10 Best Istanbul Restaurants

Istanbul is famous for iconic dishes like döner kebab, baklava, and meze. The city's food identity is taken from the legacy of the Ottoman Empire and the cooking traditions of Anatolia. What sets Istanbul's food apart is the sheer variety and the deep cultural significance of its street food, from the simit (a sesame-crusted bread ring) to balık ekmek (grilled fish sandwiches served by the Bosphorus). Culinary techniques are rooted in slow-cooking, grilling over charcoal, and the artful use of spices. Key ingredients central to the city's cuisine include high-quality lamb, fresh fish from the Bosphorus, eggplants, yogurt, and pistachios from the Gaziantep region, which are essential for authentic baklava. The concept of the lokanta, or tradesman's restaurant, which serves a rotating menu of traditional, homestyle dishes, is a foundational part of the city's food culture.

The average cost of a meal in Istanbul at a budget restaurant or a traditional lokanta is between 250 and 500 Turkish Lira (TRY) for one person. A three-course meal for two people at a mid-range restaurant costs between 1,500 and 3,000 TRY. Meals at high-end or fine dining establishments like Mikla or Neolokal start at 4,000 TRY per person and can exceed 6,000 TRY for tasting menus with wine pairings.

Istanbul has plenty of fast food options that include both international brands and beloved Turkish chains. Simit Sarayı is a well-loved local chain that has turned the traditional simit into a fast-food concept, while Burger King is one of the most popular international brands. These quick-service spots are an integral part of daily life in the city, as shown in the list below.

• Simit Sarayı: A Turkish chain that is on nearly every major street, famous for its fresh simit (sesame bread rings), börek (savory pastries), and Turkish tea.
• Burger King: One of the most widespread and popular international fast-food chains in Istanbul, serving its standard menu of burgers and fries.
• McDonald's: Another major international player with a strong presence throughout the city.
• Popeyes: This American chain is extremely popular in Istanbul for its Louisiana-style fried chicken.
• Usta Dönerci: A Turkish fast-food chain that specializes in döner kebab, serving it in wraps (dürüm) or as a plated meal.
• Tavuk Dünyası: A popular Turkish chain that focuses on a specific dish: seasoned chicken pieces cooked on a skillet and served with pasta and salad.
• Hafiz Mustafa 1864: While primarily a historic sweet shop, its quick-service model for baklava, Turkish delight, and puddings makes it a fast-food destination for desserts.
• Bambi Cafe: A famous, long-standing fast-food spot in Taksim Square, known for its late-night service of wet burgers (ıslak burger) and döner.

The Istanbul dining scene is constantly evolving and recently opened restaurants in the city include The GALLIARD, a contemporary Turkish-Mediterranean spot with stunning Bosphorus views, and Hakkasan, bringing its world-renowned modern Cantonese cuisine to the city. Other new restaurants in Istanbul are shown below.

• The GALLIARD Cove House: A new, upscale restaurant with direct Bosphorus views, serving a menu of contemporary Turkish, Italian, and Spanish dishes. Located at Frenk Azmağı Caddesi, Dirmil Mahallesi, No:23, Yalikavak 48400 Türkiye.
• Hakkasan Istanbul: The Istanbul outpost of the global, Michelin-starred modern Cantonese restaurant chain, located at the Mandarin Oriental Bosphorus. Located at Kuruçeşme, Muallim Naci Cd. No: 62, 34345 Beşiktaş/İstanbul.
• Sanayi 313: A new restaurant in the Maslak industrial district, located within a concept store. The restaurant serves a seasonal, Mediterranean-inspired menu in a unique, design-focused setting. Located at Maslak, Atatürk Oto Sanayi Sitesi 2. Kısım 10. Sk. No:313, 34398 Sarıyer/İstanbul.
• Aila: A modern Turkish restaurant in the Fairmont Quasar hotel that focuses on the "ocakbaşı" (fireside grill) tradition and meze culture. Located at Mecidiyeköy, Büyükdere Cd. No:76, 34393 Şişli/İstanbul, Türkiye.

Istanbul's vast and historic central districts, including Beyoğlu, Fatih (the Old City), and the Bosphorus shoreline, are home to many of the city's best restaurants, such as Mikla, Neolokal, and Pandeli. The list below shows the best restaurants to try in Istanbul's key downtown and central locations.

• Mikla: Located on a rooftop in the Beyoğlu district, Mikla is a Michelin-starred restaurant known for its "New Anatolian Kitchen" concept and its breathtaking panoramic views of the city.
• Neolokal: At the heart of the Karaköy neighborhood in the historic Salt Galata building, Neolokal is a Michelin-starred restaurant famous for its modern, sustainable interpretations of traditional Anatolian recipes.
• Pandeli: Istanbul's Pandeli is a highly sought-after historic restaurant located inside the Spice Bazaar in the Fatih district, specializing in classic Ottoman-Turkish cuisine within an iconic, blue-tiled interior.
• Antiochia: This restaurant in Beyoğlu's Asmalımescit area specializes in the distinct regional cuisine of Antakya (Antioch), serving flavorful mezes and kebabs that reflect Southern Turkey's unique culinary heritage.

Yes, there are lunch spots in Istanbul worth trying, including the historic Pandeli, the traditional Kanaat Lokantası, and the specialized Fasuli Lokantası. Pandeli, located in the Spice Bazaar, offers a classic lunch experience with its menu of Ottoman-Turkish dishes in an iconic, blue-tiled setting. Kanaat Lokantası in Üsküdar is a quintessential esnaf lokantası (tradesman's restaurant), perfect for a hearty and authentic lunch where diners can choose from dozens of pre-prepared hot and cold dishes. For a more focused lunch, Fasuli Lokantası in Tophane specializes in perfecting one dish: kuru fasulye, a rich, slow-cooked white bean stew.

Yes, there are good places for dinner in Istanbul, such as the world-renowned Mikla, the sustainable Neolokal, and the scenic Divan Brasserie Bebek. Mikla offers a premier fine dining dinner experience with its Michelin-starred tasting menu of modern Anatolian cuisine and stunning 360-degree rooftop views of the city. Neolokal provides a sophisticated and educational dinner with its Michelin-starred menu that reinterprets Turkish culinary heritage with a focus on sustainability. For a classic and elegant dinner, Divan Brasserie Bebek serves international and Turkish dishes in an upscale setting with direct, picturesque views of the Bosphorus.

Istanbul has a growing number of vegan restaurants, including Veganarsist, Vegan Istanbul, and Community Kitchen. Veganarsist in the Beyoğlu district offers a fully plant-based menu of Turkish and international dishes, including vegan lahmacun and burgers. Vegan Istanbul, also in Beyoğlu, is a small cafe serving home-style vegan Turkish dishes, with a daily-changing menu of stews and vegetable plates. In the Balat neighborhood, Community Kitchen is known for its creative, from-scratch vegan menu that focuses on seasonal and organic ingredients. Bi Nevi Deli in the Etiler neighborhood provides a menu of healthy, plant-based bowls, salads, and raw desserts.

Restaurants in Istanbul that serve gluten-free food include the dedicated cafe Gabo and fine dining establishments like Mikla and Neolokal. Gabo in the Cihangir neighborhood is a health-focused restaurant with a menu that is entirely gluten-free, offering a range of breakfast dishes, bowls, and desserts. Fine dining establishments like Mikla and Neolokal can cater to gluten-free diets for their tasting menus with advance notice. Additionally, many of the city's kebab restaurants are naturally gluten-free, as the focus is on grilled meats and salads, and many traditional lokantas offer a wide variety of vegetable and meat dishes that do not contain gluten.

Istanbul's most famous cuisines are Ottoman-Turkish and Anatolian. The city's culinary identity is a complex blend of its imperial past, its vast geography, and its role as a crossroads of cultures. Listed below are the most common and popular cuisines in Istanbul.

• Ottoman / Palace Cuisine: This is the historical, refined cuisine of the Ottoman Empire's imperial court. It is characterized by complex dishes that blend Central Asian, Middle Eastern, and Balkan influences. Dishes often feature slow-cooked lamb, fruits stewed with meat, and delicate pastries. Historic restaurants like Pandeli and modern ones like Neolokal work to preserve and reinterpret these recipes.
• Anatolian / Regional Turkish: This broad category encompasses the diverse food traditions from the Anatolian peninsula. It includes the kebab culture of the Southeast, known for its grilled meats and spicy mezes, the olive oil-based vegetable dishes (zeytinyağlılar) of the Aegean coast, and the hearty grain and dairy-based foods of Central Anatolia.
• Lokanta / Esnaf Lokantası (Tradesman's Restaurant): This is not a type of cuisine but a style of restaurant that is fundamental to the city's food culture. These establishments serve a wide variety of pre-prepared, homestyle Turkish dishes (ev yemekleri). The food is simple, authentic, and represents the everyday diet of the city's working population.
• Street Food: Istanbul's street food is a cuisine in its own right. It is an essential part of the city's identity and includes iconic items like the simit (sesame bread ring), döner kebab, balık ekmek (grilled fish sandwich), midye dolma (stuffed mussels), and ıslak burger (wet burger).
• Meze Culture: Mezes are small, flavorful dishes, similar to Spanish tapas, that are a central part of the dining experience, especially at meyhanes (traditional taverns). The cuisine involves a wide array of cold and hot appetizers, from yogurt-based dips and vegetable salads to fried pastries and grilled seafood.