View from Terrace - 360, Istanbul, Turkey

360

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 on weekends.

Editors' Picks
Food at Bebek Balikçi, Istanbul, Turkey

Bebek 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 local fishermen deliver.

Dinning Area at Çiya, Istanbul, Turkey

Çiya

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 turn up in any of Istanbul’s more chic establishments. Tip: if you can’t get across the Bosphorus to try Çiya but are interested in the food, Kiva Han serves a similar menu (although it doesn’t have nearly the cult following that Çiya does).

Lounge at Cup of Joy, Istanbul, Turkey

Cup 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 commonplace in Istanbul.

Food at Delicatessen, Istanbul, Turkey

Delicatessen

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 level.

Exterior View - Develi Kebap House, Istanbul, Turkey

Develi 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 and herbs) and the fistikli kebab (kebab with pistachios).

man preparing coffee behind the counter

Fazil Bey

Fazil Bey has gained a reputation as one of the city’s top stops for Turkish Coffee, with limited seating and excellent coffee.
Exterior View - Feriye Lokantasi, Istanbul, Turkey

Feriye 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 the twinkling bridge lights and lapping water. Besides even Turkish business men come here to close deals, and Stamboulis to celebrate special occasions because the location is so special and the food predictably good.

Hamdi

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 a casual, bustling, neighborhood atmosphere. Start with mezze, then order a variety of grilled kebaps; I particularly enjoyed the pistachio (a spicy meatball with lamb, beef and pistachios) and the lamb. They are served with fresh pitas, wraps, grilled hot peppers, tomatoes, cous cous and chopped onions, so that you can build your own, fajita style. Locals swear the baklava is the best in town. (Note: Make sure you go to Hamdi Restaurant, not Hamdi Kofte, which is three doors down.)

Editors' Picks

Helvetia Lokanta

A hip crowd can be found at this cozy vegan 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 (mostly vegetarian salads and soups) changes daily.

Dinning Area at Istanbul Modern Café, Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul 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 Turkish menu and light fare; the lunch menu serves a variety of pastas, salads and sandwiches.

tray of baklava

Karaköy 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.
Dinning Area at Karaköy Lokantasi, Istanbul, Turkey

Karaköy 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 from the sea terminal, the cruise crowds sometimes find their way in as well. Lunch is best as the area is a bit deserted at night (although dinner here is excellent). Reservations are recommended.

restaurant with a red awning

Kofteci Huseyin

This traditional lunch restaurant in Istanbul serves the city’s best—and most coveted—kofte, or Turkish meatballs.
Unknown image

Lucca

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 mojito, the restaurant is in the stylish outer neighborhood of Bebek. It’s a hangout of local celebrities and almost always buzzing—morning, noon and night.

Unknown image

Mangerie

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 chairs) works well with its menu of gourmet comfort food, from a roast beef sandwich loaded with mint and cilantro to a perfectly grilled fish of the day over a flavorful mound of couscous. And don’t miss the mint-infused lemonade and the homemade desserts. You won’t come across many tourists here; instead, it’s filled with a fashionable bunch you might see in a trendy West Village bistro. It’s also popular for weekend brunch.

Matbah

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 one might expect given the proximity to the famous landmark).

Editors' Picks
Unknown image

Mikla

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, U-shaped space on the top two floors of the Marmara Pera hotel, delivers in terms of design, cuisine and vista—the view over the Golden Horn is breathtaking. Well-heeled guests enjoy Gürs’ much lauded Mediterranean cuisine before heading to the terrace on the top floor for after-dinner drinks. Those who are interested in the view but can’t commit to an entire meal can also stop by for cocktails on the roof.

Editors' Picks
Food at Nicole, Istanbul, Turkey

Nicole

Nicole is a sweet boutique in Palma's Old Town that offers an assortment of feminine, flirty dresses, shorts, scarves and bags.

Interiors at Pandeli, Istanbul, Turkey

Pandeli

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 restaurant is overpriced and lives on its past reputation, it’s still a lovely place with plenty of atmosphere. Ask for a table in the main room, lined in ancient turquoise tiles.

Editors' Picks

Park Fora

Just a five-minute drive from the Four Seasons Bosphorus, Park Fora provides a quintessential seafood dining experience on the water.
Exterior View : Rumelihisarı Iskele, Istanbul, Turkey

Rumelihisarı 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 water and offers stellar views of the Bosphorus, especially in the summer months, when the floor-to-ceiling windows are kept open.

Unknown image

Sunset 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 outdoor terrace, which overlooks the Bosphorus, are stunning.

Editors' Picks

Tarihi 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 that’s served alongside.

View from Dining Are at Tugra, Istanbul, Turkey

Tugra

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 (with a view of the river) for a special evening out.

Restaurant Interiors - Ulus 29, Istanbul, Turkey

Ulus 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 just about every table. The owner Metin Fadillioğlu asked his wife to decorate the restaurant, and she has brought a sexy Ottoman feeling with touches from India and Morocco. In the summer, the best tables are on the terrace but in winter, floor-to-ceiling windows that extend along the length of the dining room preserve the feeling of being on the edge of the cliff.

Editors' Picks
Dinning Area at Vogue, Istanbul, Turkey

Vogue

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 and is a popular spot for Sunday brunch. The menu is Mediterranean but there’s also a full array of sushi as well as a “molecular cocktails.”

Filters

Indagare employees walking up stiars

Enjoy 30 Days On Us!

Start your Self Planner
membership trial today.

Unlock access to 2,000+ first-hand hotel reviews, 300+ Destination Guides and the most up-to-date travel news and inspiration.

Already a member?

Welcome back,
log in to Indagare

Not a member?

Forgot Password

Enter your email and we’ll send you a link to reset your password.

Type the first 3 letters to begin