Read more An insider's guide to the “Bodrum Boom” – the Turkish hotspot rivalling Ibiza right now

BY JESSICA BURRELL

18 June 2024

It’s nearing midnight at The Maine Ibiza, an upscale Mediterranean restaurant hidden among the atmospheric salt pans of Salinas, but the tables of quietly glamorous guests are only just getting started. In many ways, this moment encapsulates Ibiza’s long-held place in the international travel scene: the crowd is a stone’s throw from super club DC10, yet the vibe is chilled; the menu features bougie hallmarks like red prawn carpaccio, but it's freshly caught off neighbouring island Formentera and served simply with a sprinkling of the salt from this UNESCO world heritage wetland. This is authentic, low-key luxury at its finest, with more Celine sunglasses and a sip of Hierbas Ibicencas than rave goggles and tequila shots.

 

But the most interesting observation of all comes from one of the charming waiters at this White Isle hotspot: The Maine’s next opening (following Dubai, London and, last year, Ibiza) will be in Turkey. To be precise, it will be in Bodrum, within the newest outpost of Maxx Royal Bodrum, the sleek, sprawling hotel that has just opened on the north coast of the Bodrum Peninsula. “We have live music in Ibiza twice a week, but as we’re in a natural reserve, we have to be respectful,” says Joey Ghazal, founder of The Maine. “But in Bodrum, we can dial it up as much as we want, putting live music and entertainment at the centre of the concept. To be honest I jumped at the chance to open here because our clients very much move between these four destinations – London, Ibiza, Dubai, Bodrum – so it makes sense for us.”

A scenic cove away from Maxx Royal is another of Bodrum’s buzziest new arrivals: Scorpios, the Soho House-owned, Mykonos-born beach club that has crossed the Aegean to set up very chic shop on the Turkish Riviera. This brings sunset DJ sets, Eastern Mediterranean dishes and a contemporary temple known as ‘The Ritual Space’ to Bodrum. It also marks the brand’s first foray into overnight accommodation, courtesy of 12 bungalows with private pools and impeccable vibes. “I’ve been going to Scorpios in Mykonos for years,” says Ghazal of The Maine’s neighbour. “For them to choose Bodrum as their second international destination says a lot about what’s going on over here.”

Witness the most recent signs of the ‘Bodrum boom’, a jet-set renaissance that’s filling social media feeds (with more than 26M posts on TikTok), as well as flights from London (British Airways now flies Heathrow to Bodrum directly three times a week). Of course, this vibrant destination on the Turquoise Coast, where the Aegean meets the Mediterranean at the end of sweeping evergreen peninsulas, has drawn travellers since antiquity. Legend has it that Antony built an island off the coast here as a gift for Cleopatra. Since then, rockstars and royalty have continued to drop in, from Mick Jagger and Princess Margaret partying at the infamous Halikarnas Discotheque nightclub in the 1970s to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle taking a trip to Bodrum before their wedding in 2017. That was the year the glamorous Yalikavak Marina reopened, a magnet for the great and the good of Turkish society, who have long decamped to this ‘Istanbul-on-sea’ when schools close to spend summers in glossy villas dotted along the coast.

Macakizi

But this year, a new crowd of party people are on their way to Bodrum too. In May, Kate Moss graced its shores for the inaugural Med Bodrum Festival, where she was papped with Skip Marley (grandson of Bob). Meanwhile, George Clooney, Naomi Campbell, Roman Abramovich and plenty of other billionaires have also been spotted along the scenic coast. It’s certainly got A-List appeal – just look at the cluster of Mayfair favourite restaurants around Yalikavak, from Zuma to Novikov, and the rightfully hyped openings driven by an influx of new investment. As well as Maxx Royal and Scorpios, there’s Bobo (a shortening of Bourgeois Bohemian) by The Stay, the hotel group behind the Bebek Hotel in Istanbul. According to owner Muzaffer Yildirim, Bobo will have an ‘exclusive guest list atmosphere’ – think member’s club minus the membership.

Aerial view of Bodrum TurgutreisGetty Images

And it doesn’t end there. OKU Bodrum, a sister to the group’s Ibiza and Kos properties, will be opening next spring (details are still sparse). Then there are the rumours of a Bulgari outpost coming in 2026, plus local gossip predicting a St Regis arrival nearby. All these will join the impressive roster of international brands that have backed Bodrum for years, from Amanruya in 2011 to Mandarin Oriental in 2014, followed by Six Senses Kaplankaya and The Bodrum EDITION in 2018. But the undisputed original is Maçakizi, the now-legendary hotel that started life as a bohemian B&B in 1977 and helped to put Bodrum on the party map. Maçakizi’s ebullient owner Sahir Erozan, who established the hotel in its present form in 2000, tells me that “summer is just getting started” in Bodrum, where it’s already 38 degrees, and they’re set to welcome 75 per cent international guests – chiefly from the US and UK.

“I can’t tell you any stories from the season because they haven’t happened yet,” he says tantalisingly. “But I would say that this place, which has always been a haven for boats and yachting, is also becoming a major hotel scene. It’s very unusual if you think about it – I don’t think there are this many fancy hotels in one line anywhere in the Mediterranean. It’s very different and very luxurious, and we have the space, too – it’s not like Mykonos or Ibiza on a small island; it’s more like LA. It takes an hour and 20 minutes to get from one side to the other, and there’s a very long coastline. And we have the infrastructure.”

Narrow street in BodrumGetty Images

It’s all geared up to welcome the jet set, although Erozan says he’s turning down the music slightly this season. “We’ve stepped away from the party scene a little because the volume of people is so much bigger. Scorpios is going to bring a few thousand people a day to the area, and if we got a few hundred more, we’d fall into the sea,” he says. “We still have really great bars, but instead of loud music, we have a very chilled, casual, laid-back vibe. And we’ve leaned into the food scene: think of it as a foodie place with a great bar.”

 

With a summer of fine dining, elevated clubbing and fresh accommodation on the sunset-streaked horizon, Bodrum does indeed look set to steal Ibiza’s low-key luxe crown. That said, there’s no reason these two party capitals can’t peacefully co-exist. According to Erozan, Bodrum might simply be another spot on the glamorous holiday tour. “If you wanted to come here from Ibiza there’s no direct flight,” he says. “But within the next year or so, we’ll have that sorted out, I’m sure.” It looks like the summer holiday wishlist just got a little longer.

Where to stay

Scorpios Bodrum

Scorpios Bodrum

Mykonos favourite Scorpios has crossed the Aegean and landed in Turkey in characteristically chic style. Thousands will come for DJ sets and delicious Eastern Mediterranean-meets-Mexican dishes, but only a select few will nab a stay in one of the new opening’s 12 bungalows. These spacious pads are a masterclass in earthy, beachside minimalism, each with a private pool – and infinite bragging rights.

BOOK YOUR STAY: BOOKING.COM

Bobo by The Stay

A just-opened gem from the group behind the popular Bebek Hotel in Istanbul, Bobo is formed of 24 strikingly cylindrical rooms and suites, which look out towards olive groves and the scenic seclusion of Cennet Bay beyond. Expect long, languid evenings of Greek-inspired seafood dishes served with the soundtrack of a vibrant programme of live music.

BOOK YOUR STAY: THE STAY

AmanruyaAman resorts

Amanruya

If you’re seeking assured luxury over the area’s bright young arrivals, it has to be Amanruya, which has reigned from the serene north coast of Bodrum since 2011. Standalone guest pavilions stand within shady gardens with private pools, while traditional Turkish cooking classes and sunrise yoga on the jetty of the private beach add cultural intrigue to all the elegance.

BOOK YOUR STAY: AMAN

Where to eat and drink

The Maine BodrumLuana Failla

The Maine at Maxx Royal

“People who want to have a good night out go to The Maine” says its founder, Joey Ghazal. We’d wager that the food is just as good as the atmosphere; Ghazal is obsessed with provenance, and it shows in painstakingly sourced fresh seafood (raw dishes are a speciality here), as well as glitzy party classics like lobster tagliolini and succulent steaks.

Address: Maxx Royal Bodrum Resort, Gölköy Mah. 312 Sk. No:3 48400 Bodrum Muğla
Website: themainebodrum.com

Macakizi HotelChristopher Kennedy

Ayla at Maçakizi

In 2023, Maçakizi Hotel restaurant received a Michelin star – one of the first in Turkey to attract the accolade. This year, all eyes will be on Ayla, the hotel’s newly launched fine dining spot that has just 30 covers for a decidedly exclusive atmosphere. The seasonal menu will feature organic produce grown especially for Ayla on local farms.

Address: Maçakizi, Göltürkbükü, Narçiçeği Sokak, 48400 Göltürkbükü Bodrum/Bodrum/Muğla
Website: macakizi.com

Ayana Mes

For an authentic taste of Bodrum, head to beachside Ayana Mes, an insider’s favourite in Ortakent, one of the oldest continuously settled spots on the Peninsula. The tables are placed romantically on the sand and taken up almost entirely by locals, who come here for meze, grilled octopus and other classics.

Address: Ayana, Ortakent, Müskebi Cd. No:191, 48001 Bodrum/Muğla
Website: ayanabodrum.com

Things to do

Isla OrakGetty Images

 

Orak Island

Hop on a gulet (or your suave hotel tender) to Orak Island, which is a magnet for snorkellers and divers thanks to near-transparent cerulean waters and reef that descends nearly 80 metres. It can get busy here at peak times, but there are other nearby bays to explore in case of overcrowding.

The Spa at Six Senses Kaplankaya

The Spa at Six Senses Kaplankaya

Six Senses Kaplankaya is another highlight of Bodrum’s established hotel scene, but it’s worth a visit even if you’re not staying because it’s home to the group’s flagship spa. A programme of visiting practitioners, from sound healers to yoga masters, make this a must-visit for anyone on the hunt for a wellness boost after a little too much partying.

Bodrum BazaarGetty Images

Bodrum Bazaar

What’s a holiday without a little shopping? Bodrum’s famously buzzy Bazaar is full of handcrafted Turkish souvenirs and the promising glint of gold. The food stalls are also worth exploring, as are the mosaics and white houses of Bodrum Old Town.