Gül Hürgel is the designer behind her eponymous fashion label, known for predominantly using light linen fabrics inspired by her love for the Mediterranean. She spent her early school years in the Swiss mountains before studying fashion design at Parsons School of Art and Design in Paris and New York, and today lives and works in her beloved, vibrant hometown of Istanbul, set along the shores of the Bosphorus. Her frequent journeys along the Mediterranean coast, and to the olive groves of her native Turkey, continue to shape her collections.
With an aunt and uncle who have called Bodrum home for many years, Gül returns to the peninsula every summer. Over time, a personal geography has emerged: a handful of places she comes back to, not because they are new, but because they never disappoint.
Here, her edit for IRMASWORLD of a town best enjoyed at half speed.
THE BEACH
Doria Beach. A quietly beautiful stretch of sea in Bitez, ideal for surrendering an entire afternoon. Peaceful, elegantly set, and blissfully unhurried.
Aktur Residence Girişi, Bitez, 48400 Bodrum
BREAKFAST
Brekkie. Warm, welcoming, and genuinely friendly, with a laid back California air. It is also one of those rare places where animals are treated as part of the family, which tells you everything about the spirit of the house.
Konacık Mah., 1126. Sokak No:1-2, Bitez, 48470 Bodrum · @brekkiebitez
LUNCH
Kısmet Lokantası. A classic Turkish esnaf lokantası in the old town, serving comforting home style cooking and the honest flavours of the Aegean. Lunch only, and all the better for it.
Çırkan Mah., Çelebi Kaptan Sokak No:3/A, 48400 Bodrum
COFFEE AND CULTURE
Zai Bodrum. Part café, part library, part gallery, set in a shaded garden. Perfect for a coffee break or a slow summer evening, with concerts and cultural events woven into the season.
Çırkan Mah., Halide Edip Adıvar Caddesi No:7, 48400 Bodrum
DINNER
Divan Pub. The evening favourite in Bodrum town, right on the marina. Lively atmosphere, reliable kitchen, and the kind of place where dinner stretches effortlessly into the night.
Çarşı Mah., Neyzen Tevfik Caddesi No:5, 48400 Bodrum
THE EXCURSION
Garova Vineyards. A short drive from town, this family run estate is where Mehmet Bey pours his wines and tells their stories. The estate produced reds are exceptional. Leaving without a few bottles is simply not done.
Pınarlıbelen Mah., Karanlık Sokak No:55, 48440 Bodrum
THE FIND
EC.Diamond, Milta Marina. A hidden treasure for jewellery lovers on the marina road, with a carefully curated collection of antique and one of a kind handcrafted pieces.
Eskiçeşme Mah., Neyzen Tevfik Caddesi No:26/C, 48400 Bodrum
“Bodrum, for me, is all about slowing down, enjoying simple pleasures, and returning to the places that always feel like home.”
— Gül Hürgel