Mett Hotel & Beadch Resort Bodrum Near+Far Verdict: 9/10

Why stay at METT Hotel & Beach Resort Bodrum

Dubai locals will be familiar with Sunset Hospitality Group – a brand behind some of the city’s most-loved outlets like Sushisamba, Isola Ristorante and L’Amo Bistro del Mare. In 2021 the group also made its first foray into the world of hotels with the stylish METT Social Living brand – and the debut property opened in the summer hotspot of Bodrum on the Turkish Riviera. The resort – the first of many set to open in the world’s most glamorous locations – sits in a charming cove near Bodrum town overlooking the sparkling Aegean and Greek islands. GCC locals will feel at home with modern, minimalist design and Dubai touches like an iteration of Mood Lounge and Isola. Much like Bodrum, the beach hotel is a delightful collision of east meets west – and guests can sip on French rosé in Folie beach club before enjoying the flavours of Turkey in Otto. Easily reached from Bodrum airport and home to multiple swimming pools, a private beach and fantastic restaurants – METT Bodrum is the perfect location for a spring, summer or autumn escape.

Location: 9/10

There’s something magical about Haremtan Cove, a small bay just west of Bodrum town, where Mett Hotel & Beach Resort Bodrum lies. The sea shifts with the capricious sky – golden to turquoise to silver – and peaceful gulets and bots bob around in the waves. The cove is just a stone’s throw from the centre of town but feels like a peaceful and remote Mediterranean haven – thanks to its deep blue bay and surrounding rugged hills – topped with the ruins of white windmills – which give a feeling of exclusivity. It’s easy to spend a week here not thinking once f the town just around the corner, but it’s just as easy to pop in for dinner or walk to attractions like Bodrum Castle (its foundations built using stones from the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus) and Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology.

The hotel is also well positioned to expire further afield – and the myriad bays, villages and marinas on Bodrum’s 215-km peninsula. Ritzy Yalikavak marina with Zuma and Hakkasan is around a 40-minute drive away while it’s also possible to get a ferry to the Greek island of Kos – just visible across the bay.

Rooms and suites: 9/10

METT Bodrum’s boutique 103 rooms and villas are dotted across the resort’s sprawling grounds – in a modern main building and on the clifftop – some with panoramic sea views and others with atrium and garden. Rooms are houses in the main building, awash in natural, earthy hues of beige, blue and cream with beach-house chic touches like jute rugs, dried pampas and textured Grecian pots. There are delightful local touches like olive oil soaps and fragrant toiletries by premium Greek brand Korres connecting guests to the Aegean. What’s particularly impressive is the use of space – a glass partition separates a wide ‘bathroom-style’ vanity area where a shower and WC lead off – so you can enjoy the sea views and calming decor even when doing ablutions. Elsewhere, there are 32 eco-chic villas and suites which cling to the hillside – many with private pools and gardens. The latter proves popular with friends and family groups and are available in two to five-bedroom setups.

Food and drink: 9/10

Sunset Hospitality’s roots are in food and beverage, so it’s no surprise its debut hotel’s f&b offering be superlative. Eateries are a delightful mix between Riviera revelry and traditional Turkish – and guests can trot the globe without having to leave the premises. The star is Folie, the French-Riviera-inspired beach club and terrace restaurant almost hovering above the waves with canary yellow sunbeds, sunken hammock and ladders descending into the turquoise ocean. For Turkish cuisine in a modern Mediterranean setting, there’s Otto – spilling out onto a terrace and regularly hosting live music nights. Otto is also the scene for METT’s incredible breakfast – where every dish under the sun can be ordered (make sure to try the traditional Turkish breakfast platter). Poolside eatery Gulet serves all-day classics like burgers and zingy fresh tacos, while Mood Louge – carved into the rocks – serving pan-Asian cuisine with a side of breathtaking sea views. A version of Dubai’s Isola Ristorante is also found, serving Italian cuisine with views over Bodrum town and the cove.

Spa and facilities: 9/10

METT Bodrum’s space-to-room number ratio means it’s never a jostle to enjoy its facilities. With near-year-round sunshine, the resort has plenty of spots to soak up rays – from the grass-fringed main swimming pool to the slick of private beach lining the warm, shallow waters of the Aegean. For a more boujee sunbathing experience book into one of its private cabanas – an ode to the luxury-focused hometown of Dubai – which come with private infinity plunge pools and sound systems, and have a team of DJs and spa therapists on hand for in-cabana visits. Other spa treatments are available at the resort’s Moi spa and wellness centre which houses a modern gym, salt room, sauna, steam room and heated indoor pool.

The verdict

Mett Bodrum is Sunset Hospitality Group at its very best. The focus on food and beverage, creativity and social living shines through, while the hotel’s design and facilities are nothing short of spectacular. The fragrant aroma of local mandarins floats through the air and touches like an in-house art gallery housing abstract works by artist Laura Margarita add another dimension to the experience. If Mett Bodrum is anything to go by, we can’t wait to see the upcoming METT Marbella and Barcelona.

Getting there

Mett Hotel & Beach Resort Bodrum is around a 40-minute drive from Bodrum Milas Airport – with seasonal direct flights to GCC hubs like Dubai (with Flydubai), Riyadh (Flynas) and Kuwait City (Jazeera) with a flight time of around four hours.

Doubles from AED840; mettsocialliving.com/bodrum