Breakfast in the Garden -- Beytepe Sözeri Bahçe Pide & Kebap

The #1 thing to appreciate about this place is the ambiance. We’re not going to sit here and try to tell you we’ve single-handedly discovered the best kebab or breakfast in Ankara, but we can emphasizes the splendid atmosphere.

Sitting in the quiet village area of Beytepe, this garden restaurant is a great escape from some of the busier breakfast places downtown. As a great place to spend a spring, summer, or fall meal. There is also an inside section, but that just doesn’t have the same appeal.

The covered picnic tables scattered across the grassy garden are surrounded by trees and flowers. There’s a small pool in the middle of the garden, which appears to be more for aesthetic than anything.

But the most exciting part of the meal has got to be the assorted animals scattered about. Climbing the stairs into the garden, a massive dog lays sleeping. Try tossing a french fry to the kitten that comes to play, and a chicken will come out of nowhere to accost it and steal its meal. If you happen to have exposed painted toenails, then a chicken might come for a peck at those little piggies too. Look towards the back, and you might see bunnies hopping around, and several more chickens behind the fence. That’s got to be more peaceful and entertaining to watch than the traffic driving by downtown.

The set breakfast is composed of a variety of seasonal jams, cheeses, and vegetables. Then there’s the olives, bread, and menemen (a tomato and egg dish, for those of you unacquainted with this traditional Turkish breakfast option). To drink, they provide a huge teapot on a burner to keep your tea topped up. There are also less traditional elements involved such as the french fry, peynirli börek (fried cheese rolled in a thin pastry), and those hot dog thingys that are always cut to resemble an octopus for some unknown reason.

There’s more than enough included in the breakfast that you don’t have to order extra food. But the menu also offers other Turkish foods like gözleme, pide, and kebabs.

DON’T MISS: The set breakfast. The name of the place does seem to preference other dishes, but it’s the garden part that really makes it a perfect breakfast location.

GET THERE: If you don’t already live towards the southeast side of Ankara, this might seem like a bit of a hike. But it’s not exactly complicated to get there. From the M2’s Bilkent Metro Station, take the Bilkent Metro Bus No. 110 up to Beytepe and get off at the Sadık Kalemci Cami stop. From there it’s only a few minutes walk. There is also parking on-site. Beytepe is an old village area up the hill behind Bilkent and Hacettepe Universities.

PRICE: $

LOCATION: Beytepe Mahallesi, 06800 Çankaya/Ankara