Eating Out in Istanbul
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Istanbul Restaurants & Dining
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).
Guney Restaurant opposite the Tower, a favorite with many of our guests with tables outside and
an attractive upper level.
Around the Tower: KivaHan (tables outside) for regional Turkish cuisine served with style.
Enginar for a variety of Turkish and international dishes in an attractive space.
For a cozy dinner with specialties from the Caucasus and live piano music in the old British Jail:
Galata House down the hill from Glorya Apartments on Galata Kulesi Sokak is a favorite of many
of our guests. The fomer prison yard offers alfresco dining in the summer months.
Tunel/Asmalimescit: Just a quick walk from Glorya & Bereket Apartments:
A collection of good value small restaurants and cafes nestled in the streets around Tunel. 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.
Leyla (previously in Cihangir) right at the Tunel piazza, is a good place for breakfast as well as other
Leblon and Otto are both extremely popular. 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), Sarabi for winetasting, 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 fantastic views. Go for lunch when it is less crowded. Leb-i Derya on top of the Richmond
Hotel has above average food 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 com 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. 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: Steps from Belkis & Kadir Apartments
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, Cafe Smyrna, an eclectic cafe with
good food, two newly opened bar/cafes and dependable but increasingly mediocre Porte. 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. Further along on Susam Sokak is the highly-rated, hip White
Mill with a peaceful garden in the back. On Oba Sokak, sample the yummy homemade cakes at the
tiny Cafe Vena. On the corner of Soganli and Oba Sokak, you will find 5. Kat, the fifth floor roof
cafe restuarant with a fabulous view. There are many other attractive spots on the side streets of
Cihangir --walk around and you'll find some.
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, the home of Istanbul's
Opera and Ballet, 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.
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. At City's shopping mall, It's a Joke serves tasty, rather overpriced food in
a fun atmosphere. 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.
Ortaköy: Convenient to Diva Apartments
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. 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.
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.
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 specialities 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
the rear of Haghia Sophia. A good place to stop for a bite while in the area.
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.
Asitane: Located close to the 11th century Byzantine church St. Savior in Chora, 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.
American Airlines Guide to Dining & Drinking in Istanbul.
Bradmans Guide to Istanbul's Best Restaurants
EZTrip's Guide to Eating in Istanbul
Local Online Guide to Restaurants
World 66:Beyoglu Restaurants
.I love good food
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).
Guney Restaurant opposite the Tower, a favorite with many of our guests with tables outside and
an attractive upper level.
Around the Tower: KivaHan (tables outside) for regional Turkish cuisine served with style.
Enginar for a variety of Turkish and international dishes in an attractive space.
For a cozy dinner with specialties from the Caucasus and live piano music in the old British Jail:
Galata House down the hill from Glorya Apartments on Galata Kulesi Sokak is a favorite of many
of our guests. The fomer prison yard offers alfresco dining in the summer months.
Tunel/Asmalimescit: Just a quick walk from Glorya & Bereket Apartments:
A collection of good value small restaurants and cafes nestled in the streets around Tunel. 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.
Leyla (previously in Cihangir) right at the Tunel piazza, is a good place for breakfast as well as other
Leblon and Otto are both extremely popular. 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), Sarabi for winetasting, 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 fantastic views. Go for lunch when it is less crowded. Leb-i Derya on top of the Richmond
Hotel has above average food 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 com 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. 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: Steps from Belkis & Kadir Apartments
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, Cafe Smyrna, an eclectic cafe with
good food, two newly opened bar/cafes and dependable but increasingly mediocre Porte. 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. Further along on Susam Sokak is the highly-rated, hip White
Mill with a peaceful garden in the back. On Oba Sokak, sample the yummy homemade cakes at the
tiny Cafe Vena. On the corner of Soganli and Oba Sokak, you will find 5. Kat, the fifth floor roof
cafe restuarant with a fabulous view. There are many other attractive spots on the side streets of
Cihangir --walk around and you'll find some.
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, the home of Istanbul's
Opera and Ballet, 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.
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. At City's shopping mall, It's a Joke serves tasty, rather overpriced food in
a fun atmosphere. 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.
Ortaköy: Convenient to Diva Apartments
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. 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.
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.
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 specialities 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
the rear of Haghia Sophia. A good place to stop for a bite while in the area.
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.
Asitane: Located close to the 11th century Byzantine church St. Savior in Chora, 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.
American Airlines Guide to Dining & Drinking in Istanbul.
Bradmans Guide to Istanbul's Best Restaurants
EZTrip's Guide to Eating in Istanbul
Local Online Guide to Restaurants
World 66:Beyoglu Restaurants
.I love good food
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