"Arkady Novikov's pan-Asian outpost on Yalıkavak Marina, all banana-leaf black cod and sushi for the yacht set; book it to impress clients."
Arkady Novikov opened his London flagship in 2011 and has since stretched the brand across roughly ten cities, from Dubai to Miami. The Bodrum outpost sits on Yalıkavak Marina, the harbour judged the world's best superyacht marina in 2018 and 2019, and it trades hard on that address. The cooking is pan-Asian with a sushi bar at its centre, and the dish that travels with the name everywhere is a black cod steamed in a banana leaf with sweet miso. Come for a waterside table at sunset, the signature cod, and a crowd that arrives by tender as often as by car.
The Kitchen
Novikov is the work of Arkady Novikov, the Moscow restaurateur who built a group of more than three hundred restaurants before taking the brand abroad with the 2011 London opening. The Bodrum kitchen follows the group template: a broad pan-Asian menu of Chinese and Japanese dishes alongside a dedicated sushi bar that reviewers consistently rate as the strongest part of the operation. The signature is the black cod, marinated for forty-eight hours, wrapped and steamed in a banana leaf, and finished with sweet miso, served the same way from London to here. Around it run popcorn shrimp, a soft-shell crab roll, duck salad, and the raw selections from the sushi counter. A full dinner runs roughly 200 to 300 dollars per person before serious wine, putting it at the very top of the Bodrum market. The restaurant sits at No. 6 on Çökertme Caddesi inside Yalıkavak Marina, open evenings only from 19:00 until 01:00.
The Room
The setting is the selling point: a terrace on the water at Yalıkavak Marina, looking out over a forest of superyacht masts, with an interior of dark wood and low lighting behind it. A DJ pushes the energy up as the night goes on, so the sound climbs from easy conversation early to a buzzy, music-led room after eleven. Tables on the waterfront are generously spaced; the inner room is tighter. Dress is resort-glamorous, with the yacht set in linen and summer dresses. Book a sunset table on the water rather than inside.
Best for Impressing Clients in Bodrum
Book Novikov Bodrum to impress clients because the address carries the message before the food arrives. A waterside table among the superyachts at Yalıkavak Marina signals you chose the most visible room on the coast, and the Novikov name is one your guest will recognise from London or Dubai. The sushi bar gives you a reliable, shareable centrepiece, and the late-night DJ energy turns a dinner into a night out if the relationship calls for it. Reserve a table on the water at sunset, order the black cod and a sushi selection for the table, and keep the wine straightforward. For calmer rooms, see our top 10 restaurants in Bodrum.
Not for
Skip Novikov Bodrum if you want value or a quiet meal: prices sit at the top of the Bodrum market, several diners feel the seafood does not always match the bill, and the DJ makes the late room loud.
Frequently Asked
Is Novikov Bodrum worth it?
It is worth it for the scene and the sushi more than for value. Novikov Bodrum is the Aegean outpost of Arkady Novikov's international group, set among the superyachts on Yalıkavak Marina, and the black cod and sushi bar are genuinely good. The prices are high and reviews are divided, with some diners feeling the seafood does not always justify the bill. Go for the setting and the signature dishes, not for a bargain. See more in our Bodrum dining guide.
How hard is it to book Novikov Bodrum?
Hard in high summer, easier in shoulder season. From June to September the marina fills with yacht traffic and a waterside table books days ahead, with the best slots going to hotel and yacht concierges. In spring and autumn you can often reserve within a day. Service runs evenings only, from around 19:00 until 01:00, so book a sunset slot and request a table on the water.
What is the dress code at Novikov Bodrum?
Smart and resort-glamorous. This is a marina restaurant for the yacht set, with a DJ and a late-night energy, so guests dress up: linen and loafers for men, summer dresses and heels for women. Beachwear and flip-flops are out of place at dinner. Think polished holiday rather than black tie, and lean glamorous rather than casual once the sun goes down.
What is the average meal price at Novikov Bodrum?
Plan on roughly 200 to 300 dollars per person for a full dinner with sushi and a signature plate, before much in the way of wine. The restaurant runs at the very top of the Bodrum market, and reviewers note that wine in particular is steep. A dinner for two with the black cod, sushi, and a bottle clears 600 dollars without difficulty.
Is Novikov Bodrum good for impressing clients?
Yes, the setting does a lot of the work. A waterside table among the superyachts on Yalıkavak Marina signals you spared nothing, and the Novikov name is recognised from London to Dubai. Book a table on the water at sunset, order the black cod and a sushi selection for the table, and let the marina view carry the evening. For a quieter business meal, choose a calmer Bodrum room from our dining guide.
What should I order at Novikov Bodrum?
Order the black cod, wrapped and steamed in a banana leaf with sweet miso after a 48-hour marinade, which is the dish the group is known for worldwide. Build around it with a selection from the sushi bar, which reviewers single out as the strongest part of the kitchen, plus the popcorn shrimp and soft-shell crab roll. Keep the wine simple given the markups.