Alcohol in Turkey: choosing hotels and restaurants

Turkey is Muslim-majority, but alcohol is still on sale in places that visitors use. You can plan around it. Choose venues by what they say about their bar and kitchen, ask for the arrangements you want in writing, and keep three ideas apart: a Muslim country, an alcohol-free venue and a halal kitchen.

Why does a Muslim-majority country still serve alcohol?

Because the country’s population and the tourist trade are different things. Pew Research Center estimated that 98.6% of Turkey’s population was Muslim in 2010¹. That is a strong sign, but a hotel built for holiday visitors may still run a bar, a pool bar or a minibar with drinks.

So the share of Muslims tells you about the country, not about your hotel or your table. Treat each venue as its own question.

How do I choose a hotel with less alcohol around?

Ask before you pay, not at the desk.

• Bar location: is it in the lobby, by the pool or in a separate room? A separate room is easier to avoid.
• Pool: is it near the bar, and is there a separate area for families or women?
• Minibar: can it be emptied before arrival?
• Meal package: does it include drinks, and can the alcohol be left out?
• Restaurants on site: which kitchens serve alcohol, and which do not?

The private-stay requirements builder turns these into one list for your family. For what to get in writing, see which arrangements to confirm.

What can I send to a hotel?

Copy and adapt this. Send it with your booking, then repeat the key lines at check-in.

“We are a Muslim family and do not consume alcohol. Please confirm in writing: (1) the minibar in our room will be empty of alcohol before we arrive; (2) our meal plan does not include alcoholic drinks; (3) where the bar and the pool are in relation to our room. We would like a room away from the bar if possible.”

A written reply is the point. A verbal yes at a busy desk is hard to point back to later.

How do I choose a restaurant?

Look at the drinks list before you sit down. Ask whether alcohol is served, and ask for a table away from the bar if it is.

Then ask separately about the food, because a place without alcohol is not automatically halal. For that, our guide on Turkey helal labels explains what you will see and what it means, and the five halal claim states give the vocabulary.

What about families and older parents?

Children may be more comfortable in an area with no bar in sight, so ask about family seating. For older parents, check that the quiet restaurant is also close to the lift, because a long walk to avoid a bar may cost more than it saves. Choose a base where a calm breakfast is easy, then decide how much time to spend elsewhere.

Where do I read next?

Read the Turkey guide for Malaysians for the overall picture. Then compare Istanbul with Cappadocia, since the hotel type and setting change what you should ask. More destinations are in the country and city guides.