Destination
Type of Restaurant
Type of Meal
Editors Pick
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 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...
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 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).
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 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 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...
