As is often the case in major cities, finding quality restaurants in the most touristy areas can be challenging, and discovering authentic local cuisine usually means venturing away from the centre.
Istanbul, however, is an enormous city with a population of 16 million, divided by waterways and continents. Most tourists therefore remain in the areas where the main attractions, museums and historic palaces are concentrated.
As a general rule, it’s wise to avoid obviously touristy establishments, where you risk paying a fortune for mediocre food. Instead, seek out restaurants frequented by locals, a reliable guarantee of quality and freshness.
Istanbul’s cuisine is absolutely delightful, and there are plenty of ways to experience it: from street food that lets you eat like a true local for just €8–10, to refined Ottoman restaurants where you’ll spend around €40 to sample exceptionally high-quality dishes.
We’ve gathered a selection of recommended addresses where you can experience authentic Turkish cuisine!
This little spot in the heart of Sultanahmet is frequented almost exclusively by Turkish locals, and for good reason: they serve the city’s best Köfte.
The traditional chargrilled beef meatballs are essentially the only dish on the menu of this historic establishment (opened in 1920), served with Rice Pilav and Piyaz. They’re so delicious you’ll want to order seconds!
Just steps from Sultanahmet, this recently opened restaurant aims to restore Turkish cuisine’s fine reputation in the city centre. Outstanding produce sourced exclusively from certified local suppliers, with meticulous respect for culinary tradition.
Fish lovers must try this renowned restaurant, beloved by locals for its exceptionally fresh catch.
Overlooking the vast Yeni Mosque square, next to the Spice Bazaar and facing the Galata Bridge, this restaurant specialises in Meze, Kebab and desserts, boasting a magnificent terrace with views across the Bosphorus!
One of Istanbul’s true institutions for fish cuisine, this Karaköy restaurant occupies a historic fishmonger’s from 1923, serving the city’s finest fish. The fish soup and grilled seabass are exceptional. Evening prices are considerably higher than lunch. Beware of the numerous imitations that have sprung up in the neighbourhood.
If you’re exploring Beyoğlu and feeling overwhelmed by the neighbourhood’s abundance of restaurants, we recommend this little gem where you can enjoy the classic Meze-Rakı-Balık experience: a complete meal featuring an array of cold appetisers including cheese, melon, roasted aubergines and walnut-pepper dip, followed by warm starters such as squid, octopus and prawns, then a main course of grilled fish—sea bass, red mullet, bream—all accompanied by rakı, the traditional anise-flavoured spirit.
If you have time and want to try Istanbul’s finest restaurant, take a ferry to Kadıköy. Here awaits a legendary establishment renowned for its extraordinary range of dishes, the freshness of its ingredients, and its skill in reinterpreting traditional Anatolian recipes with a contemporary twist.
In the following map you can see the location of the main places of interest mentioned in this article.
Turkish cuisine is rich and creative, shaped both by the nomadic heritage of the Turkish people—who encountered diverse cultures and places—and by the influence of territories conquered by the Ottoman Empire over the centuries: the Balkans, Palestine, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Cyprus and North African countries.
Wholesome, varied and flavourful, Turkish cuisine deserves to be experienced in all its forms to discover its delicious variations. We’ve compiled a handy guide to the typical dishes you’re most likely to encounter on Turkish tables.
Fish restaurants offer a good variety of catch: red mullet (barbunya), grey mullet (kefal), sea bass (levrek), tuna (palamut), mackerel (istarvit), king prawns (karides) and swordfish (kilic).
Istanbul’s baked goods are among the city’s true culinary discoveries—there’s an incredible variety, and everything deserves a taste!
Turkey is famous for its delicious dried fruits—pistachios, hazelnuts, almonds and pine nuts—sold in packages on the streets or used in pastries and sweets.
Yoghurt originated here and is used not only in desserts but also as a base for sauces and gravies, and as an accompaniment to breads and meat dishes, seasoned with spices, garlic and oil!
Don’t miss the many delicacies of Turkish pastry: confectionery, pastries, rose jam, fruit and nut tablets, and the famous baklava, thin pastry layered with nuts and pistachios soaked in sugar syrup.
If you want to save money and grab a quick lunch, we highly recommend the numerous street food stalls: from roasted sweetcorn to sesame seed bread rolls.
The best we’ve tried is undoubtedly the chargrilled sardine sandwich, topped with salad and raw onion. Where can you find it? It’s sold at various points around the city, but the finest version is available at the base of Galata Bridge, cooked fresh on the ferries bobbing at the dock.
From experience, we can tell you to eat and sample everything without worry. The only precaution you must strictly follow concerns water.
Never drink from the tap or public fountains: to avoid the unpleasant traveller’s diarrhoea, drink exclusively bottled water, even for brushing your teeth. It’s inexpensive and available everywhere, including from street vendors.
City Card allow you to save on public transport and / or on the entrances to the main tourist attractions.
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