It all began in 2011, in a small corner of Turunç bay overlooking the sea. When Vedat Çeçe opened the place under the name "Minem", what he envisioned was not a grand restaurant — merely an intimate table where he could welcome his friends and share the flavours of his own kitchen.
Years passed. Guests returned every summer. Children grew up, young people fell in love, families sat at the same table every holiday. The place did not expand — our tables remain few, the sea still lies at our feet. But the spirit that lives with us took on an increasingly poetic, bohemian identity over time.
Today this place is Gypsy Restaurant. Our name has changed; but the essence of the table — sharing, welcoming, carrying the friendships of past summers into today — has remained the same.
Vedat Bey is not the owner of Gypsy, he is the host. You will find him most evenings welcoming guests at the door. One evening recommending a glass of white wine by your table, another evening reminding you what dish you enjoyed last year…
Hospitality at Gypsy is not a slogan — it is a daily habit. Faruk and our team's English, their smiles and sense of humour explain why the same faces have been returning for 14 years.
The heart of our restaurant is our kitchen. Fresh fish from Marmaris bay are carefully selected every morning; sea bass, squid and octopus arrive at your table in their simplest form, without spoiling the taste of the sea. Our clay pot chicken is the signature dish our returning guests say they "must have every visit".
At this table where Turkish, Mediterranean and European cuisines meet, you will find a morning spread Turkish breakfast, garlic prawns brought to your sunbed at lunch, and a seafood platter by candlelight in the evening. Our vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options are always ready — because we do not choose our guests, we extend the table.
During the day we are on the beach. Our sunbeds are complimentary, our service extends to your sunbed. A book, a glass of cold Efes, a plate of squid — sometimes a Mediterranean holiday is this simple.
In the evening tables are set on the deck. Candles are lit, soft music begins, waves lap at the shore just beneath the wooden floor. As you watch the sunset, the first meze arriving at your table tells you the evening has begun.
Another resident of our place, our cat who also bears our name, is Gypsy. As she is on a special diet, please do not feed her — but do not be surprised if she comes and sits beside your chair whilst you have dinner. She has been with us for years; in a way, she is the oldest guest at this table.
The same bay, the same waves, the same table since 2011. Once you sit at Gypsy Restaurant's table in Turunç, you will understand why you want to come back next summer — many people realised this before you.
The taste of the Mediterranean, a gypsy's table.
We are waiting for you.
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