük harbor.
The food
Ask a Bodrum local what to order and the answer, more often than not, is meze: small plates built around produce sourced from the Aegean and the surrounding hillsides. Expect ezme, wild greens sautéed in olive oil, and midye dolma (stuffed mussels) alongside the catch of the day, usually grilled simply with nothing more than a squeeze of lemon. Further along the coast, near Ula, the regional specialty cökertme kebabı – thin-sliced beef served over crushed fried potatoes and yogurt – is worth the detour for those looking for an excellent alternative to fish.
The drink
Rakı, Turkey’s aniseed spirit, is not unlike Pastis. You’ll see it served cut with water until it turns a milky, opaline white and poured alongside meze, rather than after it. If the liquorice flavor isn’t to your liking, most restaurants boast impressively international wine lists, however, the local wine isn’t to be sniffed at. Vineyards around Urla, a few hours up the coast, have spent the past decade rehabilitating indigenous grapes like çalkarası and karasakız, and the best Bodrum restaurants now pour them by the glass.
ZIMMERMANNAster scarf mesh maxi dress
BOTTEGA VENETAAndiamo long Intrecciato leather clutch
ANITA KO18-karat gold diamond tennis bracelet
AQUAZZURALuna Rope 75 raffia-trimmed cord mules£775.00View Product DetailsSelect a Size35 - out of stock36 - out of stock36.537 - low stock37.538 - low stock38.53939.5 - low stock40 - low stock40.5 - out of stock4141.542 - low stock
The shopping
Bodrum’s famously buzzy Bazaar is full of handcrafted Turkish souvenirs, such as custom leather sandals handcrafted by local cobblers. You will also find stalls awash with Nazar Boncuğu (Evil Eye Beads). Recreate the vibe at home with Tohum, Jennifer Meyer and Sydney Evan pieces. The food stalls are also worth exploring, stopping to admire the mosaics and white houses of Bodrum Old Town along the way.
TOHUMEvil Eye gold-plated, seashell and ceramic necklace
TOTEMEEmbroidered silk-satin shirt£540.00View Product DetailsSelect a Size32 - out of stock34 - low stock363840 - low stock42 - low stock
PRADA EYEWEARRectangular-frame acetate sunglasses
TOTEMEMonogram silk wide-leg pyjama pants£530.00View Product DetailsSelect a Size32 - low stock34 - low stock36 - low stock384042 - low stock
The cultural excursion
Aboard a private gulet (the broad-beamed wooden sailing boat native to this coast) is a fine way to spend a day. Ask the captain to take you to Orak Island: a dream come true for snorkelers and divers thanks to improbably turquoise waters and reef that descends nearly 80 meters. If you’d rather stay on terra firma, there’s plenty to do. The Castle of St. Peter, originally built in the 1500s by the order of the Knights of St John, is now home to the Museum of Underwater Archaeology and a fascinating collection of artefacts retrieved during underwater excavations of Turkish shipwrecks. The surrounding gardens are bursting with indigenous flowers and fauna (spot the roaming peacocks!). A short walk away, you’ll find the scant remains of the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus - once one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
The look
Bodrum calls for clothes that can move from boat deck to beach club - a jewel-toned bikini, breezy dresses and flat sandals suitable for cobblestones as well as sand. Pack a lightweight kaftan or shirt dress for covering up on the gulet, gold hoops and a woven raffia tote for market mornings in the old town, and something slinkier for dinner at Mezra or on the Edition’s terrace. Finally, finish your look with some well-curated jewelry and add pair of oversized sunglasses, which are a non-negotiable this summer.
PUCCIPrinted silk kaftan
YSSOThread gold-plated earrings
LOEWE+ Paula's Ibiza Braid Basket small leather-trimmed raffia shoulder bag
GUCCI EYEWEARAviator-style acetate sunglasses
The interiors inspiration
Turkish towels, known regionally as peshtemals or hammam towels, are traditional flat-woven fabrics originating from the Ottoman Empire. They are gorgeous and exceptionally lightweight and usually simply striped in muted or pastel colors. You might be able to bring a few home with you, but if you’re feeling inspired to echo the aesthetic, Tekla has you covered with fine, striped linens for bedding and beyond. Brunello Cuccinelli’s embroidered cotton-terry beach towels are an elevated take on the look to consider too.
TEKLAStriped organic cotton-sateen double duvet cover
AUTUMN SONATAHelena striped organic cotton-terry beach towel
MISSONI HOMESet of five striped cotton-terry towels
BRUNELLO CUCINELLIEmbroidered striped cotton-terry beach towel
