DRIVING INFORMATION
Alaçatı – Ilıca: 4.5 kilometers
ILICA
Ilıca Beach is a classic that goes way back to our childhood. Anyone who has come to visit Çeşme will absolutely admire the single-floor Şantiye and Yıldız Burnu houses that are standing side by side in idyllic gardens surrounded with magnificent palms, pines, begonvilles, geraniums and jasmines.
Turkey’s oldest and most urban summer attraction, Ilıca is still a classic with its restaurants, cafes, patisseries and ice cream shops that have stayed true to their history. Dost Pide‘s pide (a dough based Turkish specialty, pita) with meat, melted cheese and tahini, Altınkapı’s döner and meat specialties, Kumrucu Şevki’s kumru (a special type of sandwich that is associated with Çeşme), Veysi’s bistro specialties, Biz Bize’s olive oil based foods and çöp şiş (a type of meat grilled and served with thin skewers), Veli Usta’s ice cream, Reyhan and Jocelyn’s cakes and Rumeli Pastanesi‘s ice-cream with tahini are among the must-haves of Ilıca.
On a full-moon night, it is a great pleasure to have an aperitif at No:15 Cafe on Yıldız Cape and watch the bright yellow moon rising against at Mezzaluna.
For accommodation, our favorite is Nars Ilıca, a beautiful hotel in a carefully renovated old building by Hakan Ezel. Newly opened in a lovely region between Ilıca and Alaçatı, Bloom Otel is a peaceful and pleasant alternative.
DRIVING INFORMATION
Alaçatı – Çeşme Marina & Town : 15 kilometers
ÇEŞME MARINA & TOWN
Horasan, in Çeşme Town, is one of our favourite ‘seafood’ places, and considered to be a classic now. The ‘masters of fish grilling’ Ahmet and Kezban Horasan couple, serve creative and delicious recipes in their garden under the lemon and bergamot trees in Çeşme.
Our favorites in their ever-growing menu are Girit tapas with zucchini and walnut, grilled ‘sepet’ cheese (a type of cheese made from the mixture of goat, cow and sheep milk) shrimp tartar blended with avocado, strawberry and hot red pepper, bonito sashimi, shrimp carpaccio, salmon pastrami, grilled sardine, crispy shrimps, seafood tagliatelle and San Sebastian style cheesecake. (Reservation is necessary – 0 232 712 74 69, credit cards are not accepted)
Completed 3 years ago, Çeşme Marina is home to lovely places. In the evenings you can listen to Jazz singers and orchestras at 15 Eylül, Rock bands at Hayal Kahvesi, buy soaps, olive oil or sarongs from Zeytin vs, have sea food at Ferdi Baba and sweeten your mouth at Bonjour.
(You need a car to visit, or you can take the cab or the minibuses from Alacati Belediye to Çeşme & Ilıca. Ilıca is is 3 kms from Alaçatı village)