Marbella's Turkish Delight

Nueva Andalucía is firmly establishing itself as a gastronomic haven on the Coast, with exciting new restaurants opening all the time.

The latest was Ottoman – a Turkish restaurant situated in Calle Los Jazmines, just down the road from the heart of La Campana. With Turkish restaurants in Marbella being few and far between, we decided to pay them a visit to try out some of their dishes…

Owner Arif Gultekin is a young and vibrant Turkish entrepreneur who has lived in Sweden for much of his life. Now he has opened Ottoman and it has already been quite a hit with the locals. Arif brought over his chef from Turkey – who has worked in the industry for over 35 years. They pride themselves on their authenticity, with every dish made from scratch and staying true to traditional recipes with the likes of kebabs, Turkish cacik, stuffed peppers, Lahmacun (which is like a Turkish pizza with minced meat, tomatoes and herbs) and baklava, baked every day.

The menu has many meat dishes, with the mixed grill a favourite for many, but there are also numerous vegetarian options to choose from if meat is not your preference. Another popular meal at Ottoman is their khavalti, which is a Turkish breakfast (literally translated as “before coffee”) that is offered between 12pm and 3pm from Friday to Sunday. It is a mezze-style meal comprising 17 different dishes for only €15 per person. Prices on the main menu are just as reasonable, with starters averaging €9 and main courses €16.

When you enter the restaurant, you are met with young and friendly faces who are passionate about their work and are delighted to provide advice about the menu. The decoration is contemporary and cosy, with a stunning bar at the far end of the restaurant, large velvet dining chairs and ambient lighting, as well as intimate booths, ideal for groups. You can relax on sofas outside on their modern terrace and there are shisha pipes so you can enjoy a truly authentic Turkish experience (available after 10pm).

Home delivery service available. Open Monday to Thursday 5pm to 12am. Friday to Sunday 12pm-12am.

Ottoman Restaurant & Lounge, Calle Los Jazmines 465B, Nueva Andalucía (Marbella)

Tel. (+34) 675 744 970

ottomanmarbella@gmail.com

Instagram: ottomanmarbella