White House and other Bodrum, Turkey Nightlife Tips

Nightlife Spot: Bar Street

This is a great bar for sitting, drinking and watching the world go by while being entertained by the humorous waiting staff (who also double as an impromptu dance troupe!). Beer is not the cheapest in Bodrum but the views over the water at twilight as you drink an Efes. It is very busy if the fanatical turkish football matches are on and the place fills with shoting turks cheering for their teams. Definately a little less intimidating in terms of the hassle but expect to be enticed and cajoled to come in!!

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Theme: People Watching
Dress Code: Casual clothes totally OK here. Save the dressing up for Halikarnas.
Address: Bar Street: Cumhuriyet Cadessi

Nightlife Spot: Jimmy's Bar

Jimmy's bar is on one of the main roads towards Gumbet. It is a lovely place to start the evening and can get quite busy quite quickly. We always found it a handy rest point between the hotels in the upper part of town and Bodrum itself.
They have satellite television, a good range of drinks and also serve food late into the evening (they have a restaurant about 3 doors away), the food on offer is "traditional" UK fast food type stuff such as burgers, chips and they also do a Sunday Lunch. The bar has seating outside, plays a range of popular music, shows all the UK football matches and other sporting events. The bar does Karaoke and the staff join in too (usually quite badly!!). Jimmy's has a taxi rank next door should you decide against the hills :-)
The staff are very, very friendly but do shout at you to try and entice you in to join them. This is the Turkish way however and the friendly banter should be taken as just that.
A round of drinks is very cheap too.

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Theme: Eating and Drinking
Dress Code: No dress code
Directions: Next door to the Mandarin All Inclusive Resort

Nightlife Spot: Korfez Bar

Korfez Bar is a gem of a place hidden slightly back from the main shopping throughfare in Bodrum. The unique thing about this bar is the music - predominantly rock but also others, and the customers who are mostly young Turkish people enjoying a night out. It looks a bit intimidating when you first arrive as the side street is so full of people who have spilled out from the bar but don't be put off.
This bar is always busy and getting to the bar can be hard work, well worth the effort however. Drinks are priced as in other bars and are mostly beer and spirits with a small cocktail menu, it is a rock bar after all!!

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Theme: Other
Dress Code: No dress code
Phone: 90 0252 316 59 66
Address: Cumhuriyet Cad. Uslu Sok. No:2 Bodrum
Website: www.korfezbar.com.tr

Nightlife Spot: Fora Bar

Fora is a fairly up to date bar right in the centre of town (Pide Square) which caters for a variety of customers (locals and tourists alike). The interior is modern and has limited seating at the front, seating is available at the rear where there are super views over the sea and of the castle. There are two bars and a large dance floor, the music of choice is mostly R&B but some modern dance is also played.
The toilets are clean but there is something to be said for having some tissues with you... Lots of food sellers are in the surrounding square in case you get peckish after your beer and dance. Imported beer is quite expensive but this bar has frequent promotions and this means the bottled beer could be cheaper. The staff are friendly and the bar has events like karaoke.
Large groups of men may be turned away by the zealous door staff and generally groups of Turkish men are discouraged (to avoid hassle for tourists I think).

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Theme: Dancing
Dress Code: No dress code
Door men may ask to check your bag
Phone: + 90 252 316 22 44
Address: Çarşı Mah.Hilmi Uran Meydanı No: 10

Nightlife Spot: Murphy's Irish Bar

Murphy's Irish Bar in Gumbet is a good attempt at recreating a taste of Ireland (in the middle of Turkey!!). This bar used to be called The Shamrock Bar and in those days this bar was heaving, so crowded that the bar was near impossible to get to and the music was truly an excellent Irish night out.
Things are a little different under its new incarnation and while the decoration is the same the atmosphere is certainly not. Irish people do go to drink here but the craic is not mighty anymore, in fact if you ask the DJ for Irish music they are likely to say no. Last year they did have an Irish performer called Steve, he was OK entertainment but there are not as many people here to make the atmosphere more exciting. The bar does karaoke and has a cocktail menu as well as traditional Turkish and imported beer. Football matches are shown.
Gumbet has many lively bars to try, perhaps this one will improve over time and if they get more customers. The people who own Murphy's also own a restaurant across the road. It's a shame, this used to be a great bar :-(
On the positive side the toilets are the cleanest I have ever seen in Turkey :-)

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Theme: Eating and Drinking
Dress Code: No dress code at this bar
Address: SAKIRESEDEMIR No5, GUMBET

Nightlife Spot: Lodos Bar

We went to this bar for the first time last summer and were really surprised by the lively atmosphere and great music. Lodos has had many incarnations but currently is decorated with modern poster art. There are 2 bars in Lodos - a large one on the way in and a smaller one out at the back where there are tables and tall stools and a smashing view of the sea.
This bar is very popular at different parts of the season and early in August there are many Turkish people using it. The music is generally Turkish but why go to Turkey if you don't want to listen to some local culture!! The bar staff do a table service so you don't even have to get up and go to the bar :-)

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Theme: Dancing

Nightlife Spot: Halikarnas Disco

Halikarnas is nearly 30 years old and offers a unique clubbing experience - but it is one that you do pay for!! This club will soon be comparable with the big Cyprus clubs for collossal admission fees. Only you will be able to decide whether the price is worth it.
The club has themed nights such as ladies night, foam night, free vodka night, Turkish pop night etc. The price differs depending on the event and some entrance fees include local drinks thrown in, for example ladies night is usually half price.
The club also hosts some international DJ's and on these nights the price can go well above 45 YTL - last year Liberty X did a gig and it was about 60 YTL!! Average price is 35 YTL. The club has dancers and entertainment including a resident DJ but I felt it was lots of hype for the money. Many boat trip organisers wil also try to sell you tickets for the club but the club hasn't played to full capacity every night for a while so buy your ticket when you get there.
Having been once I can say I've done it but I wouldn't be bothered going back, there is plenty of entertainment in the town or the lively Gumbet for me, however I would say to try it once it is an experience!

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Theme: Nightclub
Dress Code: Smart clothes only on most nights but there is foam night to contend with!!
You will be told on the door if your clothing isn't "special" enough
Phone: +90 252 316 80 00
Address: Cumhuriyet Caddessi, No 178
Website: http://www.halikarnas.com.tr

Nightlife Spot: Marine Club Catamaran

This is a huge catamaran which is moored next to St Peters Castle. You wil hear it before you see it! There are 5 bars on this massive boat and you start the night at the dock as the boat fills up. The music is a mix and they have theme nights (R&B night etc), dancers and DJ's too. At about 1am the boat sets sail into the sea around Bodrum. The music and drinking can go on till 4 or 5 am but when youy have had enough there are boats that ferry custiomers back to shore. A unique way to go clubbing!!

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Theme: Nightclub
Dress Code: Smat casual is the best way to go.
Phone: 252 313 3600
Address: Dr Alimbey Cadessi
Directions: In the shadow of the castle.
Website: www.clubbodrum.com
Other Contact: info@clubcatamaran.com

Nightlife Spot: Sensi Bar

Sensi Bar is a real young persons bar on Bar Street (Cumhuriyet Caddessi). It is one of the bars that is on the bar crawl trail of the holiday tour operators - this may or may not encourage you to go there!! It is the usual Bar Street style - modern disco/pop classics, lively people dancing on tables, bar staff doing everything they can to draw you in from the promenade that runs alongside the strip.
They have a large screen for football. DJ's (the music selection is pretty much the same in all touristy parts of Turkey), Karaoke etc with seating inside and outside the bar. The usual drinks are available (exported beers quite expensive, local beers and cocktails including the famous Goldfish Bowl).
This bar is not the best on Bar Street but is certainly OK for a few cheap drinks before you go elsewhere.

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Theme: Dancing
Dress Code: No dress code at Sensi Bar - dress to impress or be chilled, it won't affect your fun!
Phone: 252 3166845
Address: Cumhuriyet Caddessi
Directions: Easy to spot on bar street - big blue and red sign!
Website: www.sensibar.com
Other Contact: sensibar@hotmail.com

Nightlife Spot: Central Bar, Gumbet

This was one of the most popular bars we went to in Gumbet and it is fairly easy to see why. It is conveniently located at the junction of 3 main roads in Gumbet and is easy to spot courtesy of a large neon sign. The bar is frequently so busy that there is hardly room to move (it can get really hot in there) but there is a seating area outdoors too. You can get drinks at the bar or there is a table service option - the bar can get quite busy so consider letting someone else do the work. Music is great here and there is a small dance floor to show some moves - people of a more exhibitionist nature like to climb on the bar and strut their stuff (don't sit too close to the bar if you are of a sensitive nature!!). The bar staff here are fairly stand offish, very flirty and expect to get tips which I found quite annoying as I always tip good service, but this is the only downside to a great bar for lovers of dance music.

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Theme: Dancing
Dress Code: No dress code in the Central Bar