Assos Harbour Restaurant

The Assos Harbour Restaurant sits directly on İskele Caddesi at the ancient harbour of Behramkale (Assos), one of the most dramatically beautiful natural anchorages on the Turkish Aegean coast within Çanakkale province. The harbour is framed by basalt rock formations and the sea here is clear and cold, which accounts for the quality of the catch. The kitchen works with the boats that moor within sight of the dining terrace: grilled octopus dressed in olive oil and capers, whole fresh fish of the day prepared to the customer's instruction (grilled, fried, or baked in salt), an Aegean herb salad with local wild greens, and raki-marinated mussels among the cold meze starters. The wine selection is small but well-chosen—local Bozcaada whites from the nearby island and house raki are the standard accompaniment to the fish. The setting at the ancient harbour, with the ruins of Aristotle's Assos visible on the acropolis above, gives the meal a sense of occasion that few restaurants on the Turkish coast can match. Summer months are the peak season; reservations are essential from June through September. In winter, the kitchen closes on weekdays and the harbour is nearly deserted. The restaurant is one of the principal reasons travellers make the journey to Assos rather than stopping only for the ruins.