The best restaurant in Kusadasi depends on what you want to eat. For fish with a sea view and the sunset, Şef Restaurant above Setur Marina and Mezgit opposite the marina stand out; for modern Aegean cuisine, Bottarga; for fish on the harbourfront, Kazım Usta and Kule Seafood; for Turkish home cooking, Avlu and Meraklı; for kebabs, 01 Adana Ocakbaşı; and for a beach day, Kiwi at Ladies Beach (Kadınlar Denizi).
How do you choose the best restaurant in Kusadasi?
There is no single answer to the question “What are the best restaurants in Kusadasi?”. Someone who wants fish by the sea and someone looking for home cooking over a lunch break will head to different places. That is why this guide explains what each place is good for; the order is not a ranking.
When choosing, look at four things: what you want to eat (fish, home cooking, kebabs), where you are (the marina, the town centre, the harbour or Ladies Beach), the time of day (lunch or sunset) and the view. Whether you are here for a week's holiday or for a single day off a cruise ship, these four questions will narrow the choice quickly. On summer evenings the tables facing the sea fill up early, so if you want a table with a view, book ahead.
Transparency note: This article was written by Şef Restaurant's editor, and our own restaurant is on the list. We chose the other places from well-known venues in Kusadasi that meet different needs and have no connection with us. Opening hours and menus can change, so we recommend contacting the venue before you go.
Best restaurants in Kusadasi: 9 places at a glance
The table below summarises the nine places described in detail further down, with their address, cuisine and what each one is good for.
| Restaurant | Address | Cuisine | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Şef Restaurant | Türkmen Mah., Atatürk Bulvarı No:186 (above Setur Marina) | Fish, meze, seafood | Fish with a sea view and the sunset |
| Mezgit Restaurant | Atatürk Bulvarı No:104 (opposite Setur Marina) | Fish, meze, grill | Fish and meze on the marina side |
| Bottarga Restaurant | Türkmen Mah., Atatürk Bulvarı (next to Şekerbank) | Modern Aegean cuisine, seafood | A special evening, creative meze |
| Kazım Usta Restaurant | Liman Caddesi No:4 | Fish, seafood | Fish on the harbourfront |
| Kule Seafood Restaurant | Hacıfeyzullah Mah., Güvercinada Yolu No:21/4 | Fish, meze, wine | Fish and wine on the road to Pigeon Island |
| Avlu Restaurant | Camikebir Mah., Cephane Sokak No:15 | Home cooking, kebabs | An affordable lunch in the town centre |
| Meraklı Ev Yemekleri | Camikebir Mah., Mithat Baysal Sokak No:4 | Home cooking, breakfast | Breakfast and daytime home cooking |
| 01 Adana Ocakbaşı | Türkmen Mah., 50. Yıl Caddesi No:39 | Kebabs, pide, open grill (ocakbaşı) | Kebabs and pide |
| Kiwi Restaurant | Kadınlar Denizi Caddesi No:73 | Turkish and international cuisine | A beach day at Ladies Beach |
Where can you eat fish with a sea view in Kusadasi?
Şef Restaurant: above Setur Marina, facing the sunset
Şef Restaurant is a fish and seafood restaurant that has been serving guests since 2004. Its high terrace overlooks Kusadasi Marina and the harbour; in the early evening the sun goes down over the harbour into the sea, and on clear days you can make out the silhouette of the island of Samos on the horizon. You choose your fish yourself from the counter, where it is laid out on ice, and it is then grilled, pan-fried or baked in salt. The meal starts with cold meze and continues with hot starters such as calamari, octopus and prawns. For anyone who does not eat fish, there are meat and chicken dishes too.
The owner and chef, Ahmet Öz, has been in the kitchen for more than 30 years. Şef Restaurant is about 250 metres from Setur Marina and about 5 minutes by taxi from the cruise port, and there is valet parking, wheelchair access, high chairs and Wi-Fi. Online bookings are confirmed instantly and no deposit is taken. For special occasions such as a birthday or a marriage proposal, a cake, candles, flowers and table decoration can be arranged. You can take a look at the menu and book your table here.
Who it suits: people who want to watch the sunset from their table, those who want a raki and fish meal, cruise passengers and anyone celebrating a special occasion.
Mezgit Restaurant: fish and meze opposite the marina
Mezgit, at Atatürk Bulvarı No:104 opposite Setur Marina, has fish, meze, meat and grilled dishes on its menu. It is one more option on the seafront road for anyone who wants to eat fish on the marina side.
Where can you eat modern Aegean food in Kusadasi?
Bottarga Restaurant: a table that changes with the day's produce
Bottarga, on Atatürk Boulevard (Atatürk Bulvarı) in the Türkmen neighbourhood, next to Şekerbank, is a seafood restaurant that interprets Aegean cuisine in a modern way. It has no printed menu; what comes to the table is discussed according to the produce that arrived that day. Also listed in the Gault&Millau Turkey guide, the restaurant appeals to those looking for a special night out, with its creative meze and dinners.
Which fish restaurants are near the harbour and Pigeon Island?
Kazım Usta Restaurant: fish on the harbourfront
Kazım Usta, at Liman Caddesi No:4, is a fish restaurant with a sea view right on the harbourfront. It is known for fish such as turbot, sea bream and mackerel. Being close to the port, it is a practical option for those who get off the ship and do not want to go far.
Kule Seafood Restaurant: fish and wine on the road to Pigeon Island
Kule Seafood, at Güvercinada Yolu No:21/4 in the Hacıfeyzullah neighbourhood, serves grilled octopus, prawns, calamari and the fish of the day with meze. Its menu brings the raki and fish tradition together with Turkish and imported wines, and also includes vegetarian options. It suits anyone who wants a table by the sea after a walk out to Pigeon Island (Güvercinada).
Where can you find Turkish home cooking and an affordable lunch in Kusadasi?
Avlu Restaurant: home cooking in the town centre
Avlu, at Cephane Sokak No:15 in the Camikebir neighbourhood, is a traditional Turkish restaurant (lokanta) known for its home-style dishes and kebabs. It is a good stop for anyone wandering around the town centre and looking for an affordable, filling lunch.
Meraklı Ev Yemekleri: breakfast and daytime dishes
Meraklı, at Mithat Baysal Sokak No:4 in the Camikebir neighbourhood, is a family-run home-cooking restaurant. It serves a traditional Turkish breakfast and home-cooked dishes of the day (tencere yemekleri) during the daytime; check which days it is open before you go.
Where can you eat kebabs in Kusadasi?
01 Adana Ocakbaşı: kebabs and pide
01 Adana Ocakbaşı, at 50. Yıl Caddesi No:39 in the Türkmen neighbourhood, appeals to those who want something other than fish, with kebabs cooked at the open grill (ocakbaşı) and a choice of pide. It suits a larger group that wants a meat-focused meal.
Where can you eat after a day on Ladies Beach?
Kiwi Restaurant: overlooking the beach, with a menu for everyone
Kiwi, at Kadınlar Denizi Caddesi No:73, is a restaurant overlooking Ladies Beach (Kadınlar Denizi). Alongside Turkish classics such as kebabs and seafood, its menu includes steak, pasta and vegetarian dishes, which makes it an easy choice for families and groups with different tastes. You can also reach Ladies Beach from the town centre by dolmuş (shared minibus).
Do you need to book a restaurant in Kusadasi?
In the summer months, at weekends and around sunset, the tables facing the sea fill up quickly; if you want a table with a view, booking is the safest option. On cruise ship days, restaurants close to the port and the marina can also get busy. On weekday lunchtimes it is usually easier to find a table without a booking.
At Şef Restaurant, online bookings are confirmed instantly, the confirmation email arrives straight away and no deposit is taken. If you are arriving by ship, write your all-aboard time in the “Special requests” field. You can find the booking form here, and for anything else you would like to know, see our frequently asked questions.
When is the best time to eat out in Kusadasi?
Kusadasi's harbour faces west, and in the early evening the sun goes down towards the sea. At the end of June the sun sets just after 8:30 pm, and in December at around 6 pm. If you want to watch the sunset from your table, be seated half an hour before it goes down: the colours are often at their most vivid in that half hour.
For sunset spots and times through the seasons, take a look at our sunset guide, and for places to eat area by area, see our article Where to eat in Kusadasi.
