Discover Istanbul’s 200 best Local Soul spots for your trip

Kadıköy

Cross the Bosphorus by ferry and step into Kadıköy, the Asian side's beating heart. Graze through the covered market, browse record shops and bookstores, then settle into a bar on one of its lively side streets.

Nato Lokantası 1952 - Karaköy

★ 4.7 · 738 reviews

Join the lunchtime crowd at Nato Lokantası 1952, a Karaköy favourite packed with locals. Pick traditional Turkish dishes from the counter and enjoy a relaxed, genuinely local midday meal.

Kanaat Lokantası

★ 3.7 · 7,135 reviews

Walk into Kanaat Lokantası, a large, long-standing lokanta where Istanbul eats everyday Turkish food. Choose from the counter display and settle into a quick, filling meal at an easy price.

Fenerbahçe Parkı

★ 4.7 · 2,586 reviews

Slow down at Fenerbahçe Parkı, a beloved seaside park on the Asian shore. Walk beneath the trees, order tea with a view over the water, and enjoy the company of the park's many cats.

Moda

Stroll Moda, Kadıköy's relaxed seaside quarter. Wander tree-lined streets to the clifftop park, then watch the sun drop over the Marmara with a glass of tea in hand.

Kuzguncuk

Slip into Kuzguncuk, a quiet Bosphorus village on Istanbul's Asian shore. Stroll past pastel wooden houses and the neighbouring mosque and church, then stop at a small café for an unhurried break.

Guided Food Tour with 20+ Tastings on 2 Continents

★ 4.9 · 1,350 reviews

Set off on the Guided Food Tour with 20+ Tastings on 2 Continents for a full day of eating across the Bosphorus. Follow your guide from Sirkeci's breakfast tables to Kadıköy's markets and Moda's sweet shops.

İBB Göztepe 60th Year Park

★ 4.7 · 14,213 reviews

Walk the lakeside paths of Göztepe 60th Year Park, a tidy and colourful neighbourhood favourite. Admire the tulip beds and clipped hedges, and let the children loose in the play area.

Guided Food Tour with Ferry Ride and Tastings

★ 4.9 · 872 reviews

Discover the Guided Food Tour with Ferry Ride and Tastings, a morning of eating across Europe and Asia. Sample simit, stuffed mussels and İskender kebab, then finish with desserts and traditionally brewed coffee.

Suna'nın Yeri

★ 3.9 · 2,952 reviews

Discover Suna'nın Yeri, a small Kandilli seafood restaurant sitting right on the Bosphorus. Order the day's catch and watch the water from your table, far from the busiest tourist districts.

Maçka Democracy Park

★ 4.6 · 223 reviews

Pause at Maçka Democracy Park, a leafy city retreat near Nişantaşı. Stroll its old-tree pathways, grab breakfast at a park cafe, and ride the cable car if you have an Istanbul Card.

Evening Food Tour with Ferry to Kadıköy

★ 4.9 · 563 reviews

Join the Evening Food Tour with Ferry to Kadıköy for a taste of Istanbul's Asian side after dark. Ride the ferry, graze through markets and cafés with a local guide, and finish with dessert back in Europe.

FATİH KARADENİZ PİDECİSİ İBRAHİM USTA - FATİH ŞUBE

★ 4.3 · 1,791 reviews

Eat a freshly baked Black Sea pide in a local restaurant. Try a classic and share a side.

Ümraniye National Garden

★ 4.5 · 16,798 reviews

Spend an easy hour at Ümraniye National Garden, a local favourite on Istanbul's Asian side. Stroll wooded paths, spot the waterfall and animals, and grab tea and gözleme while the kids play.

Adana Ocakbasi

★ 4.2 · 2,465 reviews

Try Adana Ocakbaşı, the grill-side neighbourhood favourite where locals outnumber visitors. Watch the coals work while you tuck into Adana kebap, lamb chops and ribs in a relaxed, traditional setting.

Eyüpsultan

Visit Eyüpsultan, a revered district at the top of the Golden Horn. Stroll the mosque courtyards, wander the hillside cemetery, and take the cable car up for tea and a panorama of the water.

Lades Menemen

★ 4.2 · 3,251 reviews

Pull up a seat at Lades Menemen for the Turkish breakfast classic done the traditional way. Dig into a pan of menemen with sucuk, finish with honey and clotted cream, and keep the bread coming.

Develi1912 Samatya

★ 4.2 · 2,629 reviews

Join the lively crowd at Develi1912 in Samatya for an Anatolian feast. Share hummus and the pistachio kebab, finish with baklava, and ask for a table on the terrace.

Tarihi Kuzguncuk Fırını Cafe & Restaurant

★ 4.7 · 925 reviews

Pause at Tarihi Kuzguncuk Fırını, a Kuzguncuk bakery-cafe loved by locals for fresh pastries. Order a Turkish breakfast or browse the dessert counter with a coffee, while the team explains each sweet.

Borsam Taşfırın

★ 4.1 · 1,423 reviews

Stop by Borsam Taşfırın in Kadıköy for pide and lahmacun straight from a traditional stone oven. Order the thin, crispy lahmacun and a cold drink for an easy, inexpensive local meal.

Asmalı Cavit

★ 4.6 · 1,157 reviews

Discover Asmalı Cavit, the old-school meyhane where locals eat and the staff guide you through the small plates. Share stuffed vine leaves, fava beans and roast peppers in a warm, lively dining room.

Köfteci Mustafa

★ 4.4 · 528 reviews

Discover Köfteci Mustafa, a local favourite for honest Turkish grilled meat. Order the mixed grill and a plate of köfte with a simple salad for a quick, satisfying meal.

İBB Kadıköy Yoğurtçu Parkı

★ 4.6 · 2,376 reviews

Slip into Yoğurtçu Park, a green pocket of Kadıköy next to Moda's seafront. Stroll the tree-lined loop at a local pace, then continue toward the water.

Yanyalı Fehmi Lokantası

★ 4.1 · 2,903 reviews

Step into Yanyalı Fehmi Lokantası, an Istanbul institution run by the same family since 1919. Pick your lunch straight from the display counter and sit down to a plate of classic Turkish home cooking.

Paçacı Mahmut Usta

★ 4.4 · 1,928 reviews

Pull up a seat at Paçacı Mahmut Usta, a local canteen serving traditional Istanbul food at friendly prices. Choose from the counter, try the lamb soup and creamy rice, and eat the way locals do.

Meşhur Filibe Köftecisi

★ 3.7 · 4,808 reviews

Stop at Meşhur Filibe Köftecisi, a well-known historic köfte house in the heart of the old city. Order grilled meatballs with piyaz and ayran, then add the spicy sauce for a quick, no-fuss Turkish meal.

Balkan Lokantası

★ 4.2 · 1,651 reviews

Discover Balkan Lokantası, a budget-friendly Beşiktaş restaurant open from 7:00 AM. Point at the home-style Turkish dishes on offer and enjoy a quick, filling meal at local prices.

Tarihi Oktay Kurabiye Fırını

★ 4.6 · 809 reviews

Discover Tarihi Oktay Kurabiye Fırını, a Beşiktaş bakery that locals have trusted for decades. Pick out almond biscuits and other traditional treats and enjoy a short, authentic Istanbul break.

Cihangir

Wander Cihangir, the bohemian hillside neighbourhood above the Bosphorus. Browse antique shops on steep lanes, claim a café table among local regulars, and take in the view from the terrace.

Başakşehir Millet Bahçesi

★ 4.5 · 8,234 reviews

Take a relaxed break at Başakşehir Millet Bahçesi, a sprawling lakeside park where locals come to unwind. Walk or cycle around the fountain-filled pond, watch the ducks, and let the kids loose on the playgrounds.