Daiquiri in Side: Strawberry, Mango and Frozen Daiquiris at Hawaii

Hawaii Restaurant & Bar in Side old town lists four daiquiris: a Strawberry Daiquiri made with strawberries, bacardi, soda, lime juice and sugar, plus a Mango Daiquiri, a Pineapple Daiquiri and a Twister frozen Daiquiri. A classic daiquiri is simply rum, lime and sugar. The bar is open daily 10:00–02:00.

What a classic daiquiri is

The daiquiri is one of the oldest and simplest rum cocktails, named after a beach and mining town in Cuba. In its classic form it has only three ingredients: white rum, fresh lime juice and sugar, shaken with ice and served straight up. It is sharp, clean and refreshing, a drink built for heat.

Over the decades the daiquiri grew a second personality: fruit versions and frozen versions blended with ice into a slush. Those are the daiquiris most holidaymakers picture today, and they are the style Hawaii's list leans towards. Fruit softens the sharpness of the lime, and blending with crushed ice turns the drink into something closer to a boozy sorbet, which is very welcome on a hot summer evening on the Turkish coast.

Hawaii's four daiquiris

• Strawberry Daiquiri: listed as strawberries, bacardi, soda, lime juice and sugar. The splash of soda makes it a little longer and lighter than a classic short daiquiri.
• Mango Daiquiri: listed without a description. A mango daiquiri usually swaps in mango for some of the sweetness, giving a softer, more tropical drink.
• Pineapple Daiquiri: also without a description. Pineapple versions are usually bright and tangy, with a pleasant natural acidity that works well alongside the lime.
• Twister frozen Daiquiri: listed without a description. As the name says, it is the frozen option.

Where the menu gives no ingredients, ask the bartender how Hawaii makes it. Recipes vary from bar to bar, and they can tell you how sweet or strong each one is.

The Twister family

The Twister frozen Daiquiri sits beside a small group of other Twister drinks on the list: Twister Mango Kiwi Plum, Twister Pineapple Strawberry, Twister frozen kiwi strawberry and Twister mango strawberry. None has a printed description, so ask at the bar what is in each. For more frozen drinks, see our frozen cocktails in Side guide.

How to choose

• Want the most detail up front? The Strawberry Daiquiri is the one with a full ingredient list on the menu.
• Hot afternoon after the beach? A frozen drink like the Twister cools you down fastest.
• Prefer tropical flavours? Mango or Pineapple.
• Like rum and lime but not fruit? Try the Mojito, listed as bacardi, soda, lime, mint and sugar.
• Like creamy and coconut? The Pina Colada, listed as bacardi, malibu and milk.

Daiquiri versus mojito

Both are Cuban-born rum, lime and sugar drinks. The difference is mint and soda: a mojito is muddled with fresh mint and lengthened with soda, so it is taller and more herbal, while a classic daiquiri is short, shaken and sharp. Hawaii's Strawberry Daiquiri, with its splash of soda, sits somewhere between the two.

Food to pair

Fruit daiquiris are sweet and tangy, so they cut nicely through salty, rich food. Think pizza, a burger, Mexican dishes such as fajitas, or starters like calamari and onion rings. Hawaii serves all of these, alongside grilled meat and chicken cooked over wood fire and charcoal.

Happy Hour and evenings at Hawaii

Happy Hour runs daily from 19:00 to 20:00; ask the bar which drinks are included on the night. Evenings can also mean karaoke or live sport on screens, including football, Premier League, Champions League, F1 and ice hockey. Read the cocktail bar in Side guide for the full drinks picture.

Adults only, drink responsibly

All four daiquiris contain alcohol and are for adults only. Fruit and ice can hide the rum, so pace yourself and drink water too. Children can choose from Hawaii's alcohol-free kids' cocktails: Barbie, Spider Man, Redkiss and Hawaii Cocktail.

Visit Hawaii

Hawaii Restaurant & Bar has been in Side old town since 2000, open daily 10:00–02:00, with free round-trip pickup from selected hotels and a paid two-way transfer from farther areas. Check the live menu for prices and book a table, or message WhatsApp +90 533 930 12 83.