Best Spots in Istanbul for The Gourmet Explorers
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For food lovers
From the classic Çiya Sofrası and Beyti, to lesser-known spots worth adding to your trip.
★ 4.0 · 14,030 reviews
Cross over to Kadıköy for a meal at Çiya Sofrası, where the focus is regional home cooking. Order a spread of small dishes across the table and ask the staff to guide you through them.
★ 4.5 · 5,179 reviews
Settle in at Beyti, the old-world Istanbul restaurant with a terrace and a reputation for serious kebab. Order the signature Beyti kebab or the İskender and take your time over a long, traditional meal.
★ 4.6 · 6,179 reviews
Come hungry to Van Kahvaltı Evi, an Istanbul favourite for a true Van-style Turkish breakfast. Share a spread of small dishes and keep the tea flowing as the attentive waiters guide your order.
★ 4.1 · 10,466 reviews
Discover Tarihi Sultanahmet Köftecisi Selim Usta, the straightforward köfte grill just by the historic district. Order the signature grilled meatballs and enjoy a quick, filling lunch between sightseeing stops.
★ 4.8 · 75,036 reviews
Join the Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Show with Private Table for an evening on a Mega Lüfer yacht. Dine on Turkish starters and a main course while dancers perform beside the illuminated waterfront.
★ 4.2 · 2,494 reviews
Climb above the Spice Bazaar to Pandeli, a Turkish restaurant serving diners since 1901. Order the lamb shank, finish with kazandibi, and watch the market bustle from a historic dining room.
★ 4.8 · 2,752 reviews
Discover Yeni Lokanta, the Michelin-rated restaurant a short walk from Taksim Square. Pick the fish or meat route and work through a carefully plated multi-course menu of modern Turkish cooking.
★ 4.3 · 2,723 reviews
Rise to the top of the hotel for dinner at Mikla, Beyoğlu's rooftop fine dining address. Work through a contemporary tasting menu with terrace views, in a setting made for celebrations and slow evenings.
★ 4.7 · 4,175 reviews
Treat yourself to breakfast at Do\u011fac\u0131y\u0131z, one of Istanbul's best-loved morning spots. Order the Hatay menemen and enjoy the free extras and warm welcome.
★ 4.8 · 5,099 reviews
Taste Ottoman history at Deraliye, a stylish restaurant devoted to dishes from the imperial court. Work through rich, layered palace recipes at an unhurried lunch or dinner, guided by attentive service.
★ 4.1 · 16,083 reviews
Stop at Emirgan S\u00fcti\u015f, a bright, bustling caf\u00e9 with views over the strait, open from 6:00 AM. Start with breakfast, then finish with one of its famous milk-based desserts.
★ 4.4 · 2,383 reviews
Discover Balıkçı Sabahattin, the traditional seafood restaurant many reviewers rank as Istanbul's best. Settle in for fresh fish, salads and dessert, with the option of eating outside.
★ 4.3 · 3,152 reviews
Step into Karaköy Lokantası, where colourful tiles frame a menu of Ottoman classics. Order a round of mezes and settle in for a lunch or dinner that blends traditional flavours with a modern feel.
★ 4.5 · 1,024 reviews
Dine at Tuğra Restaurant inside the Çırağan Palace Kempinski, where the Bosphorus sits right outside your table. Work through a degustation of history-inspired dishes in a formal, waterfront setting made for celebrations.
★ 4.2 · 8,247 reviews
Discover Siirt Şeref Buryan1892, where lamb emerges from an underground roasting well after more than ten hours of slow cooking. Share generous plates of tender buryan in a welcoming room that comfortably hosts families and big groups.
★ 4.5 · 3,766 reviews
Grab a quick dürüm wrap at a popular Istanbul spot open until late in the evening. Eat at the counter, then continue exploring the neighbourhood.
★ 4.2 · 4,582 reviews
Pull up a seat at Zübeyir Ocakbaşı in Taksim for a charcoal-grill meal that locals and food bloggers recommend. Order the mixed kebab platter with a few mezze and share across the table.
★ 4.2 · 11,724 reviews
Discover Şehzade Cağ Kebap, the Sirkeci institution famous for Erzurum-style lamb carved straight from a wood-fired spit. Pull skewers of tender cağ kebap off the plate in a lively, bazaar-style dining room that locals and visitors share.
★ 3.7 · 2,771 reviews
Stop by Kebapçı İskender, the place to learn what İskender kebab is all about. Order the signature plate of sliced meat on bread with tomato sauce and yoghurt in a characterful dining room.
★ 4.4 · 1,868 reviews
Settle in at Çakmak Kahvaltı Salonu for a breakfast built around nostalgia and sharing. Pick a set menu with friends and work through plates of cheese, spreads and warm Turkish classics.
★ 4.3 · 1,147 reviews
Settle into Topaz İstanbul for a dinner where the Bosphorus is the backdrop. Watch the sunset fade over the water while working through modern interpretations of traditional Turkish courses.
★ 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.
★ 4.3 · 1,351 reviews
Book a table at Neolokal for a dinner where presentation is half the show. Work through a contemporary Turkish tasting menu, plated with care in a refined, design-led setting.
★ 4.7 · 1,190 reviews
Discover TURK Fatih Tutak, a fine-dining evening that starts with a restaurant pick-up and unfolds over roughly three hours. Settle into the tasting experience in a refined, design-minded room built for special occasions.
★ 4.3 · 2,187 reviews
Take a seat at Piraye Taş Plak Meyhanesi, a traditional Istanbul tavern loved by locals. Share a table of mezze and fresh fish and let the meal unfold over a relaxed couple of hours.
★ 3.9 · 8,335 reviews
Take a seat at Hamdi in Eminönü, one of Istanbul's best-known old restaurants. Order the lahmacun and Gavurdağı salad while the view stretches out beside your table.
★ 4.4 · 943 reviews
Step into the Orient Express Restaurant, tucked inside Istanbul's historic Sirkeci Terminal. Linger over regional dishes beneath period decor that recalls the golden age of train travel.
★ 3.9 · 4,170 reviews
Pop into Kızılkayalar in the middle of Taksim for Istanbul's famous wet burger. Grab a seat, order one fast, and enjoy a cheap, authentic bite at almost any hour.
★ 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.
★ 4.4 · 2,627 reviews
Discover Hacı Abdullah Lokantası, a veteran name for Ottoman cooking in Istanbul. Settle into its elegant, old-world dining room and work through traditional dishes served with notably attentive service.
Istanbul · 🍽️ Food
Çiya Sofrası
1h
Beyti
1h30
Istanbul · 🥐 Breakfast
Van Kahvaltı Evi
1h15
Tarihi Sultanahmet Köftecisi Selim Usta
45 min
Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Show with Private Table
3h
Pandeli Restaurant
Yeni Lokanta
Mikla
2h30
Doğacıyız Gourmet Breakfast Restaurant
Deraliye
Emirgan Sütiş
Balikci Sabahattin
Karaköy Lokantası
Tuğra Restaurant
1h45
Siirt Şeref Buryan1892
Dürümzade
30 min
Zübeyir Ocakbaşı/Taksim
Şehzade Cağ Kebap
Kebapçı İskender - İskender İskenderoğlu
Çakmak Kahvaltı Salonu
Topaz İstanbul
Yanyalı Fehmi Lokantası
Neolokal
TURK FATIH TUTAK
Piraye Taş Plak Meyhanesi
2h
Hamdi Restaurant - Eminönü
Orient Express Restaurant
Kızılkayalar Taksim
20 min
Kanaat Lokantası
Hacı Abdullah Lokantası
