What to Actually Try
Piyaz (a white-bean salad specific to Antalya), Antalya-style tandir kebab, and fresh Mediterranean seafood are regional specialties worth seeking out specifically — not just generic "Turkish food" you could find anywhere in the country.
Kaleici for a Proper Meal Out
Antalya's old town has the highest concentration of restaurants with actual character rather than tourist-menu repetition, especially around the harbor — worth the trip even from Lara or Konyaalti for a dedicated dinner out.
Eating in the Resort Districts
Belek, Side, Kemer and Alanya each have their own restaurant strips outside the hotel zones, generally more affordable and more locally-oriented the further you get from the main tourist walkway. Side's old town and Alanya's harbor area are the strongest options for this outside Antalya city itself.
A Practical Note on Prices
Restaurants directly on the busiest tourist strips price noticeably higher than those even one or two streets back — walking a short distance further is a reliable way to eat better for less.
The buffet will feed you every day of the trip, but at least one meal in Kaleici or a district's local restaurant strip is worth the detour for anyone who wants more than an all-inclusive-only picture of Antalya.
Explore Antalya
Antalya
Antalya is Turkey's most popular holiday destination, attracting over 16 million visitors annually. Located on the southwestern Mediterranean coast, it offers ancient ruins, turquoise waters, and world-class resort hotels.