Bodrum's cuisine is one of the highlights of visiting the Turkish Aegean coast. It focuses on fresh seafood, olive oil, herbs, and seasonal vegetables.
FOOD
Çökertme Kebabı – Bodrum's signature dish. Thin slices of beef served over crispy shoestring potatoes, topped with garlic yogurt and tomato sauce. It's the region's most famous specialty.
Kabak Çiçeği Dolması (Stuffed Zucchini Flowers) – Delicate zucchini blossoms stuffed with herbed rice and cooked in olive oil. A classic Aegean summer dish.
Fresh Seafood – Grilled sea bass, sea bream, octopus, calamari, prawns, and red mullet are daily favorites. Many restaurants display the fresh catch for you to choose.
Wild Aegean Greens – Chicory, purslane, radish leaves, and other local herbs dressed simply with olive oil and lemon.
WINE AND DRINKS
Try wines made from indigenous Turkish grapes:
Whites
Narince – Floral, citrus, and mineral; excellent with seafood.
Emir – Crisp, fresh, and refreshing.
Sultaniye – Light and fruity.
Reds
Öküzgözü – Bright red fruit with soft tannins.
Boğazkere – Full-bodied, spicy, and structured.
Kalecik Karası – Elegant, fruity, and easy to drink.
Raki: The classic Turkish spirit is rakı, an anise-flavored drink that's diluted with cold water, turning it milky white ("lion's milk"). It's traditionally sipped slowly alongside meze and seafood rather than consumed as a quick shot.