Destination
Type of Restaurant
Type of Meal
Editors Pick
Read More360
This rooftop restaurant and bar serves a full menu, but skip dinner and go for the cocktails and the amazing 360-degree views. The clientele is young and fashion-conscious, the kind of people who crowd the Meatpacking District in New York...
Read MoreAşşk Café
The Aşşk Café in Nişantaşi attracts a beautiful crowd who nibbles on goat cheese and watermelon salads and toast with tahin pekmez (sesame paste and grape molasses).
Read MoreBebek Balikçi
Bebek Balikçi serves some of the city’s best seafood in a waterfront location in upscale Bebek, one of the northern towns along the Bosphorus. The menu is pricey but the fish excellent and the dishes changing daily, based on what...
Read MoreÇinaralti
This teahouse, on the Asian side of Istanbul, is a favorite with locals for its relaxed atmosphere and stunning views. Istanbul-based art consultant Isabella Icoz says: “I go here to drink tea either alone (with a good book) or with...
Read MoreÇiya
Serious foodies consider a trip to Istanbul’s Asian side a worthwhile trek, if only to eat at Çiya. This no-frills kebab shop features dishes from the chef’s childhood home in southeastern Turkey. Look for regional specialties that are unlikely to...
Read MoreCup of Joy
This tiny coffee shop located in a passageway in Bebek, is a true find for coffee connoisseurs. Cup of Joy is a big hit with local residents, and the owners love to experiment with coffee roasts that are not yet...
Read MoreDelicatessen
This dual-level restaurant in Nişantaşi serves as an all-day restaurant as well as a wine shop, bakery and take-away counter. The menu features simple pastas, soups, sandwiches and a few heartier entrees. There is a small terrace off the upstairs...
Read MoreDeveli Kebap House
A bit off the beaten track (and rather heavy on the kitsch decor), the Develi Kebab House is considered one of the top kebab houses in Istanbul. Try the cig kofte, Turkey’s answer to steak tartare (lamb kneaded with spice...
Photo by Kathryn Nathanson. Courtesy IndagareRead MoreFazil Bey
Fazil Bey has gained a reputation as one of the city’s top stops for Turkish Coffee. It has a simple storefront, with limited seating and excellent coffee, which, of course, comes with a side of Turkish Delight. If you find...
Read MoreFerahfeza
Just down the block from Karaköy Lokantasi, Ferah Feza is as modern and sexy as its rowmate is traditional. This rooftop restaurant has a spacious outdoor terrace with views across the water to the Sultanahmet neighborhood as well as the...
Read MoreFeriye Lokantasi
There is a touristy quality to this place that may remind you of classics like the 21 Club in New York and Tour d’Argent in Paris, but it delivers an incredible location right on the edge of the Bosphorus with...
Read MoreFes Café
The best coffees near the Grand Bazaar are served at Fes Café. There is also a location in the Bazaar, just a few doors down from famous linen shop Abdulla.
Photo by Kathryn Nathanson. Courtesy IndagareRead MoreGalata Simitcisi
One of the famous street foods of Istanbul is simit, a crunchy sesame bagel packed with flavor—that in no way resembles a New York bagel. Though you’ll see them at every breakfast buffet in the country, Galata Simitcisi is the...
Read MoreHamdi
No trip to Istanbul is complete without a kebap (Turkish for “kebab”) lunch. Located in the Old City on a rooftop on the waterfront by Galata bridge, just steps away from the Egyptian Spice Market, Hamdi offers sweeping views and...
Read MoreHelvetia Lokanta
A hip crowd can be found at this cozy neighborhood eatery. This is where fashion designer Hussein Chalayan likes to come for such Turkish basics as menemen (scrambled eggs with green peppers and tomatoes). The small menu of local specialties...
Read MoreHouse Café
Soon after it opened in 2002, the funky House Café was so successful that it spawned several more locations throughout the city, with interiors designed by the local design group Autoban. All are fantastic, but the Beyoğlu and Nişantaşı make...
Read MoreHouse of Medusa
Just a stone’s throw away from the Hagia Sophia is the House of Medusa, a café cooking up traditional Turkish dishes. The restaurant is most frequently visited for its tranquil ambiance and rose garden (reserve a table in advance).
Read MoreIstanbul Modern Café
Housed in the Istanbul Modern and boasting a unique industrial décor and an impressive water view of the harbor, the Istanbul Modern Café has slowly crept into the spotlight as one of Istanbul’s most stylish lunchtime eateries. Expect a predominantly...
Read MoreKantin
For those who want something slightly more sophisticated than the House Café and don’t feel like the carnivorous atmosphere of Dükkan, Kantin is the obvious spot for lunch in the chic shopping neighborhood of Ni?anta?i. The menu is Mediterranean, and...
Photo by Kathryn Nathanson. Courtesy IndagareRead MoreKaraköy Gulluoglu
There are many locations in Istanbul to get baklava, but one of the most famous—so famous that they ship nationwide—is Karaköy Gulluoglu. Try the baklava ice cream, too.
Read MoreKaraköy Lokantasi
This family-run eatery by the wharfs serves Ottoman classics as well as an excellent assortment of meze. Its relaxed, brasserie-esque atmosphere is popular with local business people who work in the area, but given that it sits across the street...
Photo by Kathryn Nathanson. Courtesy IndagareRead MoreKofteci Huseyin
This traditional lunch restaurant in Istanbul serves the city’s best—and most coveted—kofte, or Turkish meatballs. Kofteci Huseyin is a casual family-run restaurant that opened in 1958. There is limited indoor and outdoor seating, but the meatballs are worth the stop,...
Read MoreLa Petite Maison Istanbul
La Petite Maison, which opened in 2014, is a favorite among travelers looking for a break from the local cuisine. The elegant restaurant, whose original location is in Nice, has a delightful atmosphere, incredible French-inflected cuisine and an extensive wine...
Read MoreLa Scarpetta
Suprisingly, Istanbul boasts quite a few excellent Italian restaurants. But this newcomer, opened in late 2014, stands apart from the others in terms of its cuisine. The warm atmosphere is the perfect setting to enjoy dishes like tagliatelle bolognese and braised...
Read MoreLucca
Istanbul’s smart set adores Sunday brunch at the all-white Lucca, so much so that they don’t mind the usually long wait. Half lounge, half art gallery, where you can order everything from crispy duck rolls to eggs to a well-made...
Read MoreMangerie
It’s worth the trip to the Bosphorus village of Bebek for a meal at this intimate rooftop restaurant with views of the Bosphorus Strait. The natural but charming design (whitewashed floors, baskets brimming with fresh fruit, marble-topped tables and wood...
Read MoreMatbah
Located on the terrace of the Ottoman Hotel Imperial and across the street from the Hagia Sophia, Matbah serves traditional Ottoman cuisine (think saffron pilaf and stuffed vine leaves) in a charming setting (although the views are not as good as...
Read MoreMeze by Lemon Tree
This is the Turkish version of a gastro pub as it’s a more refined take on traditional comfort food. Meze, refers to the tastes or snacks that have long been served to go with drinks like Raki or Ouzo or...
Read MoreMikla
Mikla is as ambitious and assuming as its name—which in Norse means magnificent (its hotshot chef Mehmet Gürs was born in Finland, grew up in Sweden and is part Turkish). Despite the strong attitude, the award-winning Mikla, in a glass-walled,...
Read MoreMozaik
Nestled on a quiet corner away from the hustle and bustle of Sultanhamet is Mozaik, a charming Ottoman-themed bistro serving a wide range of creative dishes from a Western-style T-bone to a Turkish kebab. Or, if you’re in the mood...
Read MoreMüzedechanga
It’s a long taxi ride from Sultanahmet (about thirty to forty-five minutes), but an all-time favorite restaurant with many stylish locals is Muzedechanga (which translates as “Changa at the museum”), a fusion kitchen at the Sakip Sabanci museum. While the...
Read MoreNicole
Formerly La Mouette, this restaurant is located on the roof of the Tomtom Suites in the Beyoğlu district in the center of the New City. It’s run by two young chefs whose résumés include L’Ami Jean, Le Meurice and Alain...
Read MorePandeli
Any A-lister who goes to Istanbul makes sure to have a meal at Pandeli, a classic Turkish restaurant near the entrance to the Spice Market; it serves mezes and traditional meat and fish dishes. While many people complain that the...
Read MorePark Fora
Just a five-minute drive from the Four Seasons Bosphorus, Park Fora provides a quintessential seafood dining experience on the water. Tanks of live fish line the hallways leading to an elegant dining room with white tablecloths and a glass-walled terrace....
Read MoreRefik’a
A bohemian mix of locals, artists and visiting foodies appreciate Refik'a. The latest iteration of Refik (named for its original owner Refik Arslan, who opened the Beyoğlu institution in 1954), it serves simple but good Turkish dishes like grilled calamari, ...
Read MoreRumelihisarı Iskele
A favorite with Turks since opening in 1992, Iskele serves the region’s traditional cuisine like meze, fresh fish and stellar homemade baklava in a one-of-a-kind setting. Located at the foot of the Rumerlihisari fortress, the restaurant juts out over the...
Read MoreSuada Club
Location, location, location. Suada is an island that sits between two continents in the middle of the Bosphorus with incredible views of the water and the city. During the day, the beach club offers a Nikki Beach type scene with...
Read MoreSunset Grill
Stamboulis tend to have their preferred hillside spot for a spectacular sunset view. Some choose Ulus 29, while others prefer Sunset Grill, which has a more modern, hip aesthetic and a Japanese-influenced menu plus sushi bar. The views from the...
Read MoreTarihi Sultanahmet Köftecisi
If you’re looking to get down and dirty with the locals, try Tarihi Sultanahmet Köftecisi, an 80-year-old joint famous for its kofte, zesty grilled meatballs indicative of Turkish “fast food.” Wash your meal down with ayran, a traditional yogurt beverage...
Read MoreTugra
Of the many restaurants of the Çiragan Palace Kempinski Istanbul, Tugra is considered the best. The menu is classic Turkish-Ottoman cuisine, and its dishes are among the finest in the city. Even if you’re not staying here, book a table...
Read MoreUlus 29
One of the favorite restaurants of stylish Stamboulis, and a place that they love to bring visiting guests to wow them, is Ulus 29. Set on the hills overlooking the Bosphorus and the city, the club has knock-out views from...
Read MoreVogue
It’s tough to top the views at Vogue, which is set on the rooftop of an office tower in Beşiktaş, overlooking the Bosphorus. While the restaurant isn’t new - it opened in 1997 - it still draws an elegant crowd...
Read MoreYeni Lokanta
Yeni Lokanta, which translates as “new canteen,” opened in 2013 with chef Civan Er, formerly of Changa, at its helm. Continuing the trend of New Istanbul cuisine, Yeni Lokanta serves updated takes on Turkish classics and features a small but...
Read MoreZuma
This Japanese hot spot (the flagship is located in London) has sake bottle-decorated walls, a terrace and lovely Bosphorus views. The menu is innovative Japanese with a few Turkish additions. It’s in the Radisson Blu Hotel and reservations, especially for...
