It may be one of the hottest restaurants in town, on the old embassy row, but 360’s modern-fusion cooking isn’t the only reason to come. The... Read More
From the outside, it’s just another soot-streaked, film-noirish Istanbul apartment building. But once you enter and take the tiny elevator to the... Read More
In the waterside Arnavutköy area, Dilara Erbay dishes up grilled fish at Abracadabra, housed in a wooden mansion. Read More
Thirtysomething owner Batur Durmay speaks fluent English and guides diners through his extensive list of dishes. Durmay’s family funded... Read More
Set right on the Bosporus, this relaxed Mediterranean eatery recalls the waterfront cafés of Mill Valley and Sausalito. (The resemblance is no... Read More
Babylon concertgoers gather at the music venue's sister site for smoked-salmon pizzete and pan-Mediterranean salads. Read More
Grab a seat in the garden of this Sultanahmet seafood restaurant. The mezes, small appetizer plates of roasted red peppers and marinated octopus, make... Read More
Durum (wraps) are a dime a dozen in Istanbul—unless they're the ones made at Basta!, a spot in up-and-coming Moda. You’ll find this local favorite, a... Read More
Most visitors don’t make it to the northerly, beautiful neighborhood of Bebek, though they should (it’s like the Marin County of Istanbul).... Read More
In Turkey, the Özkanca family is synonymous with premier restaurants and cuisine. One of their best-loved ventures is located in the Istanbul... Read More
The meyhane (drinking house) is the Turkish version of a tapas bar, where small mezes and fish are washed down with glasses of raki, a bracing anise... Read More
After a 35-minute ferry ride from central Beşiktaş to Bostanci, on Istanbul’s Asian side, you can walk along the water to this modern restaurant... Read More
Siraselviler Caddesi leads to one of the trendiest neighborhoods of Cihangir, where much of Istanbul’s expatriate community lives. Many of them... Read More
Squeezed between two ramshackle buildings on the western shore of the Golden Horn, Cipalikapi Balikçisi serves traditional Turkish fare with a... Read More
Long before “New Anatolian” became the fashionable way to eat, there was chef Musa Dagdeviren, who traveled Turkey’s backroads in search of traditional... Read More
On the city’s Asian side, you’ll find Çiya Sofrasi, past the splendorous Kadiköy fish-and-produce market. As you pick your... Read More
Named after Cunda Island in the Turkish Aegean, this spot is a short walk from the Bostanci ferry terminal on Istanbul’s Asian side. Expect classic... Read More
More than 25 years ago, the Tufan brothers took over this shop from its original Greek owner. Damla is still one of the best places in Istanbul to enjoy... Read More
West of the central tourist area of Sultanahmet, the neighborhood of Samatya is home to this long-time area restaurant. Develi has been serving... Read More
To sample the ultimate meat wrap, grab a succulent döner, near the Nuruosmaniye Gate. Read More
Rancher Emre Mermer established the Dükkan butcher shop in 1998 to supply many of Istanbul’s elite restaurants. It wasn’t long until he... Read More
The average day in Turkey is punctuated by round after round of tea and coffee, and shopping is no different. Since accepting a cup from a seller in the... Read More
At this postage-stamp-size café a couple of blocks from the Bosporus, chef Didem Senol's light touch and fresh flavors shine bright on the menu. The... Read More
This hole-in-the-wall at the edge of Kadikoy market specializes in the southeastern Turkish specialty of lahmacun, thin, crispy, char-flecked flatbreads... Read More
Starched white tablecloths, the smell of spices, and plenty of bustle and clamor accompany the plates of spicy kebaps at Istanbul’s favorite... Read More
Hayvore, which specializes in dishes from Turkey's Black Sea coast, sits just off the pedestrian thoroughfare Istiklal Caddesi. You’ll recognize a... Read More
Even if contemporary Turkish art isn’t your cup of çay, visit Istanbul this repurpose warehouse museum for its stylish café and... Read More
Beyoglu is known for its raucous drinking houses, or meyhane, where meze are an excuse for rivers of raki. This is the insiders' favorite: a brick... Read More
Chef Semsa Denizsel—often referred to as Istanbul's Alice Waters—was the city's first advocate of seasonal cooking. More than 15 years after its opening... Read More
At the picturesque Cebeci Han caravansary, this spot serves the city's tastiest kebabs. Read More
Full of bright-green Eastern Barak pistachios, fragrant with syrup, brushed with sheep’s butter—yet somehow light—the baklava at Karak... Read More
Kasibeyaz is one of three restaurants operating in a complex next to the Istanbul airport. It specializes in high-end versions of Turkish classics like... Read More
The expertly grilled kofte served at this shop—lightly charred and crusty outside, juicy within—have been drawing crowds for more than 70 years. Arnavut... Read More
It’s neither as famous nor as trendy as other rooftop restaurants in the area (say, 360 or Mikla), but Konak’s views are just as... Read More
In Istanbul, big business takes place in the skyscrapers in the Levent neighborhood, and those working in that area often dine at Kösebasi.... Read More
A romantic restaurant with live jazz performers and sophisticate-filled outdoor tables. Read More
Sunset, when the mosques and minarets glow like fire and the city lights twinkle, is the time to hit this spot on the top floor of the Goethe Institute.... Read More
Mabeyin restaurant takes its name from the area between the harem (women’s section) and selamlik (men’s section) in Ottoman palaces where... Read More
If the name of this rooftop bistro in the city's Beverly-Hills-type neighborhood of Bebek betrays a certain European flavor, it’s not by accident.... Read More
In 2012, chef Mehmet Gurs reoriented Mikla’s menu away from Europe and introduced dishes highlighting ingredients from Turkey, becoming the progenitor... Read More
Turkish home-style dishes are the main attraction at this cute corner café run by a professional caterer and her husband. Expect a great salad selection... Read More
This museum restaurant is noted for its neo-60’s interior of unpolished ... Read More
Don't let the Bosporus and Sea of Marmara view from this rooftop restaurant distract from what's on the plate at this serene venue headed by Cordon Bleu... Read More
In the Beyoglu district of Istanbul, the Pera neighborhood has staged a comeback of recent years, reclaiming its title of the hippest neighborhood.... Read More
In a shopping mall near Levent, the center of upscale modern Istanbul, Osmani has a fresh and sharp range of Turkish food flavors. This is where health... Read More
Architects and designers hold lunch meetings over bowls of just-like-mom’s bulgur. Read More
The antiques-filled restaurant, known for its home-style stews, is set in an old Ottoman row house under the shadow of the Blue Mosque. Reserve a window... Read More
One of the many meyhane-style restaurants in the bohemian Asmali Mescit neighborhood, Refik distinguishes with its cuisine and storied past. A long... Read More
The food is fresh, healthy, and reasonably priced at this buffet-style international restaurant. You can find surprisingly good Turkish meze, such as... Read More
Famished after haggling for kilims at the Covered Bazaar? It’s worth tracking down to this macho kebab dive colonized by gaggles of mustached... Read More
Concealed amid the business-class lounges, this spacious, sunlit restaurant looks as if it would be forbidden to steerage passengers, but it’s not... Read More
If you’re not quite ready to plunge into Turkish culture the moment you arrive, pop in for one last half-caf Venti skinny latte before you leave... Read More
Goldsmiths, rug lords, and copperware kings pack into the homey Subaşi for fortifying white beans in tomato sauce and chicken stuffed with rice. Read More
Forget the burger-joint visions the name connotes: this elegant rooftop spot is one of the city’s most sophisticated dining destinations. Should... Read More
On a street lined with carpet shops near the Arasta Bazaar, this restaurant, whose owners hail from Turkey’s eastern Lake Van area, serves up the... Read More
Since 1920, this workingman’s dive has remained hugely popular despite serving only two main dishes: meatballs and lamb skewers. Both are simple,... Read More
Turkish ice cream is stickier and chewier than its Western counterpart—it stretches. You can’t get it anywhere but Turkey. The secret... Read More
The plasma TVs are often tuned to the sports channel, usually showing a football (soccer) game, in this café and bar. It’s the only... Read More
The Tugra was the calligraphic seal of the Ottoman Sultans. No doubt the restaurant of the same name now located in the sumptuous 19th-century Ciragan... Read More
It would be a crime to miss the Süleymaniye Camii mosque, an Ottoman masterpiece; it would be sadder still not to visit this nearby sweet shop.... Read More
Vogue’s location on the top floor of Besiktas Plaza also represents a status that includes top-tier clientele, cuisine, and cost. In the summer,... Read More
One of the most well-known meyhane restaurants in the city, Yakup 2 serves customers the classic line up of appetizers like artichokes, yogurt, and... Read More
Three years after opening his modern Turkish bistro, chef Civan Er remains at the top of the game with Anatolian-inspired dishes like dried eggplant... Read More
