Maxx Royal, Bodrum: Turkey’s Most Stylish New Spot

Bodrum is the new Mykonos. That is to say this part of Türkiye is now the cool place to visit in the Mediterranean. It’s already well known of course – with crystal clear waters and guaranteed sun over the summer, just four hours from London, great food, and hotels for every budget, it’s on every holiday list. But now it is hip.

Maxx Royal, Bodrum: Hotel Review

Hotel rooms with a lagoon swimming pool

Maxx Royal is a small boutique Turkish hotel group. Founded in 2011, until recently it had just two hotels in Türkiye, in Antalya. But its latest offering is in Bodrum, wrapped around a picture perfect bay, next door to the Mandarin, and with a Bulgari being built nearby. This part of Bodrum is becoming the Bond Street of Turkish holiday destinations.

The Maxx Royal Bodrum opened in May, and it has a twist: art. Two great artists have created site specific pieces for the new hotel. 

In the reception is a floor to ceiling digital art work by the Turkish artist Refik Anadol. Digital artists find it difficult to be accepted by the arts establishment. But Anadol has recently exhibited at the Musuem of Modern Art in New York, and the Serpentine in London. He is huge, and his huge art work in Bodrum is mesmerising, inspired by data collected from the sea. Pixels soar and swell like the ocean waves, in multi colours. Although the rest of the resort is enticing, you might find it hard to tear yourself away.  

A Bernar Venet sculpture in the hotel

The French artist Bernar Venet, 83 years young, has built a monumental sculpture that rises on each half of the bay. Huge steel beams rise and soar and curve, not meeting but linked by an invisible arch, resembling in some ways the ribs of a long extinct dinosaur, and providing a fitting monumental bay entrance to the resort, in a region that once was home to one of the seven wonders of the world. Venet’s work also appears throughout the hotel with sketches adorning the walls and sculptures dotted around the gardens. 

The resort also has an art gallery full of work by well known artists, and each summer will host 35 artists in artist residence. Of course, hotels working with artists is not a new thing, but Maxx Royal have certainly leaned in and made a huge impact. It’s all been thoughtfully curated by Zeynep Utku, a graduate of St Martin’s.

But you won’t be going just for the art. This is a vast luxury resort that will cater to your every whim. Designed by the leading Turkish architect Mahmut Anlar, it is breathtaking. As is essential these days, the resort is an eco hotel – sustainability is at its heart. It has reduced energy consumption by a quarter, and water usage by almost half, and the extensive gardens are planted with indigenous plants from all over Turkey.

The wellness resort has the most well-appointed gym I have ever seen, as well as a stunning indoor pool. Outside there is a vast saltwater pool, leading down to a beach that entices you gently into the cool waters of the bay. As is typical of Bodrum, there are multiple platforms with sun beds, but also the opportunity to dive in. You can park your yacht at the end of the pier.

The Royal Suite at Maxx Royal Bodrum

You will have to be careful you don’t sink when you swim. The resort has a 24 hour restaurant, as well as signature restaurants which would grace any great city: Caviar Kaspia (a Parisian institution), Wolfgang Puck’s Spago (Puck has a flagship restaurant in LA and has catered the Oscars for thirty years and invented the smoked salmon pizza beloved of Barbara Streisand), the Maine (food from New England curated by a Canadian) and Alfredo Russo’s ORO. There’s even an ice cream parlour.

And then of course there is Scorpios. It’s said there is only one Scorpios but now there are two – the one at Bodrum is only their second site, and this comes with villas attached. It is the nightclub to visit, the hippest place on earth to let your hair down, and the Maxx Royal has enticed them over the sea from Greece.

Maxx Royal Bodrum delivers everything you want for a relaxing summer break. It’s just an hour from the airport, which itself is bright, airy and empty, so the perfect way to start your holiday. From the moment you meet your personal butler, download the hotel app, are whisked in a golf buggy to your suite or villa, a calm and restful stay awaits from the moment you sit down to the fresh Turkish breakfast on the beach to the moment you close your blackout curtains.

BOOK IT:

Rates start from €875/approx. £750 based on two people sharing a luxury suite with a sea view including breakfast. Access to the Maxxi Land Kid’s Club is complimentary for children aged 3-12 years old. maxxroyal.com