Frequently asked questions about Şef Restaurant Kusadasi

The best restaurant in Kusadasi depends on what you are looking for: Setur Marina and Atatürk Boulevard (Atatürk Bulvarı) for fish with a sea view, the bazaar in the town centre for Turkish home cooking and kebabs, and Ladies Beach (Kadınlar Denizi) for a beach day. If you want fish with a sea view and the sunset, Şef Restaurant has been serving guests on its terrace above Setur Marina since 2004. We have gathered nine places with different cuisines, together with their addresses, in our guide to the best restaurants in Kusadasi.

Places to eat in Kusadasi are concentrated in five areas: Setur Marina and Atatürk Boulevard, the bazaar in the town centre, Pigeon Island (Güvercinada) and the harbour, the cruise port, and Ladies Beach (Kadınlar Denizi). On the marina side you will find sea view fish restaurants, in the bazaar home-cooking restaurants and kebab houses, and at Ladies Beach restaurants overlooking the beach. Şef Restaurant is on the marina side: Türkmen Mah., Atatürk Blv. No:186, 09400 Kuşadası/Aydın.

For lunch in the town centre, the home-cooking restaurants (lokanta) and kebab houses in the bazaar are a practical choice. For dinner, head down to Atatürk Boulevard (Atatürk Bulvarı), the road that runs along the seafront: Şef Restaurant is on this boulevard, serving fish and meze on its terrace above Setur Marina. From the centre you can walk to the marina along the seafront road or come by a short taxi ride.

If you would like to combine dinner with the sunset, a high, west-facing terrace is a good choice; in Kusadasi the sun goes down over the harbour into the sea. Şef Restaurant's terrace overlooks Kusadasi Marina, and you can choose your fish from the counter and build your meal around meze. Today's sunset is at 18:31; we recommend booking ahead for a table with a view.

Restaurants with a view are mostly found around Setur Marina, along the shore between Pigeon Island (Güvercinada) and the harbour, and at Ladies Beach (Kadınlar Denizi). Height makes a difference: from a high terrace the harbour, the boats and the horizon stay in the same frame, and the road in front does not cut across the view. Şef Restaurant's terrace sits above the marina, and on clear days you can also make out the silhouette of the island of Samos on the horizon.

A good sign is fish displayed on a counter, with the price quoted for the fish of the day. A counter that changes with the seasons, a kitchen that has been doing the same work for many years and being able to see the fish before you order are all reassuring. At Şef Restaurant you choose your fish from the counter yourself, and the owner and chef, Ahmet Öz, has been in the trade for more than 30 years.

At the heart of a Kusadasi meal are fresh fish and seafood: grilled fish, octopus, calamari and prawns. Alongside them come Aegean meze such as samphire, olive oil dishes (zeytinyağlı) and Girit ezmesi (Cretan dip), and the meal is often accompanied by raki. For a detailed list, see our guide “What to eat in Kusadasi?”.

Yes. There are many restaurants overlooking the sea along Atatürk Boulevard (Atatürk Bulvarı), the seafront road that runs along the harbour and the marina, and at Ladies Beach (Kadınlar Denizi). Şef Restaurant is on this seafront road, about 250 metres from Setur Marina, and looks out over the sea from its high terrace.

If you are in Kusadasi town centre, at the marina or at the cruise port, Şef Restaurant is just a few minutes away: about 250 metres from Setur Marina and about 5 minutes by taxi from the cruise port. Simply tell the taxi driver “Setur Marina, Şef Restaurant”; the address is Türkmen Mah., Atatürk Blv. No:186, 09400 Kuşadası/Aydın. Before you come, you can reserve a table by sending us a WhatsApp message (⁦+90 535 200 94 10⁩).

Fill in the booking form on our website: your reservation is confirmed the moment you send it and a confirmation e-mail follows. You can also book on WhatsApp (⁦+90 535 200 94 10⁩) or by phone (⁦+90 256 618 25 54⁩).

Yes, we welcome walk-in guests whenever a table is free. On summer evenings and around sunset the terrace fills up quickly, so we recommend booking.

Instantly. After you send the form you see the confirmation on screen with your booking code, and a confirmation e-mail arrives; there is no need to wait for a call.

No. Online bookings need no payment or deposit; you pay at the restaurant.

Use the “View my booking” link in your confirmation e-mail, or message us on WhatsApp (⁦+90 535 200 94 10⁩) with your booking code.

The online form takes tables for 1–8 guests. For larger groups, use the private event form or call us and we will plan it together.

Yes. Sunset times are highlighted in the form; add your wish under “Special requests” and we will do our best to seat you accordingly. On summer evenings, book early.

Yes. The booking form accepts numbers from every country; just enter your number with the country code. Your booking is confirmed instantly and you receive a confirmation email, and if anything changes we will contact you on WhatsApp.

First check your spam or junk folder. The booking code that appears on screen when you submit the form confirms that your booking has been recorded, so just make a note of it. If you still cannot find the email, send us a WhatsApp message (⁦+90 535 200 94 10⁩) with your booking code.

Yes. Through the online form you can also book for today, for any time that has not yet passed and still has space, and your booking is confirmed instantly. On summer evenings and around sunset the terrace fills up quickly, so book a few hours ahead if you can.

Yes. Şef Restaurant's raised terrace overlooks Kusadasi Marina and the harbour, so you watch the sunset from your table.

Türkmen Mah., Atatürk Blv. No:186, 09400 Kuşadası/Aydın. We are about 250 m from Setur Marina and 5 minutes by taxi from the cruise port.

Şef Restaurant sits just above Setur Marina, about 250 m from the marina, serving fresh fish and meze on a terrace facing the boats and the harbour.

Şef Restaurant is about 5 minutes by taxi from the Kusadasi cruise port. Write your all-aboard time under “Special requests” and we will pace the service accordingly.

It is a few minutes by taxi from the town centre and the port: follow the seafront Atatürk Boulevard towards Setur Marina. If you drive, our valet will take your car.

Yes, we offer valet parking; we take your car at the entrance.

Yes, the restaurant is wheelchair accessible. Mention any special needs in your booking and we will prepare your table accordingly.

Yes. After leaving the port, head onto Atatürk Boulevard (Atatürk Bulvarı), the seafront road, and walk towards the marina; as long as the sea is beside you, you are going the right way. How long it takes depends on your pace and the crowds, and on a hot afternoon or if you are short of time, a taxi is the most comfortable option.

Ladies Beach has cafés and restaurants overlooking the beach, and they fill up early on summer evenings. If you would like to watch the sunset from a high terrace with a view of the marina, you can come into the centre, to the Setur Marina side: Şef Restaurant is at Türkmen Mah., Atatürk Blv. No:186, 09400 Kuşadası/Aydın. Dolmuş minibuses (shared minibuses) and taxis run between Ladies Beach and the town centre.

If you are coming back from Ephesus or the House of the Virgin Mary, the restaurants along the seafront road are a practical choice, and the cruise port and the marina are close to each other. Şef Restaurant is above Setur Marina, about 5 minutes by taxi from the cruise port. If you arrived by ship, add your all-aboard time to the booking notes and we will plan the service around it.

The taxi ride from the port to the restaurant takes about 5 minutes; allow extra time for the journey back and the security check at the port entrance. If you keep the meal simple, a few meze, a hot starter and a fish chosen from the counter fit comfortably into a relaxed lunch. When you sit down, tell us what time you need to leave and we will pace your order accordingly.

At Şef Restaurant you choose your fish from the counter: Aegean fish landed that morning, grilled or pan-fried and served on a terrace overlooking Kusadasi Marina — chef Ahmet Öz's kitchen since 2004.

The fish on the counter comes out of the sea that morning. Species leave the menu when their season ends and new ones arrive as they come into season; you pick yours at the counter.

Besides grilled fish chosen from the counter, our guests' favourites are: Grilled Meatballs (Köfte), Lamb Chops, Tandoori Octopus, Sea Bream, Chicken Skewer, Seafood stew, Fried Squid, Pan-Fried Prawns, Sea Bass.

Olive-oil and seafood meze such as fava, Cretan “Girit” dip, spoon salad, sautéed wild greens, octopus and shrimp salad and marinated sea bass. See the Meze and Marinated sections of the menu for all of them.

Yes: slow-roasted, grilled and “beğendili” octopus; fried, skewered and stuffed calamari; fried shrimp and jumbo shrimp. Some seafood is sold by the kilo.

Meat and chicken dishes such as lamb chops, lamb skewers, Adana kebab, steak, grilled meatballs, chicken skewers and grilled chicken, plus olive-oil dishes and salads.

Yes. Olive-oil meze (such as fava, spoon salad and sautéed wild greens), salads and desserts suit vegetarian guests. If you eat vegan, tell your waiter when ordering.

Dishes with allergen details show allergen icons on the menu. If you have an allergy, note it under “Special requests” when booking and always tell your waiter when ordering.

Our rakı list has 100 varieties; we set a classic rakı-and-fish table with cold meze, hot starters and the fish you pick. We also have a full bar.

Traditional Turkish desserts such as kazandibi, baked rice pudding, candied pumpkin, quince dessert, baked halva, Kemal Paşa, kalburabastı, crème caramel and seasonal fruit.

The fish of the day are displayed on ice at the counter, so you can see the type and size and choose for yourself. The fish you pick is grilled, pan-fried or baked in salt, and you can ask about the price and the recommended way of cooking it while you choose. Cooking time depends on the type and size of the fish.

As a general guide, bluefish (lüfer) and bonito (palamut) come to the fore in autumn, red mullet (barbun) and striped red mullet (tekir) in spring and summer, sardines in late summer, and turbot (kalkan) in winter and spring. Sea bass (levrek) and sea bream (çipura) are available all year round, as they are largely farmed. You can choose by seeing what is on the counter that day; the month-by-month calendar is in our “Seasonal fish” guide.

Yes. The menu page on our website lists every section, from meze to desserts, with prices, and the menu can be read in 14 languages. Fish prices are shown as the day's price or per kilo.

For raki and fish (rakı-balık), look for a fish restaurant by the sea with plenty of meze. Şef Restaurant has a full bar, and the meal starts with cold meze, continues with hot starters and finishes with the fish you choose from the counter, all on a terrace facing the sunset. We explain the finer points of this meal in our guide “How to set a raki and fish table”.

Current menu prices: Appetizers ₺150–₺1,100 · Hot Starters ₺150–₺1,500 · Main Courses – Fish ₺500–₺800 · Main Courses – Meat ₺900–₺1,600 · Main Courses – Chicken ₺800–₺900 · Desserts ₺300–₺500. Fish from the counter is sold at the day’s price or by the kilo; all prices are listed in ₺ on the menu.

Fish is sold at the day’s price or by the kilo, depending on the species and season. Ask your waiter for the price of the fish you choose before ordering.

We accept cash and credit cards; payment is in Turkish lira (₺). The menu can also show approximate prices in €, $, £ and ₽.

No. We charge no service or cover fee.

Yes. The currency switch at the top of the menu shows approximate €, $, £ or ₽ prices at the day’s rate; you pay in ₺.

The price of fish in Kusadasi depends on the type, the season and the size, and in restaurants fish is usually sold at the day's price or by the kilo. Current price ranges at Şef Restaurant are: Appetizers ₺150–₺1,100 · Hot Starters ₺150–₺1,500 · Main Courses – Fish ₺500–₺800 · Main Courses – Meat ₺900–₺1,600 · Main Courses – Chicken ₺800–₺900 · Desserts ₺300–₺500. Simply ask the price of the fish you choose from the counter before you order.

Yes. Choose “Special occasion → Birthday” when booking and tick what you would like — cake, candles, table decoration or photos. We will confirm the details on WhatsApp if needed.

Yes. Choose “Proposal” when booking and we will plan flowers, table decoration and photos with you. To time it with the sunset, check the sunset slots in the form.

Yes. Choose the occasion (anniversary or honeymoon) when booking; we will do our best to seat you facing the sunset with the touches you ask for.

Yes. For groups of more than 8, company dinners and private events, fill in the private event form or call us and we will plan the menu and set-up together.

Yes, families are very welcome and we have high chairs for children.

For a romantic evening, a quiet terrace table facing the sunset is a good start. At Şef Restaurant you can ask for arrangements such as flowers, candles, a cake, table decoration and photos with your booking, and the details are discussed on WhatsApp. When you book, add a note asking for a table with a view.

We announce live music on our website and Instagram; ask us on WhatsApp whether there is music that evening.

Today's sunset is at 18:31. In Kusadasi the sun sets around 20:30 in summer (20:36 on 21 June) and towards 18:00 in winter (17:55 on 21 December). Book your table half an hour earlier to watch it.

Every day 11:00–24:00. Any changes on public holidays are shown in the open/closed status on our website.

Yes, we serve lunch and dinner; opening hours: Every day 11:00–24:00.

Yes, our open-air terrace overlooks Kusadasi Marina and the harbour; the view tables are the most requested.

Yes, Wi-Fi is available in the restaurant.

Since 2004; chef-owner Ahmet Öz has been in the trade for more than thirty years.

Guest ratings: Google ★ 4.5 (476+) · Tripadvisor ★ 4.3 (114+) · Restaurant Guru ★ 4.8 (1,058+). We hold a Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice award.

Şef Restaurant has welcomed many well-known guests over the years; their photos with Ahmet Öz hang on our walls, and a selection is on our Celebrities page.

Şef Restaurant Kuşadası, Setur Marina’ya yaklaşık 250 metre mesafede, Kuşadası Marina ve liman manzarasına sahip deniz manzaralı bir balık restoranıdır. 2004 yılından beri hizmet veren restoranda günlük taze Ege balıkları, deniz ürünleri, Ege mezeleri ve farklı et seçenekleri sunulur. Balıklar tezgâhtan seçilebilir ve gün batımını gören terasta servis edilir.

Message us on WhatsApp (⁦+90 535 200 94 10⁩), call ⁦+90 256 618 25 54⁩ or e-mail [email protected].

What sets it apart is the view of the harbour and the sunset from a high terrace above Setur Marina, fish you choose yourself from the counter, and a kitchen that has been serving guests since 2004, run by its owner and chef, Ahmet Öz. Bookings are confirmed instantly and no deposit is taken; there is also valet parking, wheelchair access and high chairs.