D Maris Bay: Where the Aegean Meets Ease

There are few approaches to a hotel quite as cinematic as the one that leads to D Maris Bay. A long private road winds through thick pine forest, every now and again trees part to reveal turquoise coves and wild headlands. Some will of course arrive by yacht, others by the resort’s private helipad, which doubles up as the perfect spot to watch the Sunset. Whether arriving by road, sea, or air, you’ll be welcomed by that distinct brand of heartfelt Turkish hospitality, almost immediately the team feels like family. As you walk through to a terrace (one of many!) overlooking the bay, drinks waiting, you start to soak in just how effortlessly luxurious and yet impossibly remote this resort is.

Mornings at D Maris Bay begin with what might just be one of the best breakfasts in Europe. The buffet, with every imaginable option, fresh pastries, eggs made to order, local delicacies, fresh juices, and wellness pots for the health conscious, and then a charcuterie section that could cover you through to lunch! The service is authentically Turkish, always with a wide smile, and arriving just seconds before needed, sometimes already knowing what it is you’re after.

Your fellow guests will include young couples, elegant elders. smart families (the resort has babysitters, a kids club, and children’s areas), and even groups celebrating milestones. Yet your experience somehow remains personal, private, peaceful.

What really distinguishes this resort is the abundance of options. You can spend the day drifting between beaches each with their own character and energy, enjoy wellness experiences and water sports, or make yourself comfortable on a lounger and do very little. Our favourite spot for the day is the Silence beach, which operates a no-phone, music or under-12s policy. Not forgetting the funicular running down the beaches. You've also got indoor pools, outdoor pools, a sprawling spa equipped with 10 treatment rooms, jacuzzi, sauna and steam, gym, open-air yoga studio, tennis courts and a running track that loops around the grounds (yes the views are phenomenal).

For the active, the options are impressive. The gym is generously stocked with the latest Technogym equipment, so you’ll feel like it’s your own each time you visit. There’s even a terrace that overlooks the bay, so you can finish a morning workout watching the mist lift off the water. The water sports centre on the shorefront is a sleek operation: paddleboards, kayaks, sailing, waterskiing, wakeboarding, diving for those who want to see under the Aegean and even an amphibian plane that tours the mountains. Or if you’re a true gentleman you can try out the tennis courts before a glass of champagne by the boules pit, at sunset.

Dining at the five restaurants around the resort is perhaps the best bit. Each with a unique offering and globally renowned. There's Zuma, all polished energy, cocktails, and sushi, think Mayfair with a view. La Guérite, the chicest beach club with sister outposts in St Barts and Cannes. Then Manos, the Greek taverna serving classic island charm, whitewashed tables, grilled seabass, chilled rosé and where an afternoon lunch easily turns into late night dancing. Our favourite, Aurora, with the flair of Italian fine-dining and the flavours of Anatolian produce. A place for slow dinners, long conversations, and cocktail perfection.

The atmosphere of D Maris Bay is indulgent and glamorous yet understated and serene, a hard balance to strike. It’s a destination for early swims, long lunches, and unhurried evenings. It’s possible to genuinely relax here. Finally, not enough can be said about the exceptional service. Beach attendants appear just as you realise you’re thirsty and the concierge will arrange an impromptu sunset cruise before you’ve even thought to ask. The warmth here isn’t rehearsed, it’s part of the place. As you head reluctantly back home, the ground behind you will be splashed with a copper jug of water – the Turkish was of saying ‘we wish you well and see you soon.’