What to Eat in Marmaris? A Guide from Breakfast to Fish

Marmaris is where Aegean and Mediterranean cuisine meet, standing out for its fresh seafood and rich breakfast culture. Even on a short holiday there's plenty to discover; here's a roadmap.

Start the day with a Turkish spread breakfast

The Turkish breakfast — a generous spread known as serpme kahvaltı — is a regional must. Breakfast spots offering tables laden with local cheeses, olives, homemade jams, honey with clotted cream and hot gözleme are ideal to start the day. The small cafes around the castle and along the seafront are pleasant stops for a morning coffee too.

Fresh fish and seafood

Marmaris is famous for its seafood. Depending on the season you can try fresh fish such as sea bass, sea bream, red mullet and whiting, especially at the sea-view restaurants around the marina. A dinner that starts with mezes and continues with grilled fish is a Marmaris classic.

Flavours of the old town and bazaar

In the stone streets of the old town and the covered bazaar you'll come across cafes and small eateries from world cuisines. Cooling off with an ice cream or a freshly squeezed juice while you wander is one of the area's pleasures.

Local tastes to take home

Marmaris and its surroundings are known for products such as olive oil, pine honey, almonds and Muğla tarhana. For those with a sweet tooth, Marmaris cookies and local desserts make lovely gifts. Buying honey and spices from the herbalists in the bazaar is the nicest way to carry a little flavour of your holiday home.

Small tips

• Ask which fish is in season; the freshest is the fish of that period.
• Time your dinner around sunset; the marina view becomes something else.
• If you buy local products packaged and labelled, you'll avoid trouble on the flight home.

Staying inside the castle, you can walk to all these cafes and restaurants. Explore the houses →