15 Best Restaurants in Istanbul, Turkey

Mabou

$$$$ | Beyoglu Fodor's choice

This cozy eatery, a gastronomic gem near İstiklal Caddesi, is the creation of German-Turkish chef Cem Eksi. The seasonal menu, which includes an extensive wine list, branches out beyond Turkish cuisine to explore dishes from the whole Mediterranean region.

Mikla

$$$$ | Beyoglu Fodor's choice

With sleek, contemporary decor and a stunning 360-degree view of Istanbul from the top floor of the 18-story Marmara Pera Hotel, Mikla is the dramatic setting for prestigious American-trained Turkish-Finnish chef Mehmet Gürs's modern Anatolian cuisine. Sophisticated dishes of domestically sourced ingredients offer unique flavor combinations rarely seen in traditional Turkish cuisine, such as grilled dentex (a Mediterranean fish) served with olives, charred red peppers, and pistachio puree or a dessert of sour-cherry compote with bulgur wheat and lor cheese (similar to ricotta).

Yeni Lokanta

$$$$ | Beyoglu Fodor's choice

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.

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Aheste

$$$$ | Beyoglu

A casual café by day and an inviting bistro venue by night, stylish Aheste (meaning "slowly" in Persian) offers a small but appealing menu consisting mainly of hot and cold meze with some Persian, Ottoman, and Middle Eastern influences with contemporary twists; the sea beans with smoked yogurt and rose petals and the wild rice with currants and herbs are particularly tasty. Prices are a bit high, but the friendly, laid-back service and hip-yet-cozy atmosphere make up for it.

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.

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.

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, Turkey
212-244–0628
Known For
  • outdoor seating with a view
  • home-cooked meze
  • daily fresh fish options

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, Turkey
212-293–3786
Known For
  • regional cuisine, including Circassian chicken
  • plentiful outdoor seating
  • seasonal meze

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.

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, Turkey
212-245–8780
Known For
  • seasonal, changing menu
  • casual, relaxed atmosphere
  • extensive vegetarian selections
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.

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.

Kafe Ara

$$ | Beyoglu

This popular, cozy hangout, named after famous Turkish photographer Ara Güler, whose black-and-white photographs of Istanbul line the walls, is a nice place for a light meal or cup of coffee. The menu includes several Turkish meat dishes along with more international fare, such as grilled entrecôte (sirloin) steak with pommes frites or tagliatelle with salmon.

Tosbağı Sok. 2, Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey
212-245–4105
Known For
  • alfresco seating out front
  • wide variety of salads and pastas
  • warm and inviting atmosphere

Kronotrop Cihangir

$ | Beyoglu

A popular neighborhood spot to sip lattes, this hip café offers an extensive coffee menu and light pastries to refuel.

Firuzağa Cami Sok. 2, Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey
212-249–9271
Known For
  • trendy vibe
  • outdoor seating
  • coffee beans from their own roastery

Sofyalı 9

$$ | Beyoglu

At this restaurant on a lively backstreet in Beyoğlu's Asmalımescit area, a friendly, laid-back setting—with Greek music playing in the background and photographs of old Istanbul on the walls—elevates the classic meyhane food. The meze, whether from the regular menu or the daily specials, and the hot appetizers are more notable than the main dishes; try the zucchini with walnuts in yogurt or the Albanian-style fried liver.

Sofyalı Sok. 9, Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey
212-252–3810
Known For
  • central location
  • cozy, vintage atmosphere
  • wide selection of meze
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon., Reservations essential

Zübeyir Ocakbaşı

$$$ | Beyoglu

This ocakbaşı, or grill house, is popular for its delicious food, authentic feel, and especially lively atmosphere. The kebabs are cooked on a special grill over hardwood coals—part of the fun here is watching the chefs at work—and include some cuts of meat not found on the average kebab menu, such as kaburga (lamb ribs).

Bekar Sok. 28, Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey
212-293–3951
Known For
  • tasty, unique meze
  • meat cooked on an open grill
  • bustling atmosphere
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential