Alacati is a charming, traditional Turkish town full of spirit on the western coast of Turkey on the Cesme Peninsula. It has been making noise lately as a gourmet scene complimented with hillsides of tumbling vineyards for wonderful wine tastings, both perfect pastimes between UNESCO Heritage site visits.  Alacati is filled with narrow, cobblestone streets lined with traditional stone houses framed with bougainvillea. The architecture here is well preserved, including some windmills that dot the landscape.  It’s a place where visitors can meander endlessly with no plan, and stumble upon colorful cafes, art galleries, and shops with authentic local goods.  Alacati is effortlessly cool and a place to sit for hours over a Turkish coffee or tea by day and cocktails by night at one of the many cafes spilling out onto the streets.

On the bay side of Alacati, there is a cove famous for its perfect winds, ideal for windsurfing and kiteboarding enthusiasts.  It braggingly hosts the PWA (Professional Windsurfers Association) World Cup.  There are also plenty of windsurfing schools for beginners for those that want to test the waters, wind and their luck.

Cesme, the neighboring larger harbor town, is also located on the Cesme Peninsula. It has a bustling waterfront area, beaches, thermal spas and even its own Cesme Castle dating back to the Ottoman period that is open to tourists.

While in  Turkey and the  region, others notable spots to tour for history buffs include Ephesus, an ancient city with well-preserved ruins including the Library of Celsus and the Temple of Artemis.  Sirince, is another picturesque town with historical architecture and local wines.  Urla is the local calm coastal town full of vineyards and olive groves.

Getting to Alacati is not too complicated.  There are flights from Istanbul to Izmir and then it’s a quick 40-minute drive.  There are also direct flights from other European cities to Izmir like from Athens. Some hotels will even pick guests up from the airport.  The Stay Warehouse is one such hotel that sends their private driver for arriving airport guests.

THE STAY WAREHOUSE

The Stay Warehouse, an adults-only, hideaway boutique hotel with 24 rooms.  It is an oasis near everything, but worlds apart, hidden away in a residential neighborhood.  In a past life, it was a Tuborg beer brewery.  Today, behind the hotel’s tall, gated entrance, is what seems like your own oversized backyard complete with a long lap pool, old olive trees, an Argentinian BBQ area, funky art and two twin mascot dogs.  Upon entering the original structure, which is now The Stay Warehouse, a sexy silver nude sculpture stretched on the floor greets guests.

The big loft-like warehouse space has super high ceilings accentuated with a big silver disco ball smack dab in the center and a cool industrial-like staircase.  Exploring a bit more, the space reveals a bar and open-air shop and library and a few spinning bikes.  The décor weaves in vintage touches with a modern twist.  The rooms feed off hallways from the main mega-room.

An Old Tuborg Brewery Turned Hipster Hotel

When night sets and the red neon lights go on, the space is ablaze setting a whole new mood.  Cool music is heard throughout giving a nice music vibe. During times like New Year’s Eve this space is sardine-packed for the big celebration.  Weddings are wonderful whether in the main hall or outdoors in the yard.  And fun cultural events pack the yearly calendar at The Stay Warehouse like movie nights with screenwriters and actors on hand to discuss their creations, musical performances, culinary workshops, and art exhibitions.

Food is out-of-this-world with genuine gourmet Turkish cuisine from breakfast through dinner in a rustic outdoor setting with wooden tables and directors’ chairs.  Their version of the famous Turkish breakfast is a fabulous feast, with a myriad of little plates of goodies filling up the entire table.  The special breads and dips are all homemade and everything is cooked fresh for every guest.  Dinners do not disappoint either with dishes that are artfully presented, full of fragrant flavors.

The servers and chef speak broken English, but this did not deter them from delivering their utmost best.  It surprisingly almost seems like Michelin quality served in this super casual backyard setting under the olive trees.  It’s a good bet that the Argentinian Asado/BBQ is equally delicious.

The Stay Warehouse has their own house car to drive guests around the area whether it’s to the shopping district or Cesme town to see the seaside and castle. Guests also have access to a private pier at nearby Plage Isolee beach club.  The hotel location is close enough to walk to the touristic shopping street yet feels light years away in a quiet residential neighborhood offering peace and tranquility.

The spacious rooms are a blend of kitschy vintage details like a red mini fridge, funky snacks, a record player with a curated collection of vinyls, and naked babes posed in frames above the beds. Funny room door tags are provided to suit your mood. And some rooms open directly to a little slice of the backyard where the mascot dogs bravely come around to say hello.

In general, the young staff at The Stay Warehouse are exceptional, wanting to do whatever possible to please.  They even provide a whatsapp phone number to call the front desk 24/7.  And to top it all off, all is done with sustainability in mind.  The hotel promotes eco-friendly practices and environmental responsibility.  Stay Hotels were even the first carbon-neutral independent hotel group in Turkey and has invested in green energy projects. In total they have four hotels in Istanbul and The Stay Warehouse is their sole property in Alacati.  The Alacati hotel used all recycled materials including wood and bricks from ancient Anatolian houses repurposed into walls and upcycled into bespoke furniture.  Bravo!

Taking the road less traveled often leads to the best surprises.  Alacati is sure to put smiles all around.  This special Cesme peninsula on Turkey’s western coast delivers on all counts.  From charming cobblestone streets to exquisite cuisine, wonderful wineries, winning windsurfing winds,  incredible UNESCO sites and lovely landscape, Alacati seems to have it all for the seasoned traveler.