"Aegean seafood on the Alaçatı marina since 1981: go for a waterfront first date, but check the per-kilo fish price first."
About Ferdi Baba
Ferdi Baba started in 1981 as a single fish counter in Aya Yorgi, on the Çeşme peninsula, and grew into one of the Aegean coast's best-known seafood names. The flagship now sits on the Alaçatı marina, a pavilion where the day's catch lies on crushed ice by the door and waiters walk you past it before you sit. There is no printed price for the fish, which is the first thing to understand about eating here. It is sold by weight, the meze add up, and the bill can land well north of expectations.
The Kitchen
There is no marquee chef at Ferdi Baba; it is a family seafood house that has run on the same formula since 1981. You choose cold meze from a counter, then pick a whole fish, sea bass, bream, sometimes turbot or grouper, which is weighed and grilled simply over coals. The kitchen's named plates are worth ordering around the fish: octopus marinated and braised in wine, egg noodles tangled with lobster, a skewered fish kebab, and for dessert the honey-and-almond bal badem or the flaky Ferdi katmer.
Prices are the running theme in reviews. Fresh fish runs roughly 110 euros a kilo, a few meze can reach 40 to 50 euros, and a recent table of three reported a bill near 220 euros. The address is the G-2 port building on the Alaçatı marina, and the house rates 4.0 on Google across more than fourteen hundred reviews. Order well and agree the weight, and it is a fine meal; order loosely and it is an expensive one.
The Room
The setting is the draw. Tables spread along the Alaçatı marina with the boats and the water a few steps away, white linen, and a lively, full-volume buzz on summer nights. Seating is generous and the terrace is large, so it rarely feels cramped, though service can stretch when every table turns at once. Dress is smart-casual and resort-style; no jacket, but Alaçatı dresses up in season. Come at sunset for the light on the harbour, and ask the price per kilo before the fish is weighed.
Best for a Waterfront First Date
Book this room for a waterfront date or a celebration because the marina setting does a lot of the work. Sunset over the harbour, fish chosen together at the counter, and a long, unhurried meze spread make for an easy, romantic evening. The theatre of picking your own fish gives the night a focus, and the location is the prettiest in Alaçatı. Just agree the fish price first so the bill does not sour the mood. For more, see our best first-date restaurants and the global best seafood restaurants.
Not for
Not for a fixed budget. Fish is sold by the kilo at marina prices, the meze add up quickly, and reviewers regularly report bills far bigger than they expected.
Frequently Asked
Is Ferdi Baba worth it?
It depends on how you order. The fish is fresh and the marina setting is among the best in Alaçatı, so for a special waterfront meal it can be worth it. But fish is sold by weight at high prices and the meze add up fast, so the value swings on whether you confirm prices first. Go for the setting and the seafood, order deliberately, and it delivers.
How expensive is Ferdi Baba and how do I avoid bill shock?
It is expensive, and the fish has no fixed menu price. Fresh fish runs around 110 euros a kilo, meze plates 40 to 50 euros, and a table of three can pass 220 euros. The fix is simple: ask the weight and the per-kilo price before the fish is grilled, and count your meze. Confirming the bill components up front is the difference between a fair meal and an unpleasant surprise.
How do I book a table at Ferdi Baba?
Reserve by phone on +90 232 716 90 01, especially in summer when the Alaçatı marina is at its busiest. Sunset and weekend tables on the terrace go first, so call a few days ahead for the prime slots. Walk-ins are sometimes possible midweek or early in the evening. Ask for a waterside table when you book if the view matters to you.
What should I order at Ferdi Baba?
Start with cold meze chosen at the counter, then a whole fish grilled over coals, sea bass or bream are reliable. Among the named plates, the octopus braised in wine, the lobster with egg noodles and the fish kebab are the ones to seek out. Finish with the honey-and-almond bal badem or the Ferdi katmer. Agree the fish weight and price before it is cooked.
Is Ferdi Baba good for a date?
Yes. The marina setting, the sunset over the harbour and the slow, shared meze format make it an easy choice for a romantic evening or a celebration. The one caveat is price: settle the fish cost up front so the bill does not break the mood. For other romantic rooms see our first-date dining guide.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Ferdi Baba
By phone · terrace books out in summer
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
AddressAlaçatı Yat Limanı G-2 Port, 35930 Çeşme, İzmir
NeighbourhoodAlaçatı Marina
CuisineAegean seafood & meze
Average Spend€80–€150+ per person
FishSold by weight (~€110/kg)
Dress CodeSmart-casual
ReservationBy phone · book in summer
