Eating Out in Istanbul
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Istanbul Restaurants & Dining: An Insider's Guide to Eating Out
Around Galata Tower
For a view:
Rooftop bar/restaurant of Galata Anemon Hotel opposite the Tower.
Konak Cafe & Patisserie at the corner of Camekan Sokak, just past the Beyoglu Eye Hospital
has a lovely rooftop terrace with a magnificent view -- the food isn't bad and the pastries are
yummy. No alcohol though.
For simple, tasty, inexpensive meals:
Adiguzel Lokantasi in the basement of Glorya Apartments on Galata Kulesi Sokak (Lunch only).
You can’t go wrong with Güney Restaurant at the Galata Tower Plaza. A choice of tasty home
style soups and hot dishes every day and a full lunch of soup, main dish, dessert & coffee will run
you only 20 TL. Outdoor seating on the plaza as well as a stylishly done upstairs area for dinner.
Next door is KivaHan (tables outside) for regional Turkish cuisine (ingredients unexplained in any
language however which makes choosing difficult) served with style. Enginar for a variety of
Turkish and international dishes in an attractive space.
Other local spots:
Next door to Bereket Apartments on Camekan Sokak is Cherry Bean Coffees, which roasts its
own coffee and makes its own chocolate. For a more Turkish snack, try the borek (flaky pastry
with cheese) with a glass of tea at the corner shop on Galata Kulesi Soakak. Next door to the
Anemon hotel is a reliable "bufe" -- a good bet is the freshly squeezed orange juice accompanied
by a grilled cheese toast -- my favorite bufe/street food.
Walking down the hill from Glorya Apartments on Galata Kulesi Sokak, on your right is Nardis
Jazz Club. After the parking lot, is a newly opened restaurant serving in an attractive courtyard.
Further down the hill on the left is Galata House, a favorite of many of our guests. The fomer
prison yard offers alfresco dining in the summer months, specialties from the Caucasus and live
piano music some nights.
Down Buyuk Hendek Caddesi (the street with the banks that goes directly to the Tower) past the
synagogue is Sishane plaza. Big Chefs right across from the metro station has exposed bring walls,
an attractive bar, eclectic decor, hip clientele and a wide-ranging menu. Open from the morning
until the late hours, you can enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner here. With burgers, pizzas, steak and
salads, alongside contemporary takes on Turkish favorites, it’s a good place to take kids too.
Medium priced. Around the corner on the main avenue, you'll see Istanbul Foundation for Culture
& Arts. X Restaurant on the top floor affords a superb view of the Golden Horn from the terrace
— but beware the prices! Best to go for a coffee or drink (not wine though at 25 TL per glass!)
and skip the over-priced food which features unsuccessful flavor combinations.
Tunel/Asmalimescit: Just a quick walk from Glorya & Bereket Apartments:
A cheerful collection of restaurants and cafes nestled in the streets around Tunel. Lots of place to
choose from. Try KaVe in the pleasant garden courtyard of the building opposite the Tunel metro
stop and Lokal for excellent food with an Asian touch at reasonable prices. The popular House
Cafe has a good menu (great for American style breakfast) and a larger, very attractive place on
Istiklal near St Antuan. Leblon and Otto are both extremely popular. Lokal has a Thai-influenced
menu; lunches are an excellent value here. Also recommended are several popular meyhanes
including Yakup 2, Refik, Yaren & Sofyali.
Click here for a brief guide of restaurants in this area.
Istiklal Caddesi
BalikPazari-Nevizade Street: A group of small fish restaurants and taverns in the Galatasaray
area. Can be a bit on the raunchy side at night. Ask the price of the fish before ordering and eating
to avoid an unpleasant bill when the check arrives. Generally overpriced.
A great variety of cafes, winebars and restaurants van be found along and around the avenue,
including several Starbucks (the one near Tunel has a pleasant garden in the back) and Gloria
Jean’s and Ara for coffee, Burger King and McDonald’s for fastfood, Zencefil and Nature &
Peace for vegetarian fare, Hala for gozleme (Turkish style crepes), Rejans for nostalgia, lemon
vodka and mediocre food, Istanbul 360 for dazzling views, the in-crowd and inventive food.
Mikla on top of the Marmara Pera Hotel is an acclaimed high-budget restaurant with a panoramic
view. Leb-i Derya on top of the Richmond Hotel has an ambitious menu and a terrific view.
The list goes on and on. Delicatessen and Moreish on Meşrutiyet Caddesi adjacent to the Pera
Musuem serve innovative cuisine, featuring hip, contemporary decor.
If you follow the road going downhill from Galatasaray Lycee and turn left at the first cross street,
you will come upon La Rue Francaise (Fransiz Sokak) a group of French-themed cafes and
bars.Variable quality for food, but a very lively ambiance. Try Cezayir at the entrance to the
street in a grand old Italian building, a favorite with the affluent intelligentsia with a garden in the
reat. Another favorite is Artiste Terasse.
Tophane
The Istanbul Modern Cafe serves very good food and offers a spectacular view, providing a
cruise ship is not tied up in front. Terrace for outdoor dining. Open until midnight except
Mondays.. Accessible by its own staircase. Not inexpensive but a satisfying dining experience.
Cihangir
A chic bohemian residential area of Beyoglu with a number of good, reasonably priced
restaurants.To get there from Galata, walk down Istiklal to Galatasaray. After passing the
monumental gates, take first right. Continue along this street past Galatasaray Hamam, Greek
Consulate and a cluster of antique shops. Continue to the right at end of street until you come to
Firuzaga Mosque and its Sadirvan (fountain for washing before prayers). Here turn left uphill and
cross the main road (Siraselviler) where you will see Rafineri, a good cafe/restaurant with
imaginative cooking and tables on the sidewalk in good weather. Proceed along Akarsu Sokak
and you will find Kahvedan, a pleasant cafe with outdoor tables popular with the many foreign
reidents of Cihangir where event he graffiti is in English(!), Meyra, a fashionable bar/restaurant
and Cafe Smyrna, an eclectic cafe with tasty food. Continue to the left at the end of the street,
taking a right opposite the taxi stand. Walk on to find Cafe Susam, a funky cafe with tables
outside serving homemade pastries, lunch & dinner, a favorite with local expats and film industry
types. Nearby Cuppa is a favorite for brunch. There are a bunch of other small cafes here. Further
along on Susam Sokak is the highly-rated, hip White Mill with a peaceful garden in the back.
Continue to the end of the street, then turn left into Cihangir Caddesi. Here you will find Jash, an
attractive place with an Armenian inspired menu and a bit further on on your right is Kaktus, a
well-established bistro. On the corner of Soganli and Oba Sokak, you will find 5. Kat, the fifth
floor roof cafe restaurant with a fabulous view favored by the gay crowd. There are many other
attractive spots on the side streets of Cihangir --walk around and you'll find some. New cafes
seem to open everyday.
Taksim Square/Ayazpasa
Kitchenette on the ground floor of The Marmara hotel is attractive but the service --at least for
breakfast -- leaves a lot to be desired. Right next to Ataturk Cultural Center, currently closed for a
renovation that is yet to begin, Gezi Cafe serves delicious cakes downstairs and full meals
upstairs. Walk down the tree lined avenue to the Ayazpasa Russian Restaurant, a small
neighborhood place that serves classic Istanbul Russian dishes. On the other side of the street, try
Pucci Plus for stylish Italian food and good views. There are also two Chinese restaurants of
varying quality along this avenue. On Siraselviler, Changa serves up interesting fusion cuisine in
a chic atmosphere. Mimolette is another upscale choice.
Tesvikiye/Macka/Nisantasi/Beşiktaş
A fashionable district with exclusive boutiques and smart restaurants and cafes.
Try the Milli Reasurans courtyard complex for Zanzibar and Cafe Wien, coffeehouses, book
shops and cinema. On Abdi Ipekci Caddesi, try the fashionable Beymen Brasserie or
Mezzaluna for excellent Italian fare. This is the Bond Street/ Madison Avenue of Istanbul with
the prices and people to match. Very lively at night with fashionably dressed folk going from bar
to bar. Kosebasi (in Macka) and Tike (in Nisantasi) are branches of the city's best-loved upscale
kebab restaurants. Taps Brewery & Restaurant (Tesvikiye Caddesi Atiye Sokak No: 5) serves
its own craft beers in a chic setting. Popular with the American & British communities. Vogue, on
the top floor of an office building off Spor Caddesi, the road going up from Beşiktaş to Maçka, is
one of the city's most stylish restaurants with a superb view and first-class food. Terrace and bar.
Sunday brunch. Excessively expensive for dinner--go for lunch instead.
Ortaköy & Bebek Along the Bosphorus
Feriye Restaurant on the Bosphorus between the Ciragan and Ortakoy offers both a spectacular
setting and an inventive Turkish nouvelle menu. Expensive. Recommended for a special night out
or a business dinner. Guaranteed to impress. Meditrina (Salhane Sok. No 3) in Ortaköy is a
fashionable Italian restaurant with a gourmet menu, great view and uncomfortable chairs.
Downstairs the ubiquitous House Cafe offers outdoor seating. JCs Istanbul Jazz Center (next
to the Radisson SAS Hotel) is an upscale jazz supper club with a changing schedule of performing
artists. Better to skip the food though and just have a drink. Bebek, a chic community on the
shores of the Bosphorus, offers a variety of places along the water : for breakfast, try the large,
laid-back Starbucks, the smaller Cafe Nero or Bebek Cafe next to the park. Get your orange
juice from the buffet in the park for 2 TL--a glass of OJ in one of the cafes costs 8TL! Gunes and
Bebek Restaurant are both upscale fish restaurants with prices to match.
The Golden Horn
People in Istanbul prefer to eat fish out rather than preparing it at home. Thus the hundreds of fish
restaurants in the city. A good alternative to sitting in traffic trying to get out to the Bosphorus is
to try one of several good fish restaurants on the Golden Horn, just across the Ataturk Bridge
from Sishane (not the Galata Bridge). Cibalikapi Balikcisi is known for its wide variety of
appetizers (meze) and the freshness of its fish. Good view too. Next door Ottoman serves food
from the Antakya region. The fish restaurants in Karakoy facing the ferry terminal and on the
lower level of the Galata Bridge are another option within walking distance. Zeyrekhane, on a
hill just before the aquaduct, occupies a splendid location amidst Byzantine ruins. The view from
the wide terrace of Suleymaniye is terrific and the food is well-prepared.
The Bosphorus
For that trip up the Bosphorus, try Iskele in Paşabahçe (just before Beykoz) on the Asian side if
you feel like splurging. Perfect location on the water with a deck, quiet, excellent service, stylish
decor and very good food. Open everyday from 12.00-15.00 and 19.00-00.00. Mavi in
Kurucesme has some of the best seafood in Istanbul. Great view and wide terrace over the water.
Be forewarned though: eating fish along the Bosphorus required deep pockets!
Old City
Istanbul’s modern gourmet restaurants are located in the affluent and hip districts of Beyoglu and
the Bosphorus but the Sultanahmet/Bazaar area offers good value in simple tradesmen’s
restaurants and kebap houses as well as more upscale, international fare (and alcoholic beverages)
at tourist and hotel restaurants. Pandeli in the Spice Bazaar overlooking the Galata Bridge is great
and atmospheric place for lunch but be sure to stay away from their overpriced appetizer plate and
order their classic dishes instead- an eggplant borek topped with a slice of doner, seabass cooked
in paper and a light pudding made with sour cherries (visne). Tucked between Haghia Sophia and
the walls of Topkapi Palace is Cafe Turing part of the Ayasofya Konaklari on Sogukcesme
Sokak-- the food is pretty good, prices are reasonable, service is good and the large sunny terrace
gives a great view of Haghia Sophia from the rear. In the first courtyard of Topkapi Palace next to
Byzantine church (now concert venue) Haghia Irini is the first-class Karakol with tables outside
on the lawn and pretty, high-ceiling rooms inside the restored 19th century police station, serving
inventive gourmet fare. Be prepared to splurge though; a meal for two will run close to $100 or
more.
For guests staying in Aslan Apartments who want to eat nearby, try Amedros Cafe &
Restaurant within easy walking distance just off the main avenue (where the tramway runs):
(Divanyolu Cad Hoce Rustem Sok No 7) Other top choices on the far side of Sultanahmet:
Aloran Restaurant on Akbiyik Caddesi Adliye Sokak no: 11 and Kathisma Cafe Restaurant
Akbiyik Caddesi No:26.
In the Grand (Covered) Bazaar: daytime only, closed Sundays, no alcohol
Havuzlu: A daily assortment of some 25 dishes, including a variety of meat and vegetable stews.
The food is homey, well made, and fresh. Gani Çelebi Sokak 3,
Fes Café: With funky orange Lucite chairs and fresh flowers on the tables, Fes Café provides a
shot of modern style in the heart of the Grand Bazaar. A great place to sit back and watch the
comings and goings of the bazaar. Halicilar Caddesi 58-62
Bedesten Cafe & Patisserie, one of the best places in the Grand Bazaar to take a short break.
The sophisticated food and drinks are served amid the unique melodies of Islamic mystic music.
Cevahir Bedesten No: 143-51
Café Life serves various European coffees, daily cakes, cookies, flans, desserts, classical Turkish
soups, sandwiches, salads, crepes, hot dogs, hot beverages and grilled sandwiches to its customers.
Hot beverages made of various herbs. Halıcılar cad. No:53,
Café Sultan serves crepes, salads and grilled sandwiches with an Italian/Austrian flair. Guests
can also choose from more than thirty kinds of coffee and delicious cakes. Halıcılar cad. No:44-46-
48
Traditional home-cooking informal restaurants
Cemberlitaş Lokantası Just down the street from the Cemberlitaş hamam at the Nurruosmaniye
entrance of the Bazaar. Tasty simple lunches at very reasonable prices. Vegetarian dishes. Good
soups. Point and choose.
Kurucu Ali Baba Kanaat Lokantası Opposite Süleymaniye Mosque. Four generations serving
kuru fasülye, a traditional dish of white beans stewed with lamb and served with rice. Prof. Sıddık
Sami Onar Caddesi 1/3, Süleymaniye; tel. +90 212 520 7655.
Tarihi Cesme: Located near Byzantine Kucuk Haghia Sophia (Sergius & Bacchus) mosque and
the old Sokullu baths, the 3-storey restaurant has a romantic garden with a view on the centuries
old fountain and the picturesque streets. Traditional Turkish dishes, kebabs fresh fish and pides.
Out by Kariye Camii (St. Savior in Chora)
Asitane: Located close to the 11th century Byzantine church St. Savior in Chora -- a must see
while in Istanbul -- a pleasant, unique restaurant serving Ottoman specialties prepared nowhere
else in Istanbul, following almost forgotten centuries old recipes. Kariye Camii Sok. 18, Edirnekapi
For other recommendations, click here.
Best Blog for Istanbul Travellers & Expats
Bradmans Guide to Istanbul's Best Restaurants
World 66:Beyoglu Restaurants
.I love good food
A Culinary Revival in Istanbul
Around Galata Tower
For a view:
Rooftop bar/restaurant of Galata Anemon Hotel opposite the Tower.
Konak Cafe & Patisserie at the corner of Camekan Sokak, just past the Beyoglu Eye Hospital
has a lovely rooftop terrace with a magnificent view -- the food isn't bad and the pastries are
yummy. No alcohol though.
For simple, tasty, inexpensive meals:
Adiguzel Lokantasi in the basement of Glorya Apartments on Galata Kulesi Sokak (Lunch only).
You can’t go wrong with Güney Restaurant at the Galata Tower Plaza. A choice of tasty home
style soups and hot dishes every day and a full lunch of soup, main dish, dessert & coffee will run
you only 20 TL. Outdoor seating on the plaza as well as a stylishly done upstairs area for dinner.
Next door is KivaHan (tables outside) for regional Turkish cuisine (ingredients unexplained in any
language however which makes choosing difficult) served with style. Enginar for a variety of
Turkish and international dishes in an attractive space.
Other local spots:
Next door to Bereket Apartments on Camekan Sokak is Cherry Bean Coffees, which roasts its
own coffee and makes its own chocolate. For a more Turkish snack, try the borek (flaky pastry
with cheese) with a glass of tea at the corner shop on Galata Kulesi Soakak. Next door to the
Anemon hotel is a reliable "bufe" -- a good bet is the freshly squeezed orange juice accompanied
by a grilled cheese toast -- my favorite bufe/street food.
Walking down the hill from Glorya Apartments on Galata Kulesi Sokak, on your right is Nardis
Jazz Club. After the parking lot, is a newly opened restaurant serving in an attractive courtyard.
Further down the hill on the left is Galata House, a favorite of many of our guests. The fomer
prison yard offers alfresco dining in the summer months, specialties from the Caucasus and live
piano music some nights.
Down Buyuk Hendek Caddesi (the street with the banks that goes directly to the Tower) past the
synagogue is Sishane plaza. Big Chefs right across from the metro station has exposed bring walls,
an attractive bar, eclectic decor, hip clientele and a wide-ranging menu. Open from the morning
until the late hours, you can enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner here. With burgers, pizzas, steak and
salads, alongside contemporary takes on Turkish favorites, it’s a good place to take kids too.
Medium priced. Around the corner on the main avenue, you'll see Istanbul Foundation for Culture
& Arts. X Restaurant on the top floor affords a superb view of the Golden Horn from the terrace
— but beware the prices! Best to go for a coffee or drink (not wine though at 25 TL per glass!)
and skip the over-priced food which features unsuccessful flavor combinations.
Tunel/Asmalimescit: Just a quick walk from Glorya & Bereket Apartments:
A cheerful collection of restaurants and cafes nestled in the streets around Tunel. Lots of place to
choose from. Try KaVe in the pleasant garden courtyard of the building opposite the Tunel metro
stop and Lokal for excellent food with an Asian touch at reasonable prices. The popular House
Cafe has a good menu (great for American style breakfast) and a larger, very attractive place on
Istiklal near St Antuan. Leblon and Otto are both extremely popular. Lokal has a Thai-influenced
menu; lunches are an excellent value here. Also recommended are several popular meyhanes
including Yakup 2, Refik, Yaren & Sofyali.
Click here for a brief guide of restaurants in this area.
Istiklal Caddesi
BalikPazari-Nevizade Street: A group of small fish restaurants and taverns in the Galatasaray
area. Can be a bit on the raunchy side at night. Ask the price of the fish before ordering and eating
to avoid an unpleasant bill when the check arrives. Generally overpriced.
A great variety of cafes, winebars and restaurants van be found along and around the avenue,
including several Starbucks (the one near Tunel has a pleasant garden in the back) and Gloria
Jean’s and Ara for coffee, Burger King and McDonald’s for fastfood, Zencefil and Nature &
Peace for vegetarian fare, Hala for gozleme (Turkish style crepes), Rejans for nostalgia, lemon
vodka and mediocre food, Istanbul 360 for dazzling views, the in-crowd and inventive food.
Mikla on top of the Marmara Pera Hotel is an acclaimed high-budget restaurant with a panoramic
view. Leb-i Derya on top of the Richmond Hotel has an ambitious menu and a terrific view.
The list goes on and on. Delicatessen and Moreish on Meşrutiyet Caddesi adjacent to the Pera
Musuem serve innovative cuisine, featuring hip, contemporary decor.
If you follow the road going downhill from Galatasaray Lycee and turn left at the first cross street,
you will come upon La Rue Francaise (Fransiz Sokak) a group of French-themed cafes and
bars.Variable quality for food, but a very lively ambiance. Try Cezayir at the entrance to the
street in a grand old Italian building, a favorite with the affluent intelligentsia with a garden in the
reat. Another favorite is Artiste Terasse.
Tophane
The Istanbul Modern Cafe serves very good food and offers a spectacular view, providing a
cruise ship is not tied up in front. Terrace for outdoor dining. Open until midnight except
Mondays.. Accessible by its own staircase. Not inexpensive but a satisfying dining experience.
Cihangir
A chic bohemian residential area of Beyoglu with a number of good, reasonably priced
restaurants.To get there from Galata, walk down Istiklal to Galatasaray. After passing the
monumental gates, take first right. Continue along this street past Galatasaray Hamam, Greek
Consulate and a cluster of antique shops. Continue to the right at end of street until you come to
Firuzaga Mosque and its Sadirvan (fountain for washing before prayers). Here turn left uphill and
cross the main road (Siraselviler) where you will see Rafineri, a good cafe/restaurant with
imaginative cooking and tables on the sidewalk in good weather. Proceed along Akarsu Sokak
and you will find Kahvedan, a pleasant cafe with outdoor tables popular with the many foreign
reidents of Cihangir where event he graffiti is in English(!), Meyra, a fashionable bar/restaurant
and Cafe Smyrna, an eclectic cafe with tasty food. Continue to the left at the end of the street,
taking a right opposite the taxi stand. Walk on to find Cafe Susam, a funky cafe with tables
outside serving homemade pastries, lunch & dinner, a favorite with local expats and film industry
types. Nearby Cuppa is a favorite for brunch. There are a bunch of other small cafes here. Further
along on Susam Sokak is the highly-rated, hip White Mill with a peaceful garden in the back.
Continue to the end of the street, then turn left into Cihangir Caddesi. Here you will find Jash, an
attractive place with an Armenian inspired menu and a bit further on on your right is Kaktus, a
well-established bistro. On the corner of Soganli and Oba Sokak, you will find 5. Kat, the fifth
floor roof cafe restaurant with a fabulous view favored by the gay crowd. There are many other
attractive spots on the side streets of Cihangir --walk around and you'll find some. New cafes
seem to open everyday.
Taksim Square/Ayazpasa
Kitchenette on the ground floor of The Marmara hotel is attractive but the service --at least for
breakfast -- leaves a lot to be desired. Right next to Ataturk Cultural Center, currently closed for a
renovation that is yet to begin, Gezi Cafe serves delicious cakes downstairs and full meals
upstairs. Walk down the tree lined avenue to the Ayazpasa Russian Restaurant, a small
neighborhood place that serves classic Istanbul Russian dishes. On the other side of the street, try
Pucci Plus for stylish Italian food and good views. There are also two Chinese restaurants of
varying quality along this avenue. On Siraselviler, Changa serves up interesting fusion cuisine in
a chic atmosphere. Mimolette is another upscale choice.
Tesvikiye/Macka/Nisantasi/Beşiktaş
A fashionable district with exclusive boutiques and smart restaurants and cafes.
Try the Milli Reasurans courtyard complex for Zanzibar and Cafe Wien, coffeehouses, book
shops and cinema. On Abdi Ipekci Caddesi, try the fashionable Beymen Brasserie or
Mezzaluna for excellent Italian fare. This is the Bond Street/ Madison Avenue of Istanbul with
the prices and people to match. Very lively at night with fashionably dressed folk going from bar
to bar. Kosebasi (in Macka) and Tike (in Nisantasi) are branches of the city's best-loved upscale
kebab restaurants. Taps Brewery & Restaurant (Tesvikiye Caddesi Atiye Sokak No: 5) serves
its own craft beers in a chic setting. Popular with the American & British communities. Vogue, on
the top floor of an office building off Spor Caddesi, the road going up from Beşiktaş to Maçka, is
one of the city's most stylish restaurants with a superb view and first-class food. Terrace and bar.
Sunday brunch. Excessively expensive for dinner--go for lunch instead.
Ortaköy & Bebek Along the Bosphorus
Feriye Restaurant on the Bosphorus between the Ciragan and Ortakoy offers both a spectacular
setting and an inventive Turkish nouvelle menu. Expensive. Recommended for a special night out
or a business dinner. Guaranteed to impress. Meditrina (Salhane Sok. No 3) in Ortaköy is a
fashionable Italian restaurant with a gourmet menu, great view and uncomfortable chairs.
Downstairs the ubiquitous House Cafe offers outdoor seating. JCs Istanbul Jazz Center (next
to the Radisson SAS Hotel) is an upscale jazz supper club with a changing schedule of performing
artists. Better to skip the food though and just have a drink. Bebek, a chic community on the
shores of the Bosphorus, offers a variety of places along the water : for breakfast, try the large,
laid-back Starbucks, the smaller Cafe Nero or Bebek Cafe next to the park. Get your orange
juice from the buffet in the park for 2 TL--a glass of OJ in one of the cafes costs 8TL! Gunes and
Bebek Restaurant are both upscale fish restaurants with prices to match.
The Golden Horn
People in Istanbul prefer to eat fish out rather than preparing it at home. Thus the hundreds of fish
restaurants in the city. A good alternative to sitting in traffic trying to get out to the Bosphorus is
to try one of several good fish restaurants on the Golden Horn, just across the Ataturk Bridge
from Sishane (not the Galata Bridge). Cibalikapi Balikcisi is known for its wide variety of
appetizers (meze) and the freshness of its fish. Good view too. Next door Ottoman serves food
from the Antakya region. The fish restaurants in Karakoy facing the ferry terminal and on the
lower level of the Galata Bridge are another option within walking distance. Zeyrekhane, on a
hill just before the aquaduct, occupies a splendid location amidst Byzantine ruins. The view from
the wide terrace of Suleymaniye is terrific and the food is well-prepared.
The Bosphorus
For that trip up the Bosphorus, try Iskele in Paşabahçe (just before Beykoz) on the Asian side if
you feel like splurging. Perfect location on the water with a deck, quiet, excellent service, stylish
decor and very good food. Open everyday from 12.00-15.00 and 19.00-00.00. Mavi in
Kurucesme has some of the best seafood in Istanbul. Great view and wide terrace over the water.
Be forewarned though: eating fish along the Bosphorus required deep pockets!
Old City
Istanbul’s modern gourmet restaurants are located in the affluent and hip districts of Beyoglu and
the Bosphorus but the Sultanahmet/Bazaar area offers good value in simple tradesmen’s
restaurants and kebap houses as well as more upscale, international fare (and alcoholic beverages)
at tourist and hotel restaurants. Pandeli in the Spice Bazaar overlooking the Galata Bridge is great
and atmospheric place for lunch but be sure to stay away from their overpriced appetizer plate and
order their classic dishes instead- an eggplant borek topped with a slice of doner, seabass cooked
in paper and a light pudding made with sour cherries (visne). Tucked between Haghia Sophia and
the walls of Topkapi Palace is Cafe Turing part of the Ayasofya Konaklari on Sogukcesme
Sokak-- the food is pretty good, prices are reasonable, service is good and the large sunny terrace
gives a great view of Haghia Sophia from the rear. In the first courtyard of Topkapi Palace next to
Byzantine church (now concert venue) Haghia Irini is the first-class Karakol with tables outside
on the lawn and pretty, high-ceiling rooms inside the restored 19th century police station, serving
inventive gourmet fare. Be prepared to splurge though; a meal for two will run close to $100 or
more.
For guests staying in Aslan Apartments who want to eat nearby, try Amedros Cafe &
Restaurant within easy walking distance just off the main avenue (where the tramway runs):
(Divanyolu Cad Hoce Rustem Sok No 7) Other top choices on the far side of Sultanahmet:
Aloran Restaurant on Akbiyik Caddesi Adliye Sokak no: 11 and Kathisma Cafe Restaurant
Akbiyik Caddesi No:26.
In the Grand (Covered) Bazaar: daytime only, closed Sundays, no alcohol
Havuzlu: A daily assortment of some 25 dishes, including a variety of meat and vegetable stews.
The food is homey, well made, and fresh. Gani Çelebi Sokak 3,
Fes Café: With funky orange Lucite chairs and fresh flowers on the tables, Fes Café provides a
shot of modern style in the heart of the Grand Bazaar. A great place to sit back and watch the
comings and goings of the bazaar. Halicilar Caddesi 58-62
Bedesten Cafe & Patisserie, one of the best places in the Grand Bazaar to take a short break.
The sophisticated food and drinks are served amid the unique melodies of Islamic mystic music.
Cevahir Bedesten No: 143-51
Café Life serves various European coffees, daily cakes, cookies, flans, desserts, classical Turkish
soups, sandwiches, salads, crepes, hot dogs, hot beverages and grilled sandwiches to its customers.
Hot beverages made of various herbs. Halıcılar cad. No:53,
Café Sultan serves crepes, salads and grilled sandwiches with an Italian/Austrian flair. Guests
can also choose from more than thirty kinds of coffee and delicious cakes. Halıcılar cad. No:44-46-
48
Traditional home-cooking informal restaurants
Cemberlitaş Lokantası Just down the street from the Cemberlitaş hamam at the Nurruosmaniye
entrance of the Bazaar. Tasty simple lunches at very reasonable prices. Vegetarian dishes. Good
soups. Point and choose.
Kurucu Ali Baba Kanaat Lokantası Opposite Süleymaniye Mosque. Four generations serving
kuru fasülye, a traditional dish of white beans stewed with lamb and served with rice. Prof. Sıddık
Sami Onar Caddesi 1/3, Süleymaniye; tel. +90 212 520 7655.
Tarihi Cesme: Located near Byzantine Kucuk Haghia Sophia (Sergius & Bacchus) mosque and
the old Sokullu baths, the 3-storey restaurant has a romantic garden with a view on the centuries
old fountain and the picturesque streets. Traditional Turkish dishes, kebabs fresh fish and pides.
Out by Kariye Camii (St. Savior in Chora)
Asitane: Located close to the 11th century Byzantine church St. Savior in Chora -- a must see
while in Istanbul -- a pleasant, unique restaurant serving Ottoman specialties prepared nowhere
else in Istanbul, following almost forgotten centuries old recipes. Kariye Camii Sok. 18, Edirnekapi
For other recommendations, click here.
Best Blog for Istanbul Travellers & Expats
Bradmans Guide to Istanbul's Best Restaurants
World 66:Beyoglu Restaurants
.I love good food
A Culinary Revival in Istanbul
Accommodation in Rome Italy - Accommodation in Rome hotels. Have fun with our hotel descriptions! Periodically updated special offers.
Accommodation in London England - Have fun with our hotel descriptions! Accommodation in London hotels. Periodically updated special offers.
Hotel in Madrid - Accommodation in Madrid hotels. Have fun with our hotel descriptions! Periodically updated special offers.
