Side Dining
Quite simply because it is in Turkey, the food you can find in Side is almost the same to the cuisines you will come across anywhere across Turkey be it Istanbul or Ankara. It is the usual fare of kebabs and grilled meats and fish but what the rest of Turkey does not have that Side has in abundance is its natural coastal beauty and although that is not edible, it certainly makes a whole lot of difference when it comes to a proper dining experience.
The best place to dine in Side is undoubtedly in the harbor of the old town of Side simply because that is just the place to be no matter when or why. Side's harbor restaurants provide you the most glorious al fresco dining experience as you can eat with the sight of the seawater gushing into the sand as well as the Mediterranean sun looming over the horizon right in front of you. It is truly an experience for all senses. An interesting restaurant which may not be the typical harbor eatery despite being situated in Side's old town beach front is Soundwaves. On the outside, it looks exactly like a huge ship but that is just a structure which holds a really great place to wine and dine within it.
Actually, most of the good food can be found in any of the hotels you stay in and many have wide varieties of food from all over the globe to choose from as they bid to please all sorts of taste buds that come visiting their premises. A good example would be the Papillon Muna Hotel located in Manavgat. Apart from having the usual wide spread of local fare, it also has an Italian ala carte restaurant as well as a Chinese one (Chinese restaurants are interestingly popular in these parts of the world). Also, drinks especially alcohol beverages are imported from all over the world to provide the best for their occupants.
However, a number of people might not find this sort of dining appealing as they want to get a feel of traditional food served in the most authentic way possible and not in posh establishments. In Side, just like anywhere else in Turkey, all you have to do should you seek the real deal of Turkish food is some sort of a workman's cafe called lokantas by the locals. It whips up the most basic but good original Turkish home cooked food and meals at these kinds of establishments are really cheap. You can fill a happy stomach with a mere 3 to 4 euros with rice, salads and stews as you take in what life in Turkey and its food is all about. The USA has hot dog stands, the oriental countries have roadside stalls and as for Turkey, lakontas are the face of the real Turkish eating experience which you should try and appreciate apart from indulging yourself in the great food the rest of Side has to offer.
Side Hotels
 | Canseven Hotel | |
 | Sun City Apartments Hotel | |
 | Golden Coast Hotel | |
 | Club Pacific Hotel |
