Looking for the best meyhane in Kaş? We wrote this guide as the team behind a seafront meyhane in Kaş. It covers what a meyhane is, how to order like a local, when to go, and when you need to book. Everything is on one page.
Short answer: A great meyhane night in Kaş comes down to a seafront table, the fish of the day, homemade meze and a booking timed with the sunset. If you want all four at one table, our recommendation is İnceden Bir Meyhane on Necipbey Street. Reservations: +90 532 297 30 20.
What is a meyhane?
A meyhane (pronounced may-ha-neh) is a traditional Turkish tavern. Dinner there is not a quick meal but a long, shared evening. Small plates of meze arrive in waves, followed by fish or grilled meat, usually with rakı, the anise spirit. People order slowly, talk a lot and often finish to live music.
Kaş is a small harbour town on Turkey's Lycian coast, facing the Greek island of Meis (Kastellorizo). Here the meyhane tradition meets the sea. Meyhanes in Kaş are calmer and closer to the water than the busy meyhane streets of Istanbul. Fish arrives daily, meze leans on olive-oil Mediterranean cooking, and evenings start with the sunset.
6 tips for choosing a meyhane in Kaş
Ask for a seafront table
What sets a Kaş meyhane apart is the sea. When you book, ask for a table in the front row or "on the water". The sound of the waves really is half the experience.
Time your booking with the sunset
In summer the sun sets in Kaş at around 20:00–20:20, and in September at around 19:00. From June to August, a 19:30–20:00 booking puts you at the table for sunset. In September and October, arrive close to opening time.
Ask what fish came in today
At a good meyhane the fish changes with the season and the day's catch. Rather than reading the menu, ask your waiter what is fresh today. Sea bass (levrek), sea bream (çipura), octopus and shrimp are the most common choices. In Turkey, whole fish is often priced by weight, so feel free to ask for the price before ordering.
Order meze in rounds
A meyhane table is built in layers: cold meze first, then hot starters, then fish. Don't order everything at once. Four or five cold meze are plenty for the first round, and you can keep going from there.
Check for live music nights
For live music, look for a fasıl night, the traditional Turkish tavern music. The schedule changes with the season, so call ahead and ask which evenings have fasıl.
Book ahead in high season
In July and August the seafront meyhanes in Kaş fill up early. Book at least a day ahead, especially for weekends and sunset slots. You can book with us by phone or WhatsApp, in English.
What to order: a meze glossary
Menus in Kaş usually use the Turkish names. These are the ones you are most likely to see:
| Dish | What it is |
|---|---|
| Haydari | Thick strained yoghurt with garlic and herbs. |
| Fava | A smooth broad-bean purée with olive oil and dill. |
| Deniz börülcesi | Samphire (sea beans) dressed with garlic and olive oil. |
| Zeytinyağlı | Vegetables slow-cooked in olive oil and served cold. |
| Köz patlıcan | Smoky, fire-roasted aubergine. |
| Kalamar | Fried calamari, the classic hot starter. |
| Ahtapot | Octopus, grilled or as a salad. |
| Levrek / Çipura | Sea bass / sea bream, grilled whole or steamed. |
At İnceden Bir Meyhane we serve fresh fish and seafood of the day, homemade cold and hot meze, grilled meats and a wide range of drinks. Our team will tell you about the seasonal meze at your table each evening.
How to drink rakı
- Pour rakı into a tall glass, then add cold water. It turns milky white, which is why it is nicknamed "lion's milk".
- Add ice last, or not at all. Many locals prefer water only.
- Sip it slowly with meze and keep a glass of water on the side.
- Raise your glass and say şerefe (sheh-reh-feh), meaning "cheers".
Not a rakı drinker? Turkish wine and cocktails are just as common at meyhanes in Kaş.
Practical info: times, season, getting there
- Timing: Meyhane evenings in Kaş start around sunset.
- Season: May to October is the liveliest time. In July and August, a table without a booking is hard to find.
- Getting there: Kaş town centre is small and walkable from most hotels. You will find us at Necipbey Caddesi No:15, Andifli, Kaş.
- Before dinner: A stroll along Uzun Çarşı and a sunset stop at the Antiphellos ancient theatre is the classic Kaş evening route.
- Paying: Cash and credit cards are accepted. Prices are in Turkish lira.
Our pick: İnceden Bir Meyhane
We wrote this guide as a meyhane in Kaş, so we will be upfront about our recommendation. If you want everything above at one table, come and see us at İnceden Bir Meyhane: seafront tables, fish of the day, homemade meze and fasıl nights. It's the kind of meyhane locals bring their visiting friends to.
İnceden Bir Meyhane
Andifli Mh., Necipbey Cd. No:15, 07580 Kaş/Antalya, Turkey
+90 532 297 30 20 · WhatsApp
Book Your Meyhane Night in Kaş
Reserve a seafront table for an evening that starts with the sunset.
Book a TableFAQ
For a seafront table, fresh fish, homemade meze and sunset views, our recommendation is İnceden Bir Meyhane (Andifli Mh., Necipbey Cd. No:15, Kaş). Reservations: +90 532 297 30 20.
A meyhane is a traditional Turkish tavern where dinner is a long, shared evening of small meze plates, fish or grilled meat, rakı, conversation and often live music.
Yes. İnceden Bir Meyhane is one of the meyhanes in Kaş right on the water, with sea and sunset views from the tables.
From June to September, especially at weekends and for sunset slots, booking is strongly recommended. You can book with İnceden Bir Meyhane by phone or WhatsApp on +90 532 297 30 20, in English.
Start with a few cold meze such as haydari, fava and samphire, move on to hot starters like calamari or octopus, and finish with the fish of the day. Rakı with water is the classic drink, but wine and cocktails are common too.
Yes. Many meze are vegetable-based, such as fava, olive-oil dishes, roasted aubergine and yoghurt dips, so vegetarians can make a full meal from the meze menu.