Susona Bodrum review: 9/10

Why book Susona Bodrum

The Bodrum peninsula spans 215 kilometres, with grove-covered mountains and clusters of chalky white villages. Tucked away on the northern coastline near Torba Bay, but just six kilometres from Bodrum town, lies Susona Bodrum. The property, reborn in 2020 under Hilton’s LXR brand, juts out into the ocean on a garden-covered pontoon, a maze of brilliant white, Guggenheim-esque structures. Susona Bodrum takes its name from a mythological aquatic creature, and everything here is a nod to the ocean, from the rippled buildings to the panoramas from its sunlight-bathed lodgings. Susona Bodrum has just 72 in total, a collection of ultra-modern sugar-cube structures with private pools, gardens and sweeping terraces. Looking out from a terrace across the bay shows the lay of the land, the tiny port of Torba with its decades-old cafés and sun-pummelled hills, their thick pine tree forests concealing ultra-luxury hotels.

Mandarins grow freely here, and blooming fruit trees line Susona Bodrum’s grounds, an expanse fringed by soft ochre sands and stretches of wooden decking with ladders plunging into the sea. Occasionally, a secluded jetty juts out with a lonesome pair of sun loungers; elsewhere lies a protected family bay, while the main pontoon is dotted with billowing white cabanas and loungers. Once home to Nikki Beach Bodrum, the resort now sways to a more laid-back bear, the sounds of chirping and waves rather than the thumps of DJ (though Frankie Beach Club – once the Nikki Beach pool – knows how to throw a party). LXR’s brand method of local immersion is a key selling point here – and guests have plenty of excursions to choose from, on-site and off, plus an extensive and eco-friendly food and beverage programme, pioneered by one of Turkey’s most revered restauranteurs and an army of passionate staff.

Rooms and suites: 9/10

Winding along the rocky shoreline of what feels like an exclusive garden-covered pontoon, Susona has 72 villas, rooms and suites, all housed in brilliant ultra-modern cube structures. Top-tier villas come with small private gardens and private plunge pools, all opening up onto the winding path and panoramic sea views. At the top-end, three-bedroom Aegean suites with garden, pool and spacious living area and king suites with pools and balconies. Entry-level rooms are equally as chic, but with partial sea views, balconies and terraces. Ours was a King Premium with a Balcony, and looking out from across the bay revealed a sweeping view of the tiny port of Torba, pine-carpeted hills and the Aegean itself.  

All rooms are awash in soothing whites, creams, greens and blues and come stocked with Nespresso machines, overflowing minibars and free-standing bathtubs. LXR is all about making local connections, and with that, brightly-lit bathrooms are stocked with products from local brand Atelier Rebul. Its sweet, delicate mandarin fragrance is so addictive, in fact, hotel guests would beg housekeepers and staff for handfuls of mini products to take away. Luckily, there’s now an on-site shop stocking full-sized versions. 

Vibe: 9/10

There’s an almost space-age-like feel to the resort, made up of sugar cube-like villas, rooms and suites that circle around a Guggenheim-esque-like structure. The structure houses the hotel’s two main restaurants – which are a sea or rattan and wicker (traditional Bodrum decor) and offer stunning sea views. The gardens are magnificent, all emerald green and lush, and a winding path leads you along the craggy coastline past hidden family beaches, stretching jetties with lonesome sunloungers and a set of swings. ‘If you didn’t want to be found, it’s very easy,’ a fellow guest tells us. The vibe is generally peaceful and grown up, but those looking for a vibe reminiscent of its former Nikki Beach Days can head to Frankie Beach Club for a pool party vibe with great DJs and a good-looking crowd.

Food and drink: 10/10

The hotel’s extensive and wildly underrated food and beverage programme is a real pull to checking in here – spearheaded by Kaya Demirer, founder of famed Frankie Istanbul – and aiding an
entire ecosystem. Menus at buzzing Frankie Beach Club, laid-back Ezi and fine-dining Malva are sourced from the peninsula and Aegean area, at local markets and from trusted suppliers. Mandarin jams and baklava, pink tomato salads and the freshest catch feature, but none are as intriguing as lionfish ceviche. A prickly and dangerous creature from the Red Sea, it found its way to the Mediterranean after the creation of the Suez Canal, causing havoc in the ecosystem due to over-population. Inside, the flesh is juicy and white; noticing this, Susona added lionfish ceviche to the menu, creating demand for skilled lionfish fishermen. Breakfast is truly sublime – bulging trays of traditional Turkish spreads with thick yoghurt, locally caught honey, warm pide and fresh fruit.

Spa and facilities: 9/10

Susona leave guests not wanting for anything, two its various swimming pools and private beach to its 24-hour fitness centre and modern Seoul Spa. The hotel has two main pools, one at Frankie Beach Club, for a more party vibe, and the other a peaceful rooftop infinity pool overlooking the sea. The island is lined with decking for solo sunbathing, complete with iconic Bodrum ladders descending into the ocean, and there’s a narrow stretch of family beach home to a creativity-focused kid’s club and plenty of waterside jetties to dive from. Championing the locale, Seol Spa offers a host of Turkish Hamman treatments (along with traditional treatments), and there’s a super modern indoor outdoor gym. 

Not normally big on organised excursions, we took the plunge and booked onto a trip to a local market with executive chef Gökhan Sinmaz – something we still think about to this day. A kaleidoscope of the ripest tomatoes, creamiest cheeses and most fragrant herbs are snapped up, then transformed into a unique meal on return. Guests dine in bohemian Malva overlooking the coastline, dishes washed down by the finest Turkish grape paired by the impassioned resident sommelier, or Aegean-inspired drinks from the award-winning Malva bar. Other jollies beyond the property include a trip to local vineyards, a sandal-making workshop and a visit to Etrim Village, where luxury Turkish carpets are sold. But the swishest is jumping on Susona’s sleek jet black houseboat to whiz across the peninsula to the iconic hotel Maçakizi, a stalwart since the 1970s, or pulsating Göltürkbükü – its wooden decks shining with sun-kissed limbs.

Anything to add?

Susona’s dedication to the environment and sustainability should be loudly applauded. The property is home to its own organic herb garden, used throughout the restaurants and bars, and menus focus on local and sustainable dishes and produce.

Insider tip

For private island vibes, head to the secluded jetty near the property’s private beach, where just four very spread-out sunloungers can be found. Ladders lead deep into the twinkling turquoise water and there’s an unrivalled sense of peace and tranquillity. 

Verdict

As part of LXR, Susona Bodrum is all about championing the locale and making local connections, and as a result feels more like an ultra-luxury boutique hotel than part of a global hotel chain. 

Reopens on 10th May, doubles from about AED1,100. hilton.com

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