Party Softer
Scorpios Bodrum – a rarefied evolution of the legendary Mykonos club – brings a rather more grown-up brand of hedonism to the glittering Turkish Riviera.
For years now, people have been whispering about the “Bodrum boom”. On Turkey’s southwestern coast, a proliferation of hotel openings is fast attracting a new generation of travellers in search of cutting-edge wellness, hip vibes and a gentle form of hedonism, all safely tucked away from prying eyes along the shimmering waters of the Aegean Sea.
The 2024 opening of Scorpios Bodrum was a watershed moment for both the club and the region. Long one of Europe’s top summer party spots, Scorpios Mykonos presented its younger sibling as a more mature and sophisticated destination. Both Scorpios share a spectacular location – here on a wild little peninsula, 30 minutes by car from Yalıkavak Marina – as well as a dense cultural programme mixing international DJs with local musicians, a vibrant beach club (there’s no actual beach at the Turkish outpost, but it does have direct access to the sea), and a Mediterranean restaurant that more than holds its own.
(Photo: Mustafah Abdulaziz)
The Bodrum location’s 12 villas are arranged in a circle, dominating the cliff on which they sit like a fortress. All ultra-private retreats, some are at the heart of the action (Villa 7), while others are tucked away in quieter pockets and scored by the calming song of cicadas (Villa 3). The villas’ thick stone walls belie a minimalist’s dreamscape inside, marked by contemporary lines, natural materials (stone, wood, rattan) and earthy tones. Each sanctuary features a large terrace – an organic extension of the living space – and an infinity pool that’s hard to leave.
The night owl has grown older, and its tastes more discreet and refined. Most no longer come to Scorpios just to knock back cocktails to House music – they also come for relaxation in The Ritual Space, a spectacular pyramid-shaped temple where daily sessions of sound healing, breathwork and yoga are led by highly qualified practitioners. Cutting-edge treatments (the collagen facial is a must) and biohacking rituals are also offered.
(Photo: Johannes Schwark)
This sense of ease carries into the social spaces, too: the wafts of incense and sage emanating from the wellness area give way to the smoke rising from The Terrace, the beating heart of the resort. Here, there are no fishnet dresses or Plexiglass heels, but rather foodies and socialites gathered around long tables piled with mezze and grilled cuts of meat. The dishes are as impressive as the bill is steep (though the warmth and professionalism of the staff make it easier to look the other way). For parents, the kids’ club at the neighbouring Maxx Royal takes children until 2am, allowing the adults to indulge with peace of mind.
The world that visionary co-founders Thomas Heyne and Mario Hertel have built here has legs well beyond Bodrum: they are already looking towards Dubai (opening late 2028) and Athens (2029). Proof that late-night clubbing still has a bright future – provided it reinvents itself in the form of a Greek agora infused with equal parts hedonism and discretion.
(Photo: Georg Roske)
Maçakızı: the Next Chapter
Just across Göltürkbükü Bay, the Maçakızı hotel has served as a glittering nexus for Turkey’s jet set since the late 1970s. These days, as ever, you’re just as likely to run into models and celebrities as Istanbul regulars who come here to reclaim their eternal summer. The resort has all the insolent charm of a place so legendary it no longer has to explain – or even define – itself. Even if the rooms and common areas show their age (renovations are in the works), the beach club itself has lost none of its splendour, providing a luminous interlude where you come as much to cast an eye at your fellow sunseekers as to let yourself drift. A second reason to linger plays out at the table. At Ayla, the hotel’s gastronomic concept named in homage to Maçakızı founder Ayla Emiroğlu, the menu unfolds in four acts under the direction of Michelin-starred chef Aret Sahakyan. It revisits great Turkish classics (mantı, balık ekmek, iç pilav … ) using the finest products from the Turquoise Coast. Special mention goes to the non-alcoholic offerings: house-made elixirs and flavoured kombuchas anchor Maçakızı firmly in a more contemporary, health-conscious era.
(Photo: © Maçakızı)
Header Image: Alexander Kilian
