A charming café-restaurant hidden in a vine-covered courtyard in Kaleiçi offering a wonderful selection of cold and hot Turkish meze, fresh salads, and light meals in an enchanting garden setting perfect for lunch or an evening drink.
Gizli Bahçe, meaning Secret Garden, is a vine-covered courtyard café-restaurant tucked into a quiet lane off Hesapçı Sokak in Antalya's Kaleiçi old town. The name is entirely apt — the space is concealed behind a wooden gate, revealing a shaded garden strung with fairy lights and surrounded by old stone walls draped with jasmine and climbing plants. This setting makes it one of the most charming spots in the historic quarter for an extended lunch or a leisurely evening drink. The menu centres on Turkish meze — a broad selection of cold and warm small plates that allow diners to graze across many flavours without committing to a single dish. The cold meze selection includes haydari (strained yogurt with herbs), baba ganoush (smoky roasted eggplant), and acılı ezme (spicy tomato and pepper paste), while warm additions such as fried cheese börek and grilled halloumi rounds out the spread. The grilled halloumi salad with rocket and pomegranate has become one of the café's most ordered dishes among international visitors. A selection of baklava and pastries rounds out the sweet side of the menu. The beverage list includes herbal teas, fresh juices, Turkish coffee, and a modest wine list. The restaurant suits both solo travellers looking for a relaxed lunch and groups wanting a long, convivial evening of meze-sharing. It is particularly popular at dusk, when the lanterns are lit and the heat of the day has softened.
Signature dishes
- Meze Sharing Platter — $15
- Grilled Halloumi Salad — $11
- Baklava selection — $7
Good to know
- Known for
- Romantic garden setting with excellent meze selection
- Hours
- 9:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Location
Hesapçı Sokak, Kaleiçi, Antalya
36.8833, 30.7067 View on map
Highlights
- Hidden vine-covered courtyard with fairy lights in the heart of Kaleiçi old town
- Extensive cold and warm Turkish meze menu — ideal for grazing and sharing
- Grilled halloumi salad with rocket and pomegranate seeds, a house favourite
- Atmospheric at dusk when courtyard lanterns and jasmine create a magical setting
- Relaxed pace suited to long lunches or leisurely evening drinks with meze
Tips for visiting
- Visit at dusk for the most atmospheric experience — the lanterns and scented jasmine come into their own as daylight fades.
- Order the full cold meze selection to share rather than individual starters for the best value and variety.
- The baklava here is fresher than at most café stops; order it with Turkish coffee as a dessert.
- The hidden entrance can be easy to miss — look for the wooden gate on Hesapçı Sokak and follow the sounds of conversation.
- Midweek lunchtimes are quieter; weekend evenings can require a short wait for courtyard tables.
Accessibility
Gizli Bahçe is set in a garden courtyard accessed through a wooden gate from a narrow cobblestone lane in Kaleiçi. The garden surface is partially stone-paved and partially bare earth, which can be uneven. The approach through Kaleiçi's pedestrian lanes involves cobblestones throughout. Wheelchair access is very limited.
Frequently asked questions
How do you find Gizli Bahçe in Kaleiçi?
The café is located off Hesapçı Sokak, one of Kaleiçi's main pedestrian lanes. Look for a wooden gate; the garden is not visible from the street. Locals and hotel staff in Kaleiçi will know it by the name Gizli Bahçe.
Is the menu primarily vegetarian?
The meze-focused menu is largely vegetarian-friendly, with many cold and warm dishes containing no meat. Grilled halloumi, eggplant preparations, yogurt dips, and börek are all vegetarian. The menu does include some meat and fish options as well.
Does Gizli Bahçe serve alcohol?
Yes. The café serves wine, beer, and non-alcoholic drinks. It is not a raki-and-fish meyhane, but wine is available to accompany the meze.
Is it open for breakfast?
Gizli Bahçe typically opens in the mid-morning, around 9 AM, and serves light breakfast items alongside coffee. It is primarily a lunch and evening venue.