Cafe Del Mar

Meandering through the old-town affords one the opportunity to discover a few gems if one is looking, and such a gems is Café Del Mar. This place is like a bric-a-brac shop, but tastefully so. Walls are lined with coffee related items like carved copper trays, grinders, demitasse coffee cup sets and cezve -the traditional, brass coffee pot – in varying shapes and sizes. Then there are the non-coffee related items: antique guns, beads, beakers. Most of the stuff is vintage and it’s all for sale.

Pop in for a traditional Turkish coffee or fresh lemonade (or even something more bastardised if that’s what takes your fancy) and you’ll be enjoying more than your drink. In the small outdoor seating space, under glass lanterns and creeping vines, let your gaze wander. Vitrines are arranged with a display of necklaces. Little wooden chests full of costume jewellery sit around with 1 Lira prices tags. While a near-calcified wooden shutter bears a plaque with an engraving of the Shameran. Café Del Mar is rich in character without ostentation. Call it quaint, call it colourful. 

Presentation also gets 10 points. If you do take our advice and order a Turkish, it’ll be served to you in a beautiful demitasse cup in ornate brass holder with a lid. The friendly staff will also bring you a little dish of complimentary Turkish delight. Juices, other beverages and shisha is also available, and if you’re feeling peckish there are some edibles on the menu. It’s a small selection, but from omelette to Turkish pastries, sandwiches to salads, it’s varied enough for such a tiny café.

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