Sole & Mare Beach Club is promoted as the playground of Turkey’s elite, a dazzling and stylish day pass resort that offers a fabulous place to swim, suntan, eat and play. Less than a 15 minute drive from Cesme’s harbor front, it is ideally suited for relaxing after a busy day of visiting Turkey’s many tourist attractions. But word to the wise - if you want to secure a prime lounging spot in this club, reservations are needed. And if you don’t speak Turkish, interacting with staff may be challenging.
A stylish white party
If you’ve ever read about, or seen pictures of, Sean “Diddy” Combs’ legendary, chic ‘white’ parties, you may have some idea of what a visit to Sole & Mare beach club entails. The mesmerizing, posh club, perched on Aya Yorgi Bay, is white from top to bottom – white lounge chairs and day beds, white umbrellas, white lanterns hanging from the trees, white furniture in the bathroom, even the staff is dressed in all white. All of which is part of Sole & Mare’s trendy, visual appeal. It’s a dazzling spectacle that makes clear this is no rank and file club, but a place to look good and be seen.
But its desire to be elite may also be part of the club’s downfall, in the eyes of many. Sole & Mare is a reservations required beach frolic. And the cars lined up in its driveway and filling its parking lot are pricey Range Rovers, BMWs and Porsches – making clear who the typical or preferred clientele is here.
Still, if you are lucky enough to get in, a visit can be a truly pleasurable way to unwind for a morning, afternoon or entire day. For the past decade, Sole & Mare has held its own as a bustling beach club by day, and after sunset, one of the area’s most popular nightclubs.
Activities: Swimming, dining, volleyball and more
For many, the best way to pass time at Sole & Mare is simply stretched out, dozing on one of its comfy bean bag lounge chairs, gazing out across the crystal clear waters of Aya Yorgi Bay, contemplating who might own those fabulous yachts moored in the distance. And indeed, this is what Sole & Mare does best – offer a place to lounge and take a dip.
The club also includes a trendy bar and a small restaurant with a handful of tables, so there are plenty of refreshments on hand. Waiters will also deliver food and drinks to your waterside chaise if walking to get them yourself seems simply too taxing. For those interested in being active, there are volleyball courts and even bungee jumping nearby.
Cesme’s Beach Clubs: The many options
If you cannot get a reservation at Sole & Mare or its snobbish air is too much for you to tolerate, do not despair. There are other beach clubs to choose from here, and they are highly rated. Alternative choices include the adjacent Kafepi Beach Club and slightly further afield is Fun Beach Club, which is slightly less polished than its peers but gets rave reviews from many visitors for its crystal clear waters, lack of waves, great service and excellent food. All of the beach clubs charge an entrance fee and some also charge for parking. Sole & Mare charges about 17 USD for admission.
Sole & Mare: A unique experience
Sometimes, unique experiences come at a price. The question is whether you are willing to pay that price. At Cesme’s Sole & Mare, the trade-off for experiencing a stunning beach club, and feeling ever so briefly like you are among the planet’s royalty, is figuring out how to finagle a reservation, and dealing with staff that may not always be as courteous as you’d expect. Still, this is quite the beach club, beautiful, pristine, and it delivers on its main commodity – crystal clear waters, comfortable atmosphere and all the style you can possibly handle.
In light of the February 2023 earthquake that devastated Turkey and Syria, Trip101 urges you to be apprised of the latest news if you have any plans to travel to Eastern Turkey. Other parts of the country remain open to travelers.
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