Istanbul Restaurants
We’ve compiled the best of the best in Istanbul - browse our top choices for Restaurants during your stay.
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31 Recommendations
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1. Çiya
$$ | Asian Side |Chef-owner Musa Dağdeviren, who hails from the southeastern Turkish city of Gaziantep, is something of a culinary anthropologist, offering truly unique dishes made using recipes from around Turkey. This restaurant, Çiya Sofrası—the original of the three no-frills branches along the same street—is known for its seasonal meat- and vegetarian-based daily specials that feature unusual flavor combinations. Nearby Çiya Kebap serves top-notch kebabs along with home-style dishes; Çiya Kebap 2 offers just kebabs.
Güneşlibahçe Sok. 43, Istanbul, Istanbul, 34710, Turkey216-330–3190Known For
- Innovative cuisine from different regions of Turkey
- Seasonal ingredients
- Unique desserts, including candied olives, tomatoes, or eggplant
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2. Yeni Lokanta
$$$$ | Beyoglu |Rising chef Civan Er puts a unique and contemporary twist on traditional Turkish dishes, using ingredients sourced from local producers in different regions of the country. The menu consists mainly of small plates that offer innovative flavor combinations, as in sweet-and-sour kısır (tabbouleh) made with a sour-cherry infusion or spicy, rustic sucuk sausage with walnuts served atop borlotti bean puree.
Kumbaracı Yokuşu 66, Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey212-292–2550Known For
- Contemporary vibe
- Dishes prepared in a wood-fired oven
- Tasting menu
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun., Reservations essential -
3. Akdeniz Hatay Sofrası
$$$ | Western Districts |Popular with locals, this restaurant specializes in the Arab-influenced cuisine of Hatay (originating near Turkey's border with Syria), which features delicious meze like hummus, baba ghanoush, muhammara (a spread of mashed chile peppers and walnuts), kısır (a spicy version of tabbouleh), and a wide range of uncommon kebabs. The venue's famous "meter kebab" serves several people and requires advance ordering, as does the salt-shell-baked chicken and lamb.
Ahmediye Cad. 44/A, Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey212-444–7247Known For
- Lavish weekend breakfast spread
- Less common regional cuisine
- Tuzda tavuk, chicken encased in salt and set on fire
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4. Altın Fıçi Mercan
$$ | Princes Islands |This cluster of small tables under a spreading tree not far from the ferry dock is a friendly place to have an inexpensive meal of grilled meat or fried seafood. It's also a great spot to people-watch while sipping a beer, a glass or wine, or some rakı.
Recep Koç Cad. 17/E, Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey216-382–3535Known For
- Scenic location
- Close to the ferry
- Fresh seafood
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5. Antiochia
$$ | Beyoglu |This restaurant with exposed brick walls in the popular Tünel area of Beyoğlu offers specialties of Turkey's Arab-influenced southeastern Hatay province. The menu includes a variety of meze and kebabs with intense flavors and served with Antiochia's uncommonly tasty chile pepper–rubbed flatbread.
General Yazgan Sok. 3, Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey212-292–1100Known For
- Regional cuisine
- Cozy interior
- Central location
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun., Reservations essential -
Recommended Fodor’s Video
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6. Balık Dürüm Mehmet Usta
$ | Karaköy |Fresh-grilled fish with raw onions encased in a lightly grilled, oily wrap is the perfect lunch-to-go, and while the seaside is dotted with many balık dürüm (fish wrap) vendors, this small storefront on a Karaköy side street is the best of the bunch.
Mumhane Cad. 37, Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey535-788–8968Known For
- Family-run business
- Traditional Turkish street food
- Sidewalk seating
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7. Casita
$$$ | Nisantasi |This charming little restaurant is best known for its mantı—a ravioli-like Turkish pasta traditionally stuffed with ground meat—and specifically Feraye (a name the restaurant has trademarked), a fried variation filled with cheese and spinach, potato and cheese, or chicken. The atmosphere is casual, and diners can either sit at sidewalk tables on a lively pedestrian side street lined with other restaurants and shops or at tables looking onto a quiet garden in the back.
Atiye Sok. 3, Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey212-327–8293Known For
- Outdoor seating
- Laid-back vibe
- Café food with a modern Turkish twist
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8. Çınaraltı
$$$ | Bosphorus |In business for three decades on Ortaköy's waterfront square, unpretentious Çınaraltı ("under the sycamore") has a massive sycamore tree growing up through its center and shading its upstairs terrace. The balık böreği (a spring roll-esque fish pastry) is a highlight of the wide though fairly standard meze selection, and the fish is mainly served grilled or fried (make sure the price quoted is per fish or serving, not per kilo).
İskele Meydanı 28, Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey212-261–4616Known For
- Relaxed atmosphere
- Reasonable prices
- Traditional Turkish cuisine
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential -
9. Cuma
$$$ | Beyoglu |Tucked among the antique stores of Cukurcuma, Cuma is a casual café by day and a cozy place to sip wine at night. Its seasonal menu uses local produce and offers a range of day-to-night options, along with fresh-baked bread and a comprehensive wine list.
Çukurcuma Cad. 53, Beyoglu, Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey212-293–2062Known For
- All-day dining
- Retro, casual atmosphere
- Outdoor seating
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10. Demeti Meyhanesi
$$ | Beyoglu |The cozy, homey atmosphere of Demeti, with its cabinets filled with antiques, opens up to a small balcony with an excellent view of the Bosphorus. The menu is meze-heavy, with the traditional small dishes prepared fresh every day, including such unique choices as domates turşusu (pickled tomatoes), pomegranate salad, and a börek filled with fish, eggplant, and cheese.
Şimşirci Sok. 6/1, Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey212-244–0628Known For
- Outdoor seating with a view
- Home-cooked meze
- Daily fresh fish options
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11. Doy-Doy
$ | Sultanahmet |Doy-doy serves a fairly standard array of kebabs and pide—a type of Turkish pizza baked in a wood-burning oven—with different toppings, but at lunchtime, local workers come for the cheap daily specials, such as meat-and-vegetable stew or baked beans (displayed on the steam table to the left of the entrance). The two-level rooftop terrace, open in summer, has fine views of the area, but don't expect to savor them with a drink in hand, as no alcohol is served.
Şifa Hamamı Sok. 13, Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey212-517–1588Known For
- Cozy atmosphere
- Traditional Turkish food
- Blue Mosque and Sea of Marmara views
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12. Elde Börek
$ | Besiktas |This Beşiktaş restaurant is a family affair, serving home-cooked Turkish cuisine with a twist and run by a brother-sister-mother team. Like a typical Turkish lokanta (a cafeteria-style restaurant, usually for workers), the food is prepared ahead of time, and you can choose many options to fill your plate.
Ihlamurdere Cad. 23, Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey212-259–7531Known For
- Home-cooked-style food
- Seasonal ingredients
- Casual atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. -
13. Fıccın
$$ | Beyoglu |Occupying several rooms and storefronts on both sides of narrow Kallavi Sokak, this down-to-earth restaurant is best known for Turkish standards and Circassian specialties, including the signature fıccın, a savory pastry filled with ground meat. The menu, which changes daily, always includes a range of mezes—many of them vegetarian—as well as a handful of simple meat and fish dishes, and prices are extremely reasonable.
Kallavi Sok. 7/1–13/1, Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey212-293–3786Known For
- Regional cuisine, including Circassian chicken
- Plentiful outdoor seating
- Seasonal meze
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14. Forno
$$ | Western Districts |Part of a new wave of small cafés, craft shops, restaurants, and antiques dealers popping up in the atmospheric but long-neglected neighborhood of Balat, Forno distinguishes itself with owner Yona Grunberg’s short, high-quality menu of freshly prepared pides, pizzas, salads, and soups. With its brightly colored geometric tiles, exposed-brick walls, and large wooden communal table, this is an equally pleasant place to just relax for a while over a coffee or tea, and the weekend breakfast gets raves.
Fener Kireçhane Sok. 13, Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey212-521–2900Known For
- Cozy, relaxing atmosphere
- Pizza and pide
- Weekend breakfast
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15. Hamdi Restaurant
$$ | The Bazaar Quarter and Environs |This grill house is an Istanbul institution, with a huge selection of kebabs, as well as appetizers like mini lahmacun (thin flatbread topped with spicy ground meat); although the food may not be too different from other kebab houses, Hamdi's three dining floors still tend to be packed with both tourists and locals. This makes for a lively, even boisterous, atmosphere, and service can be a bit harried; make sure that you get—and pay for—exactly what you order.
Kalçın Sok. 11, Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey212-528–0390Known For
- Terrace-level tables with views of the Golden Horn
- Wide kebab selection
- Bustling atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential -
16. Hayvore
$$ | Beyoglu |This informal restaurant just off İstiklal Caddesi turns out hearty specialties of Turkey's Black Sea coast at very affordable prices. There's no menu, but the daily offerings (just point to what you want) usually include several items with anchovies—a mainstay of the region's cooking—as well as meat dishes like lamb stew and vegetarian alternatives made with chickpeas, baked beans, bulgur pilaf, and pickled vegetables.
Turnacıbaşı Sok. 4, Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey212-245–7501Known For
- Black Sea cornbread
- Casual atmosphere
- Central location
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17. Helvetia
$ | Beyoglu |The menu at this very affordable restaurant changes daily, but it has at least a dozen home-cooked dishes, including both meat and vegetarian options. The atmosphere is laid-back, and the easiest way to order is to simply point at what you want from the day's specials, which are displayed in front of the open kitchen; ask for a mixed plate if you'd like to try several small portions.
General Yazgan Sok. 8/A, Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey212-245–8780Known For
- Seasonal, changing menu
- Casual, relaxed atmosphere
- Extensive vegetarian selections
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. -
18. Heyamola Ada Lokantası
$$$ | Princes Islands |One of the best places to eat on any of the islands, Heyamola offers a daily selection of fresh vegetable and seafood meze, salads, and seafood, including specialties of the house like a sardine casserole or mezgit (whiting) cooked with white wine and ginger. The charming indoor-outdoor garden has a relaxing Aegean air.
Yalı Cad., Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey216-351–1111Known For
- Garden seating
- Wide selection of meze
- Well-chosen Turkish wine list
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19. Jash Istanbul
$$ | Beyoglu |Drawing on Istanbul’s cosmopolitan past, this cozy spot offers meze and mains made from Armenian recipes, along with Greek, Ottoman, and Circassian dishes. With its white tablecloths and bookshelves in a low-ceiling space that opens out onto the street, Jash makes you feel as if you’ve stepped into someone’s home kitchen to taste all of Istanbul’s history.
Cihangir Cad. 9, Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey212-244–3042Known For
- Armenian dishes
- Sidewalk seating
- Homey atmosphere
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20. Karaköy Lokantası
$ | Karaköy |By day, this sleek, airy restaurant with a large outdoor dining area offers a changing menu of reasonably priced Turkish vegetable and meat dishes. At night, it becomes a classy meyhane, serving an excellent variety of meze.
Kemankeş Cad. 57, Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey212-292–4455Known For
- Varied meze
- Sheltered outdoor seating
- Stylish atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Sun., Reservations essential
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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