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Tours in Istanbul |
We have selected some of the best restaurants in Istanbul, which we have divided into five categories: Gastronomic, Business, Trendy, Budget and Personal Recommendations. The restaurants are listed alphabetically within these different categories, which serve as guidelines rather than absolute definitions of the establishments. Reservations are recommended wherever possible; in the case of upscale and popular restaurants, they are essential.
These restaurants have been further divided into four different pricing categories:
$$$$ (over US$70)
$$$ (US$40 to US$70)
$$ (US$20 to US$40)
$ (under US$20)
The prices quoted above are for an average three-course meal and for a bottle of house wine or cheapest equivalent; they do not include tax or tip.
These restaurants have been further divided into four different pricing categories:
$$$$ (over US$70)
$$$ (US$40 to US$70)
$$ (US$20 to US$40)
$ (under US$20)
The prices quoted above are for an average three-course meal and for a bottle of house wine or cheapest equivalent; they do not include tax or tip.
Gastronomic
Feriye Lokantasi
With a superb view from its enviable location on the banks of the Bosphorus near Ortaköy, Feriye has a fine reputation for hearty Turkish meat dishes. Lamb comes charcoal-grilled and everything is prepared the traditional way. The outdoor area comes complete with underfloor heating for cold evenings. The Sunday buffet brunch is recommended. Reservations required for dinner.
Ciragan Caddesi 40, Ortaköy
Tel: (0212) 227 2216/17/22/23.
Website: www.feriye.com
Price: $$$$
With a superb view from its enviable location on the banks of the Bosphorus near Ortaköy, Feriye has a fine reputation for hearty Turkish meat dishes. Lamb comes charcoal-grilled and everything is prepared the traditional way. The outdoor area comes complete with underfloor heating for cold evenings. The Sunday buffet brunch is recommended. Reservations required for dinner.
Ciragan Caddesi 40, Ortaköy
Tel: (0212) 227 2216/17/22/23.
Website: www.feriye.com
Price: $$$$
Tugra
The ideal venue for a special occasion, Tugra has an wonderful array of traditional Ottoman dishes (plus some contemporary additions) and the setting is superb; its terrace overlooks the Bosphorus. There is a huge selection of hot and cold meze (starters), which include vine leaves, soups and seafood, and main courses have chicken, beef and lamb cooked in endless different ways. There are also fish and vegetarian options. The dessert buffet is one of Istanbul's finest, and there is live traditional music. There is a smart casual dress code and reservations are essential. Open in the evening only.
Ciragan Palace Hotel Kempinski, Ciragan Caddesi 32, Besiktas
Tel: (0212) 326 4500/4646 or 259 0394.
Website: www.ciraganpalace.com
Price: $$$$
The ideal venue for a special occasion, Tugra has an wonderful array of traditional Ottoman dishes (plus some contemporary additions) and the setting is superb; its terrace overlooks the Bosphorus. There is a huge selection of hot and cold meze (starters), which include vine leaves, soups and seafood, and main courses have chicken, beef and lamb cooked in endless different ways. There are also fish and vegetarian options. The dessert buffet is one of Istanbul's finest, and there is live traditional music. There is a smart casual dress code and reservations are essential. Open in the evening only.
Ciragan Palace Hotel Kempinski, Ciragan Caddesi 32, Besiktas
Tel: (0212) 326 4500/4646 or 259 0394.
Website: www.ciraganpalace.com
Price: $$$$
Trendy
The House Café
On Ortaköy's waterfront, The House Café has a trendy, casual ambience and is perfect for an eggs Benedict Sunday brunch or innovative pizza (pear, Roquefort cheese and honey, for example) or risotto. Busy at weekends, it attracts a young lively (and fairly wealthy) crowd which knows its carpaccio from its calzone.
Salhane Sokak 1, Ortaköy
Tel: (0212) 227 2699/39.
Website: www.thehousecafe.com.tr
Price: $$/$$$
On Ortaköy's waterfront, The House Café has a trendy, casual ambience and is perfect for an eggs Benedict Sunday brunch or innovative pizza (pear, Roquefort cheese and honey, for example) or risotto. Busy at weekends, it attracts a young lively (and fairly wealthy) crowd which knows its carpaccio from its calzone.
Salhane Sokak 1, Ortaköy
Tel: (0212) 227 2699/39.
Website: www.thehousecafe.com.tr
Price: $$/$$$
Leb-i Derya
On a shabby street off busy Istiklal Caddesi, this part ultra-stylish terrace bar, part lively restaurant serves up Ottoman cuisine with a twist. The place to come for early evening cocktails - but make a reservation for a table with a view to enjoy your mahmudiye (Ottoman recipe chicken) or 40-spice steak.
Kumbaraci Yokusu 115/7, Tünel, Beyoglu
Tel: (0212) 293 4989.
Website: www.lebiderya.com
Price: $$$
On a shabby street off busy Istiklal Caddesi, this part ultra-stylish terrace bar, part lively restaurant serves up Ottoman cuisine with a twist. The place to come for early evening cocktails - but make a reservation for a table with a view to enjoy your mahmudiye (Ottoman recipe chicken) or 40-spice steak.
Kumbaraci Yokusu 115/7, Tünel, Beyoglu
Tel: (0212) 293 4989.
Website: www.lebiderya.com
Price: $$$
Taximoda
The café-restaurant of the Taxim Hill Hotel, this New York-style café has huge windows overlooking busy Taksim Square, which open to form a terrace in summer. Most popular for coffee, cakes, sandwiches and a decent breakfast, this is a great place to watch the world go by in a central location. Happy hour for beverages and cakes 1430-1800.
Siraselviler Caddesi 9, Taksim Meydani, Taksim
Tel: (0212) 334 8500.
Website: www.taximhill.com
Price: $$
The café-restaurant of the Taxim Hill Hotel, this New York-style café has huge windows overlooking busy Taksim Square, which open to form a terrace in summer. Most popular for coffee, cakes, sandwiches and a decent breakfast, this is a great place to watch the world go by in a central location. Happy hour for beverages and cakes 1430-1800.
Siraselviler Caddesi 9, Taksim Meydani, Taksim
Tel: (0212) 334 8500.
Website: www.taximhill.com
Price: $$
Budget
Canim Cigerim
Vegetarians need not bother! This tiny, simple café has just one thing on the menu: liver, cooked on a skewer and chopped on your plate, served up with salad and bread. There are several tables on the quiet street and the place, which is popular with local workers at lunch time, is always busy. Friendly service, fresh food and very cheap in this charming area of Beyoglu.
Asmalimescit Mahallesi Minare Sokak 1, Beyoglu
Tel: (0212) 252 6060.
Price: $
Vegetarians need not bother! This tiny, simple café has just one thing on the menu: liver, cooked on a skewer and chopped on your plate, served up with salad and bread. There are several tables on the quiet street and the place, which is popular with local workers at lunch time, is always busy. Friendly service, fresh food and very cheap in this charming area of Beyoglu.
Asmalimescit Mahallesi Minare Sokak 1, Beyoglu
Tel: (0212) 252 6060.
Price: $
Hala
A string of simple restaurants (the one off Istiklal is the most quaint) Hala serves up cheap, filling gözleme - pancakes stuffed with cheese, potato, spinach or meat, and meat-filled manti (local ravioli). In a rustic setting (complete with traditionally-dressed women making the fillings in the window) this is the perfect place for a tasty lunch accompanied by a soup or salad. No alcohol.
Istiklal Caddesi 211, Beyoglu
Tel: (0212) 292 7004.
Price: $
A string of simple restaurants (the one off Istiklal is the most quaint) Hala serves up cheap, filling gözleme - pancakes stuffed with cheese, potato, spinach or meat, and meat-filled manti (local ravioli). In a rustic setting (complete with traditionally-dressed women making the fillings in the window) this is the perfect place for a tasty lunch accompanied by a soup or salad. No alcohol.
Istiklal Caddesi 211, Beyoglu
Tel: (0212) 292 7004.
Price: $
Nature and Peace
In a carnivore's heaven like Istanbul, it is good to know that there are a few decent vegetarian places - although they have recently included a couple of meat dishes on the menu. In a backstreet in the heart of Taksim, Nature and Peace has a warm cosy feel. Its menu, with a good selection of daily specials, includes soups, lentil kofte, falafel and wonderful cakes. The service is often slow because the food is freshly prepared, but it is well worth the wait.
Buyukparmakkapi Sokak 21, Beyoglu
Tel: (0212) 252 8609.
Price: $
In a carnivore's heaven like Istanbul, it is good to know that there are a few decent vegetarian places - although they have recently included a couple of meat dishes on the menu. In a backstreet in the heart of Taksim, Nature and Peace has a warm cosy feel. Its menu, with a good selection of daily specials, includes soups, lentil kofte, falafel and wonderful cakes. The service is often slow because the food is freshly prepared, but it is well worth the wait.
Buyukparmakkapi Sokak 21, Beyoglu
Tel: (0212) 252 8609.
Price: $
Saray Muhallebicileri
With several branches over the city, the most famous on Istiklal Caddesi, Saray is something of an institution and has been serving up delicious cakes and pastries to anyone with a sweet tooth since 1935. Although the interior is ornate and the waiters are clad in white jackets, this is a very down-to-earth and cheap restaurant-cafe, most famous for its cakes and traditional Turkish puddings, but which also sells kebabs, soups and savoury dishes. Not surprisingly, it is busy all hours.
Istiklal Caddesi 102, Beyoglu
Tel: (0212) 292 3434.
Price: $
With several branches over the city, the most famous on Istiklal Caddesi, Saray is something of an institution and has been serving up delicious cakes and pastries to anyone with a sweet tooth since 1935. Although the interior is ornate and the waiters are clad in white jackets, this is a very down-to-earth and cheap restaurant-cafe, most famous for its cakes and traditional Turkish puddings, but which also sells kebabs, soups and savoury dishes. Not surprisingly, it is busy all hours.
Istiklal Caddesi 102, Beyoglu
Tel: (0212) 292 3434.
Price: $
Personal Recommendations
Cep Sanat Galerisi
An adorable little café in a quiet part of Asmalimescit, set back off the road. A real hang-out for local old-time painters, in fact the venue is also part art gallery. Ideal for a late breakfast of menemen (a kind of sloppy Turkish omelette with tomatoes, served with crusty bread) and a pot of filter coffee. The sort of place where you can read a book and sit for hours without being disturbed.
Asmalimescit Sokak 41, Beyoglu
Tel: (0212) 292 0038.
Price: $
An adorable little café in a quiet part of Asmalimescit, set back off the road. A real hang-out for local old-time painters, in fact the venue is also part art gallery. Ideal for a late breakfast of menemen (a kind of sloppy Turkish omelette with tomatoes, served with crusty bread) and a pot of filter coffee. The sort of place where you can read a book and sit for hours without being disturbed.
Asmalimescit Sokak 41, Beyoglu
Tel: (0212) 292 0038.
Price: $
Hamdi Et Lokantasi
Although the food might not be a great surprise, the view is one of the finest of any restaurant in town. With many floors, and very popular with tour groups, the place to dine is overlooking the Galata Bridge and Golden Horn, so phoning ahead to reserve a table on the open terrace is highly recommended. Prices are reasonable, service average, and there is a good selection of meze, kebabs, and the usual Turkish fare.
Kalcin Sokak Tahmis 17, Caddesi Eminonu
Tel: (0212) 528 0390.
Price: $$
Although the food might not be a great surprise, the view is one of the finest of any restaurant in town. With many floors, and very popular with tour groups, the place to dine is overlooking the Galata Bridge and Golden Horn, so phoning ahead to reserve a table on the open terrace is highly recommended. Prices are reasonable, service average, and there is a good selection of meze, kebabs, and the usual Turkish fare.
Kalcin Sokak Tahmis 17, Caddesi Eminonu
Tel: (0212) 528 0390.
Price: $$
Restaurant Ya&Re'n
A combination of the popular Yakup and Refik mayhanes, Ya&Re'n is a lively restaurant on vibrant Asmalimescit with tables spilling onto the terrace. Start with a selection of meze (choose from a range including spicy ezme (salad), creamy eggplant or white beans) and try fresh fish in season, charcoal grilled accompanied by mounds of salad. Wash it all down with local favourite raki, the powerful aniseed liquor. Local folk musicians often play at your table. Very popular so reservations recommended, especially at weekends.
Asmalimescit Mahallesi 35, Beyoglu
Tel: (0212) 245 4578
Price: $$
A combination of the popular Yakup and Refik mayhanes, Ya&Re'n is a lively restaurant on vibrant Asmalimescit with tables spilling onto the terrace. Start with a selection of meze (choose from a range including spicy ezme (salad), creamy eggplant or white beans) and try fresh fish in season, charcoal grilled accompanied by mounds of salad. Wash it all down with local favourite raki, the powerful aniseed liquor. Local folk musicians often play at your table. Very popular so reservations recommended, especially at weekends.
Asmalimescit Mahallesi 35, Beyoglu
Tel: (0212) 245 4578
Price: $$
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