The last days of summer have arrived in Turkey. With the start of the school year, most families that spend the summer in holiday resorts have returned to the cities, leaving beautiful holiday destinations quiet, peaceful and pleasant with beaches, streets, restaurants and cafes left to those who want to enjoy tranquility. Silence and peace almost always accompany the last hot days of summer in resort towns. One of these destinations is the beautiful town of Alaçatı. With its cobblestone streets, old stone houses and windmills, Alaçatı offers visitors peaceful beauty for the last days of summer.

The best hotel in Alaçatı is undoubtedly Alavya. Founded by Rana and Erol Tabanca, Alavya Boutique Hotel is the first address in the minds of experienced, wealthy tourists visiting the region. Located in old town of Alaçatı, the hotel opens the door to a completely different world. The walnut tables in the shade of the olive trees, the magnificently designed pool and 25 extraordinary rooms have a French Riviera air and are simply breathtaking. Hakan Sezer's architectural genius, combined with the refined tastes of Rana and Erol Tabanca, breathe life into this hotel of choice of the international jet set. Besides the Tabanca couple, I would like congratulate hotel's marketing manager Zeynep Çiftçioğlu İpekçi for her care in attracting high-profile tourists to Turkey.

When it comes to their rooms, there is a lot to say. Some of the works of art hung in each room are maybe worth more than the real estate value of the hotel itself. The British-style teddy bears, on which it is written "I Feel Good," that you can take when you leave the hotel are extra-sweet souvenirs of your time in Alavya. The ancient umbrellas around the pool, tropical bungalows and the bar at the end of the "infinity pool" add an exotic atmosphere to the venue's Mediterranean culture. Every detail has been specifically designed to capture your attention.

It is obvious that everything in Alavya has turned into love: Love of profession, love of perfectionism and love of hospitality. Maybe that's why the name of the hotel sounds like "I love you" in English. Following the same logic, the hotel's restaurant's name MITU (me too) is not surprising. MITU is open for breakfast, brunch and lunch. The wood floor and wall coverings, retro furniture and the bar area make the interior of the restaurant delightful in both summer and winter. The balcony that overlooks the pool offers an alternative venue during the day. The most pleasant place of MITU is the open space in the hotel's courtyard. Sitting under the shade of a giant palm tree in this area, you do not want to leave your table thanks to the beautiful atmosphere as well as the dishes of the executive chef Hüseyin Pancar. Breakfast is, of course, the most enjoyable meal. On the weekends, breakfast served as an open buffet, while on weekdays it is a la carte. Besides the rich cheese and omelet varieties, the pastry buffet is a foodie paradise; boyoz, the delicious pastry dish from the Izmir region, should definitely be tried. On the lunch menu, try the maritime octopus made with Aegean herbs. On the other hand, the Casarecce with porcini mushrooms and steak fillet is perfect for pasta lovers. The area where MITU is located turns into the dinner restaurant Agrilia at night, where you can enjoy another amazing gastronomic experience.

The hotel's spa area is like an oasis. With large relaxation areas and qualified professionals, it is a unique spa experience. Didem Kara, the posture-counselor I met there, specializes in healing Alavya's guests. She heals posture issues caused by a variety of problems through her exercises and massage therapy. Stress, working conditions and weight are the biggest causes of posture disorders. Didem Kara restores any kind of posture disorder in three or four sessions with a suitable program and offers guidance after the sessions to help maintain your newly realigned posture. After your therapy or massages, you can relax in the spa's large armchairs near the exit or in the hotel's garden, where you can stretch out on the long couch with soft pillows.

Since you are in Alaçatı, the restaurant that you should stop by is the iconic venue Asma Yaprağı, or Vine Leaf in English. This restaurant is just a few streets away from Alavya and oozes Aegean culture in every aspect. The tables under the vine leaves in the courtyard of an old stone house welcome you. The blue chairs in the courtyard, lampshades and porcelain plates will transport you back to the old days of Alaçatı.


Asma Yaprağı restaurant in Alaçatı will take you back in time with its blue chairs and porcelain plates.

The main feature of Asma Yaprağı is of course its dishes. You go into the kitchen as if you are in your own home and choose the dishes. All the dishes, served on giant trays in the middle of the kitchen, are made by the local women from Alaçatı. Stuffed vine leaves with cranberries, red-pepper humus, roasted eggplant with mastic, pumpkin with caramelized onions and stuffed zucchini flowers are just a few of the original dishes they offer. I wholeheartedly congratulate Ayşe Nur Mıhçı, who brought Asma Yaprağı to life, a venue that has become a local brand in Alaçatı.

Another great eatery near Alavya is Kapha. It offers a modern environment with an open kitchen area, high ceilings, a stone stove covered with green ceramics, Chester chairs and lamps hanging over the tables. The atmosphere is very pleasant. For a starter, the caramelized cheese and figs on cinnamon bread is simply extraordinary. The shrimp-avocado roll, which qualifies as food art, is also a great starter. For the main course, I highly recommend the ribs. In short, there are so many flavors and so much beauty in Alaçatı.