Food And Drink in Side

Food programmes in Side are built around a shared table rather than tastings. The main format is the Turkish Night: an open buffet of meze, hot dishes and desserts, live music and folk dancing from several regions of the country, from the Black Sea horon to the Caucasian styles. It is sold all-inclusive with hotel transfer, runs about four hours and finishes late. Tables are usually shared, so the evening turns out loud.

The second way to eat in Side is on the water. Green Canyon cruises and sea trips nearly always include lunch cooked on board: most often grilled chicken or fish, rice, salad and seasonal fruit. The pirate ship feeds you the same way, with games and swimming between courses. This is not restaurant food, but it comes without transfers or queues and is covered by the price of the programme.

What to look for in the town itself. Fish restaurants stand by the old harbour, where you pick the catch from the display and pay by weight; deeper into the ancient quarter you find places serving pide and kebab, and at the Manavgat market half an hour away people buy cheese, olives, pomegranates and dried herbs. If you go to the market with an excursion, the time allowed runs an hour to an hour and a half. Cash in lira works better at a stall than a card.