Villa Mahal review: you'll struggle to find a more relaxing Turkey hotel

Times

24-07-2025

If there's a more relaxing place to be in Kalkan than curled up on one of the oversize beanbags on the Mahal's leafy, waterfront terrace, you'd struggle to find it. The former Greek fishing village may have ballooned in size over the years, but it's still one of Turkey's most romantic resorts, and Villa Mahal is the perfect couple's retreat. Tucked between olive, fig and frangipani trees on the eastern side of Kalkan Bay, the hotel's 13 suites and four villas sit above a cluster of beach platforms, hewn from local stone and stitched into the hillside. An ideal counterpoint to the hustle and buzz of the Old Town, the four palatial villas are open to families of all ages. Still, everywhere else the 12-and-over rule creates a blissfully peaceful vibe, from cocktails on the roof terrace to lazy days at the Beach Club — with golf carts available to whip guests around the estate, if the steps feel a little too much. Service, meanwhile, is low-key and discreet, but staff are always on hand and have great tips about the local area.
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Score 8/10Clean, crisp and simple, Villa Mahal's 13 rooms are carefully designed so that nothing detracts from the vast swathe of the cerulean sea that shimmers beyond every window, terrace and private pool. The all-white decor is kept from feeling monastic with pops of colour — muted turquoise drapes, warm scarlet scatter cushions — while the cocoon-like bathrooms come with blond-wood fittings, rainfall showers and some with full-sized baths. For a real sense of escape, the four villas offer all of the hotel's services and benefits with a sense of absolute privacy; each sleeps up to six and has a private infinity pool.
Score 9/10Days begin with a traditional Turkish breakfast — local eggs and honey, fresh fruit, juice and yoghurt — taken on the roof terrace, with blistering views across the bay (this is also the spot for a sundowner; the sunsets are spectacular). Lunch — salads and light meze dishes — is taken at the Beach Club, which at night turns into a chic waterfront restaurant, with some tables set right by the water's edge. The menu ranges from Turkish classics — succulent fish kebabs, chargrilled octopus or crispy Turkish pide (long, hand-stretched pizzas) — to upscale Mediterranean dishes: beef carpaccio with local olive oil or rich, tomato-baked prawns. Reservations are essential as, with live music on some evenings,it's as popular with non-residents as guests.
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Score 9/10Most days revolve around the Beach Club; each individual platform has its own loungers and parasol, creating a delightfully private feel, with some set on decking directly above the water. The staff can arrange water sports including paddleboarding and kayaking, while the free shuttle boat to Kalkan's pretty harbour offers a relaxing way to travel back and forth to the Old Town. Alfresco massages can be arranged, but for the ultimate romantic treat, a fully crewed yacht offers day trips to Kalkan's nearby islands and bays, or overnight jaunts to the ancient sunken city of Kekova and the Greek island of Meis.
Score 8/10Set in the quiet neighbourhood of Kisler Bay, the Old Town is a five-minute taxi ride, or 20-minute walk along a relatively new footpath, which does have some steep stretches. Dalaman airport 1 hour and 45 minutes away, with Patara beach — one of the region's most beautiful — just 15 minutes' drive.
Price B&B doubles from £254 Restaurant mains from £17Family-friendly over-12s onlyAccessible N
Annabelle Thorpe was a guest of Villa Mahal (villamahal.com)
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