A seaside haven that offers great food and a true Mediterranean vibe
The Bodrum Edition Bodrum, Turkey The welcome
After missing my connecting flight at Istanbul’s Sabiha Gokcen airport and subsequently arriving at the hotel four hours after initially planned, I’m pleased to finally pull into the driveway where I’m greeted by a series of mic’d up door staff. Beaming faces welcome me as I make my way into the glass-boxed lobby, and after a refreshment and a cool towel, I’m on my way to my room, the bags to shortly follow.
The neighbourhood
The 102-room resort is a 45-minute drive from Bodrum airport and only three kilometres from the Yalikavak Marina on the western point of the peninsula. Set on a hillside overlooking a mainly residential bay and offering views of the Aegean Sea, the boutique property – which steps down the hill in layers – has a beach club, infinity pool and a handful of diverse dining options. The spa has a salt room, sauna, plunge pool, steam room and hammam.
The room
My deluxe king room – there are five categories to choose from, starting with deluxe – is in the top cluster of rooms on the 72,000 square-foot property. Its location makes for easy access to the reception area, but means that the beach, spa and restaurant areas are a steep hillside walk or buggy ride away. There’s a king bed and day lounger, decent sized bathroom with tub, and I have my own terrace – with partial sea views. The decor is understated, with extensive use of whites and creams giving the space a fresh coastal feel. Each room offers sea or garden views, and the villas boast their own infinity pool, dining area, hammam, gourmet kitchen and butler’s room. The “sleep” / “wake up” tea in the minibar is a nice touch.
The service
Friendly and attentive, although there are times when there seem to be quite a lot of staff just milling around. I’m most impressed by the beach club staff who go out of their way to assist me with my dietary needs, but disappointed that after 45 minutes spent trying to reach guest services on the phone, I am forced to hoof it down in person to book a spa appointment. All in all, staff are well-versed on the hotel’s offerings, and the sitewide buggy service is seamless.
The scene
You’ll find some of the most beautiful people here – make no mistake, they are here to see and be seen – and there are plenty of places for that, including lounge areas, hammocks and the beach bar. There’s even an exclusive jetty kitted out with private cabanas that’s the ideal spot for the highfliers to entertain. Being just a few month’s old, it’s not uncommon for the Turkish locals to join in-house guests in the evenings. Discetto, the night spot, attracts the fun and fashionable late into the evening and has a mirror ball and a DJ spinning the decks until the wee hours.
The food
The Bodrum Edition’s two signature restaurants are the work of pioneering Peruvian chef Diego Munoz, who has interests in several top-notch restaurants and was named by the New York Times as one of the “Four nomadic chefs to watch” in 2016. Brava, the cosmopolitan lunch and dinner establishment, is perched above the beach club. It offers diners terraced sea views along with flavours of Turkey and the Mediterranean Coast. All ingredients are locally sourced and I can highly recommend the fish, prawn and avocado creamy ceviche (107 Turkish lira; Dh60) and the octopus with parsley pepper chimmichurri (231 lira; Dh130). Snack items here start from 73 lira (Dh41). Breakfast is served in the Kitchen, one of Munoz’s other establishments. It is a sophisticated affair with a traditional Turkish breakfast experience served to your table. The full spread includes a bread basket, olives, cucumbers, tomatoes, cheeses, fried sucuk and menemen, along with a choice of main. I go for the eggs benedict with avocado, which is divine. Aside from these two options, the beach bar offers a selection of salads and pool snacks all day.
Loved
The incredibly soft bath towels, the outdoor bocce strip and the infinity pool I had all to myself in the mornings.
Hated
That persistent attempts to reach guest services were unsuccessful and the lack of signage to various spots of interest within the resort.
The verdict
Great if the Turkish Riviera is in your sights this summer and the drop in the value of the lira appeals to you.
The bottom line
Rooms at The Bodrum Edition (www.editionhotels.com/ bodrum) start from 2,720 lira (Dh1,466) a night, including breakfast, taxes and Wi-Fi. The hotel is only open from April to October.