Before Sunset

Customer relations are the main weakness here. Guests can be made to feel as if access to the club is a privilege, rather than a service, and despite being loyal for years, I’ve had times when I felt dismissed and unwelcome. I’ve booked ahead and followed the policies for more than a decade. In my view, the setup is among the best in Çeşme, and I say that as someone based in the UK who has a summer house here. For a destination of this caliber, guests should be treated respectfully and have a consistent experience. Until they make meaningful improvements, I strongly recommend considering alternatives where respect and hospitality are standard.

The food was good, as were the drinks, and the staff and security were lovely. When we were leaving, they even offered us Midye. We also went to the white party, which was very good, and I’d definitely go back. My first visit was disappointing. We arrived at 4 pm on a Friday without having read the policy properly, and they said it was too late and they were full, so they wouldn’t let us in. I took it personally and felt offended, thinking they simply didn’t like us. The next day, my friends persuaded me to try again. We read the policy and arrived on time, and everything was perfect. I loved the design.

I first found this beautiful place two years ago. They change the concept every year, which keeps it interesting. The sandy beach is clean, the sea is lovely, and there are umbrellas, comfortable sunbeds, towels, showers, clean and cared-for restrooms, and changing areas. There’s a lifeguard, and waiters are always around, with pretty fast service. It gets crowded, but the place is big enough that you don’t feel the people. I’ve only visited on weekdays, never weekends, and I always make a reservation ahead of time. The wine is good, and my favorite is a well-made Aperol Spritz. I haven’t tried all the food, but the pide is amazing and I always order it. The mussels were average, the fruit is delicious and clearly chosen well, and I really liked the Et schnitzel. I tried it in Vienna, and this one was even better. The portions get smaller every year, which makes me sad. It’s one of the best spots for watching the sunset!

I’ve seen some reviews talk about the beach club and others about the hotel, but I think both are great. The hotel is wonderful, the food was delicious, and being so close to the beach feels fantastic. The beach is sandy, which is unusual for this region, and the water is calm and not too deep.