There is no better way to start a day at sea than with a Turkish breakfast (kahvaltı) on deck: a table covered with small plates, fresh bread, cheeses, olives, honey and eggs cooked to order – all with a glass of tea and a view of a quiet bay. Here is everything you can expect at breakfast on a private gulet, yacht or motorsailer in Turkey.
A Turkish breakfast table – dozens of small plates to shareEgg dishes from the galley
Menemen
Eggs scrambled with tomato, green pepper and onion.
Sucuklu yumurta
Fried eggs with slices of spicy Turkish sausage.
Çılbır
Poached eggs on garlicky yogurt with paprika butter.
Pastırmalı yumurta
Eggs with air-dried cured beef.
Omelettes & boiled eggs
Cooked exactly the way you like them.
Fresh vegetables
Tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and fresh herbs on the side.
Breads & pastries
- Simit – the sesame-crusted bread ring, often bought fresh from the harbour.
- Börek & sigara böreği – flaky pastry filled with cheese or greens, or thin crispy cheese rolls.
- Gözleme – thin flatbread filled with cheese, spinach or potato.
- Poğaça, pişi & bazlama – soft savoury buns, fried dough and pan-cooked village bread.
Cheeses, olives & sweet spreads
| Name | What it is |
|---|---|
| Beyaz peynir | Brined white cheese, similar to feta |
| Kaşar | Semi-hard yellow cheese |
| Ezine | Protected Aegean white cheese from Çanakkale – an Aegean breakfast essential |
| Tulum & lor | Strong aged cheese and fresh, ricotta-like cheese |
| Bal-kaymak | Honey with thick clotted cream |
| Pekmez & tahin | Grape molasses with sesame paste |
| Zeytin | Green and black olives, often from the Aegean |
| Acuka / muhammara | Red pepper and walnut paste |
Local honey – try Muğla’s famous pine honey at breakfastTurkish tea & coffee
Çay (black tea in tulip-shaped glasses) is served all morning – Turkish tea culture is recognised by UNESCO. Many guests finish breakfast with a small, strong Turkish coffee, also on UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage. Fresh orange juice and ayran (a salted yogurt drink) are popular too.
Breakfast at anchor below the cliffsPrefer something different?
Not everyone wants a full kahvaltı every day. Let us know in advance and your chef can prepare yogurt and granola, pancakes, smoothies, avocado toast or a continental breakfast – or mix Turkish and international dishes. Read more about meals on a weekly charter.
Frequently asked questions
What is served at a Turkish breakfast on a yacht?
Expect a spread of small plates: white cheese, kaşar, olives, tomatoes and cucumbers, honey with kaymak, jams, eggs such as menemen or sucuklu yumurta, fresh bread, simit or börek, and plenty of Turkish tea.
Can I have a continental or healthy breakfast instead?
Yes. Chefs can add yogurt, granola, fresh fruit, avocado toast, pancakes or anything else on your preference list.
What is menemen?
Menemen is a Turkish dish of eggs gently scrambled with tomatoes, green peppers and sometimes onion – a breakfast favourite on board.
Wake up to breakfast in a quiet bay
Charter a private gulet, yacht or motorsailer and enjoy a Turkish breakfast on deck every morning.