Although most tourists will head for one of the numerous restaurants in the Kaleici (old town) when on holiday in Antalya, the more adventurous gourmets would be better advised (for quality as well as price) to steer off the beaten track and try one of the restaurants favored by locals. The Kaleici restaurants, however, are certainly atmospheric, with some even built into the ancient Roman walls.

A good bet for Turkish food in Antalya, offering a delightful courtyard planted with lemon trees, is Restaurant Kirk Merdiven. 

Other recommendations are the Coco Bar, renowned for the tastiest lamb shish kebabs; Kismet Balikcisi, the local's choice for top seafood dishes; and the Develi Restaurant, where you may be forgiven for thinking the starter is the main meal as you wade through copious delicious Turkish specialities.

Club Arma

• Address: Kaleiçi Yatlimani 42, Antalya
• Phone: 242/244-9710
• Cuisine: Turkish

You can't miss this restaurant, which has a spectacular location halfway up the main road from the old harbor. Inside, airy stone arches give it elegant style despite the fact that this was once the port's petroleum depot. Club Arma is Antalya's most luxurious restaurant, serving octopus carpaccio, local grida or grouper, lobster, duck, chocolate soufflé, chestnut parfait, and fresh cheesecake, along with a full range of foreign spirits and cigars from a humidor. At 11 PM, the dance club alongside swings into action.