I published this post three years ago when I went to Alacati. This summer and spent 8 days at the beautiful again town. I have a lot to share so I wanted to give this posting an update. Let’s start with my Alacati Travel Diary.

 

Alacati Travel Diary

You read and see a lot about Istanbul, Antalya, and Cappadocia but the Agaen Region is a bit more hidden, especially for foreign tourists. The beautiful places around the agean coasts are very unknown. For me the most special thing about those places is the crystal-clear water, the white beaches, the cozy flair and of course the delicious food.

Alacati is a little peninsula in Izmir, Cesme which is by the Agaen Sea. Stone Houses with beautiful flowers, shabby chic cafes and cute small restaurant make the old town special. The old stone houses which were built in the 19^th century are under monument protection. Back then mostly Greek people were living there which you can still see and feel.

 

How to get to Alacati

If you want to travel to Alacati you’ve to take the airplane to Izmir. From Izmir to Alacati it’s a one-hour drive with the car. We booked a transfer from the airport to our hotel before the holiday. The price for a transfer starts at 50,00 Euro and changes depending on the passengers and class of the vehicle.

Where to Stay

Villa Fora

In Alacati most hotels are cute little boutique hotels which is perfectly representing the small town. There are many beautiful hotels, but I’ll share two of them in which we already stayed. The last time we stayed at Villa Fora. The hotel was pretty, especially the garden and pool area. The rooms were pretty small, and we had a room with three beds in it. The stuff and service were amazing as well.

My Highlight was definitely the traditional “Serpme” breakfast which means you get little plates of different food like tomatoes, cheese, jams, olives, eggs, pastry and more. The location was perfect because it’s only 5 minutes away from the town center.

Casa Luna

This year we stayed at Casa Luna Hotel. The Location of the hotel is perfect because it’s only a 5-minute walk to the town center. The hotel was very pretty and clean. The stuff was super friendly and helpful. I loved the garden and pool area. The best thing was the room. It was very spacious and cozy.

Breakfast was included in the price, and it was the traditional “Serpme” breakfast. To be honest the breakfast was a bit boring because it was the same every single day and after 8 days it was a bit much. You can also have lunch and dinner at the hotel which we did on one day. I would suggest you eat outside the hotel because the Restaurants in Alacati are amazing. The food in the hotel was not my favorite but other than that the hotel was great. Next time we will definitely stay here again.

Beach Clubs

 

There are a lot of beach clubs in Alacati and a few public beaches. We prefer the beach clubs because most of the time they are more convenient and comfortable. First of all, I want to give you some general information about the beach clubs.

You always need to make a reservation (mostly via Instagram DM) for the beach clubs otherwise it’s almost impossible to get a place. All reservations will be cancelled after 12 pm so be there before 12 pm. Although you have a reservation, sometimes they don’t let you in. This is very common, but we never had that issue. I made a reservation for all the beach clubs we went to, and we were at the beach clubs around 10:30 so it was never a problem. Just make a reservation and be there before 12 pm.

*last Update August 2021. Prices and Information can change.

Before Sunset Beach

Entry

• 200 TL (about 20€) + 300 TL (about 30 €) minimum consumption pp (on weekends the minimum consumption is 500 TL = about 50€)
• Sunbeds and towels are included

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PROS

• Interior: Every corner was so pretty and well thought.
• Stuff: The stuff was very friendly and helpful.
• Audience: The audience was pretty chill and calm. I think what makes a place perfect is the audience.
• Very Clean: The whole space was very clean which is very important if you ask me especially during this time.
• Food: Because of the minimum consumption we decided to have our dinner at the beach club which was a great idea. We had the cheeseburger with fries, and it was delicious. The selection was great.
• Vibe: Most beach clubs are very loud and really like a “club”. I prefer more calm and chill beach clubs. Before Sunset was very chill. They do have happy hours at the weekend but I can’t say much about that because we went there during the week.
• Child and animal friendly: You’re allowed to bring your child and animal with you. On that day there were a few smaller dogs, and it was just too cute seeing them swim and have fun at the beach.
• Concept Stores: At the beach club you can find about four concept stores with Turkish brands and handmade products.
• App: My favorite part of this beach club was their App. I would suggest you download it before you go there because you have to check-in via App after arrival. Once you’ve checked-in you can do everything via App. Ordering food, checking the menu, checking if the restaurant and WC is available, ordering the bill and so on. It was truly amazing. This App should be an inspiration for all other beach clubs.

CONS

• Location: Not really a con for me but it’s a 20-minute drive from the town center to the beach club. The only problem is that it’s very difficult to find a taxi in Alacati so be sure to book one beforehand.
• Minimum Consumption: This Beach Club was the priciest under all the beach clubs we went to. But I think that it was worth it because we had the best day there and everything was amazing.

Yuzu Beach

Entry

• 200 TL (about 20€) pp
• Adults only +21 (I think it was even +25 this summer)
• Sunbeds and towels are included

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PROS

• Interior: Here we loved the interior as well. They styled the space with Buddhas in different sizes which was really cute.
• Stuff: The stuff was very friendly and nice.
• Audience: Because this beach club is adults only it was very much relaxed and chill. Sometimes some beach clubs can be a bit too loud but this one was very calm.
• The sea: In Alacati the beach clubs are on different bays. Some of them have a sandy beach and the sea is mostly very shallow. But here the sea got very deep right away, and it was perfect for swimming. The water was again crystal clear and just perfect.
• Food: The food was great too. We had two different salads. Both of them were quite delicious. My favorite thing was the Watermelon Frozen though.
• Clean: This space was very clean in general.

CONS

• Location: To this beach club it’s a 20-minute drive from the town center.

Besides Before Sunset, Yuzu Beach was our second favorite. Both are very calm, chill and beautiful beach clubs which we will for sure visit again.

Elias Beach

entry

• 200 TL (about 20€) pp
• Sunbeds and towels are included

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PROS

• Crystal Clear Water: On the drive to this beach club there’s a breathtaking view of the beach and the sea looks amazing. Here the sea was very shallow as well and the water was very cold, but the color was just amazing. They put benches in the sea where you can sit and enjoy the water which we did. That was pretty cool.
• Starbucks: Important Fact for all Starbucks lovers. They have a Starbucks which all your favs at the beach.
• Stuff: The stuff was very kind and friendly.
• Location: This beach club is only a 5-minute drive away from the town center

CONS

• Interior: Although it’s a very new beach club the interior was a bit boring especially in comparison to the other ones.
• Vibe: There was nothing really bad about the vibe, but it just wasn’t the right place for us. We got very bored and couldn’t fully enjoy our time there.

Boheme Beach

entry

• • 200 TL (about 20€) pp
  • Adults only +16
  • Sunbeds and towels are included

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PROS

• Decoration: The decoration was very bohemian and beautiful. The Beach Club is very big and there are different areas with different decoration.
• Food: The Food was great! We had a Pizza and homemade fries to share and both tasted amazing.
• Stuff: The stuff was very kind.

CONS

• Size: This beach club was very big and therefore it was a bit crowded.
• Audience: The audience at Boheme Beach was very young, mostly teenagers. It was very loud, and it just felt like we were in a club. A lot of people love this kind of beach clubs, but it is just not my cup of tea. I much prefer a calm and relaxed vibe where I can lie in my sunbed, enjoy the sea and the sun, and just relax. This one was more for having fun and partying at the beach. So, if you like that, this one is the right one for you.
• Location of the sunbeds: The area was so big that there were different places with different sunbeds. The space directly at the beach was a bit better but, on that day, we went to the beach club pretty late and therefore we didn’t get a place by the beach. Our sunbeds were at the back of the club, and you could hardly see the sea which was very annoying.

Boheme Beach and Before Sunset are on the same Beach but both are so different. If you’re young or just want to have fun and party at the beach, then go for Boheme Beach. But if you prefer beach clubs with more adults and where you can chill and relax go for Before Sunset.

 

My Favorites are Before Sunset and Yuzu Beach and I can’t wait to go there again and enjoy the sun and sea and just have a good time at the beach.

Food & Drinks

Alacati is known for their healthy dishes which mostly include lots of olive oil and veggies and of course the Mezze. Most of them are vegetarian as well. Filled zucchini flowers, saksuka, baba ganoush, hummus, …

Meze is a selection of small dishes served as appetizers and in Turkey most people drink Raki (Turkish national drink) with it. There’s a very wide Meze selection in most restaurants so you don’t really need a main course. It’s all about the Mezze in Alacati.

In the old town you can find lots of small and cozy restaurants. Some of them are really known and some not so much. Today I’m going to share the ones I went to, and I loved.

Eflatun

Since 2013 the two women founders of Eflatun prepare delicious food with regional authentic products. The restaurant is very rustic which describes Alacati very well. We had different Meze variations and grilled prawns. Hummus with caramelized onions, baby spinach with apples and an amazing dressing, Köpoglu (yogurt with grilled eggplant, green pepper and tomatoes), zucchini fritter, Fellah Köftesi (Bulgur meat balls, without the meat) with yogurt. The Food was so amazing. We also loved the vibe and the service. Everything was amazing and I can 100% recommend this place.

Fava

Fava is also one of the more known restaurants. It has a wide selection of Meze and other great dishes. The location is a dream. Most restaurants in Alacati are directly on the main alleys but this one has a courtyard. This makes the place very chill and cozy. We loved the vibe. Obviously, we chose different Meze. Here we had filled zucchini flowers, seabass with a custard sauce which is served cold, Girit Kavurma (yogurt with grated zucchini, carrots, and walnuts), baked goat cheese with spices, Köpoglu (yogurt with baked eggplant, green pepper and tomatoes sauce) and octopus tandoori. YUM!

Da Roberto

Pizza and Alacati are not something you think of in the first place. When we heard about Da Roberto, we had to give it a try because the owner and the chef is Italian. And you all know how much I love Italy in general. If you can’t find Roberto at the pizza oven he’s probably talking to his guests. If you want real Italian food and vibe that’s definitely the right place. The Pizza was so delicious. Don’t forget to order their signature cocktails.

Da Franco Gelato

Right in front of Da Roberto you will find Da Franco Gelato. And guess what, Roberto and Franco are two brothers. One is responsible for Pizza and Pasta and the other one for Gelato. When I saw them, I just had one thing in my mind: Little Italy in the middle of Alacati!

At Da Franco you’ll get a very big selection of ice cream every day. This was reason enough for us to go there every evening and try different flavors. My favorites were Nutella, Pistachio, and dark chocolate with orange. Definitely the best gelato in Alacati!

Eggs and Bakes

Turkish Breakfast but make it modern – that’s how I’d describe Eggs and Bakes. You’ll get traditional Turkish breakfast but with a modern touch like Menemen (eggs with tomatoes) with Burrata, or Pisi (deep-fried dough) with Nutella filling. We loved this place!

Bom Dia 

If you’re bored of the traditional Turkish breakfast at Bom Dia you’ll find perfect alternatives to that. Here you can get smoothies, different bowls, pancakes, avocado toasts and more. My favorite were the pancakes with Nutella.

Kult

Want to have some cocktails after dinner? Kult is the best place to go. The cocktails are amazing. My favorite was C3 with strawberries, satsuma, citrus blend and gin. Tip: Order yourself the Nachos with cheese and guacamole and thank me later!

Imren

If you’re still able to have a dessert after all the Meze you can go to Imren. They’ll serve you the best traditional desserts. My favorite Turkish dessert is Kazandibi (milk pudding). Enjoy it with Turkish Coffee.

Alaköy

Another favorite dessert spot of mine is Alaköy. Here you can get the best Turkish cookies but not only that. If you’re still missing some souvenirs, you can get some amazing jams here. They have the biggest selection of jams and the most special flavors ever. Eggplant, watermelon, tomato, tangerine, quince and some classics like strawberry, raspberry, and more. My favorites are eggplant and quince.

Köse Kahve

Köse Kahve is one of the characteristic places in Alacati. It’s a very cute café where you can have a break from shopping or if you need a cold drink during the day.

 

Where to shop?

Since my last visit to Alacati they opened lots of new amazing concept stores where you can find turkish brands and handmade unique pieces. I wish I had more room in my luggage, but I still got some very beautiful pieces. Most of the stores are in Hacimemis which is my favorite area anyway. Here are my favorite stores:

• Yuzu Concept Store
• Now or Never
• Bashaques
• Yasemin Karagülle
• Alacha
• Designers of OZ
• hi Store
• GU Designer Store
• Sign
• designmarkett
• Zeynep Mayruk
• Eclectic Concept Store

Some thoughts about Alacati:

I’d say four days are totally enough for Alacati because it’s a very small town but of course you can spend more time there if you wish to. This summer we spend eight days in Alacati and it was perfect. We really needed to charge our batteries after an exhausting year. The downside of Alacati is that it’s very crowded during the summer months especially at the weekends. So I’d suggest you to book your holiday for during the week.

The prices are quite high for Turkey standards, but I’d say Alacati is like most of the European cities – the quality and the standards. For me it was not a surprise that the prices are so high. The price-performance-ratio was fine for me.

Highlights

The sea, the vibe especially in Hacimemis, the food and the people are my highlight. But this summer the day we spend at Before Sunset was my personal highlight. I felt so relaxed, calm and happy that day. But also Yuzu Beach, the Concept Stores, the Food,…everything was just so special. I can’t wait for the next time.

I hope this Travel Guide was helpful. Please let me know, if you try one of the recommended places.