The best restaurants Istanbul & Marmara Region

Ideally located in front of the Selimiye mosque at the top of the main pedestrian street, Mr. Osman's establishment is very well known in the neighborhood. Specialized in köfte (meatballs), Köfteci Osman is a good alternative for those who do not like liver. With its undeniable quality-price ratio and its efficient service, it is an address where you can eat well! And at any time since the restaurant is open 24 hours. The place is always full but you can always find a place inside or outside! Don't hesitate to try it, you won't be disappointed.

In the Han Han. A kosher restaurant in the city that offers a different and quality cuisine that is worth a visit. The reception is pleasant (information on synagogues and other restaurants kosher).

Restaurant at the Arena Hotel, located in a beautiful courtyard. Delight offers a wide range of typical Turkish dishes as well as a large number of international dishes, such as pasta or salads. Grills are particularly tasty. And unlike many restaurants, the menu of desserts is consistent, we advise to keep room, they are divine. Wine lovers will not be disappointed with a fine Turkish wine list. Count approximately 20-25 TL per person. With a very nice welcome, this is a very good address when you stay in Sultanahmet.

Excellent place for a break: in a very pleasant setting (walls), you are facing the sea of Marmara. Advantage of administration, unbeatable prices! Tea, Turkish coffee, no alcohol, grills or fish.

In the passage Petits-Champs which was faithfully restored. Its terrace is a must: the dance floor and bar overlooking the golden horn. The ground floor takes over in winter. Trendy, the clientele is mostly from the environments of communication and the newspaper. The "show-off" is obligatory, which means each to get there, but the atmosphere, it is well, with you. The music that sails between the lounge, techno, the underground and house in winter are slightly more mild in summer. The entrance is free but subdued, a control whose flexibility is linked to the concentration of crowds.

Aydın Tava Ciğer is one of the city's most renowned liver restaurants. Service is fast and impeccable. Once ordered, the plate arrives within seconds and you can enjoy the city's specialty, Ciğer tava : delicious pieces of breaded and fried liver. Also on the menu are grills and kebabs (lamb, veal, chicken), köfte, soups, salads and typical Turkish sweets. Since 1998, this downtown address has been a favorite with locals. Please note that access is on foot only.

Bitlisli offers classics of local cuisine. The presentation of the dishes is meticulous, and the service is fast and courteous. The kebabs are all very good, especially the famous Ali Nazik kebab (meat in sauce served on an eggplant purée). Possibility to choose dishes to share to taste several varieties of kebabs. Tava is also tasty, it is the name of the metal dish in which the meat is seized and used as a plate. Be careful not to touch the dish which is very hot.

In the old quarter of Istanbul, there are few restaurants that offer traditional cuisine in a modern and trendy setting. That's what this restaurant offers, and its popularity is growing all the time. While offering the classics of Turkish cuisine, the chef makes some really successful sweet and savory combinations like lamb neck with plums or stuffed melon. Vegetarian options are available, especially the testi kebap which we recommend. The promise of the place: treat you like a sultan. That's all there is to it!

This café-restaurant, located in the heart of Sultanahmet, will delight its customers with the diversity of its menu. Indeed, you can find everything: hot and cold mezze, kebabs, salads, pizzas and burgers and even fish. To accompany your meal, the house offers several Turkish wines. The place is large and pleasant. Between tradition and world cuisine, if you are looking for a good address in the neighbourhood, this is the place to come: the staff is friendly, the service is fast and the prices are very reasonable.

If a night at the Çiragan is not in your budget, treat yourself to a luxurious brunch, lunch or tea time at the Gazebo lounge, one of the restaurants of the mythical palace. Comfortably seated on the splendid terrace, you will enjoy a breathtaking view of the Bosphorus. The cuisine is refined with classic but elegant mezzes, a perfectly mastered lamb confit, diabolical desserts. International classics are also offered a la carte. The attentive service is obviously worthy of the palace. Reservations required.

It is impossible to stay in Turkey without tasting the succulent kaymak, a tasty cream made from the film that forms when the milk is boiled. It is usually enjoyed for breakfast, accompanied by honey. Hasan Fehmi Özsüt cooks all his dairy products himself and breakfast has a completely different flavour! Formerly known as Özsüt Karaköy, this shop changed its name when it moved to avenue d'İstiklal. In addition to kaymak, try sucuklu yumurta (spicy egg and sausage).

It is a hidden place, like there are many in Istanbul. Once you reach the 6th floor, you will only have to admire the incredible view of the Golden Horn. This select restaurant offers delicious Turkish specialities as well as world cuisine. We particularly recommend the Sultan kebabı, accompanied by an aubergine purée. Several kinds of wines are on the menu. Some evenings, musicians take up Turkish classics. Perfect restaurant for a romantic evening or just to have a drink and enjoy the view.

Minoa was a library, then became a café, then a super trendy restaurant where it is difficult to find a place on weekends. The books are still there and they are original. Many works of French literature are on offer. Cement tiles on the floor set the very trendy tone from the entrance. And the dishes too: bruschetta with avocado, French croissants, panini and quinoa salad, you might as well know that this New York menu is not available everywhere in Istanbul. The hushed atmosphere will immediately put you at ease.

Beautiful sign of the typical district of Asmali Mescit, where you can eat good fish and drink good Turkish wine. The waiters will guide you to choose a good bottle as an accompaniment. We like the wine cellar spirit with red brick vaults. Relaxed and rather quiet atmosphere, perfect for a romantic dinner. On the menu we have hot and cold mezzés, a large choice of red meats, poultry and some fish. The servers are particularly warm and attentive. If you wish to dine upstairs, remember to book in advance

A sign that no longer needs to be presented to the locals, this high-end restaurant chain is also part of a hotel group of the same name. With its terrace offering a beautiful panoramic view (even in winter), Divan is an excellent address in the Taksim district. The classics of this restaurant are the yoghurt kebab with pide bread, and the hünkar beğendi (simmered beef served on an aubergine purée). Pasta, pizzas and even hamburgers are on the menu. The service is impeccable. The prices are correct for the care, and the standing of the place

When you arrive at this restaurant, you will probably have one of the most beautiful views of Istanbul. It's simple, everything is in front of your eyes: the palace of Topkapı, Sainte-Sophie, the Golden Horn and the Bosporus. Peninsula manages to combine Turkish and world cuisine with subtlety. There are hot and cold mezzés, some fish and seafood and a wide choice of meat dishes, but there are also some vegetarian alternatives. To accompany the dishes, the wine list is composed of good bottles of Turkish wine

If you are not familiar with ocakbaşı, this is the opportunity to try it out by visiting the best restaurant in Istanbul. This place prepares mezzés for you, don't miss grilled eggplants. But above all, what makes the place so special is the grilled meats in the middle of the restaurant. All we will have here is grilled meat and a choice of lamb, chicken, beef and 3 varieties of kebabs. A great classic of Turkish cuisine not to be missed. Impeccable service. Quite expensive meal, but very copious and unique in its kind.

You won't find many falafel vendors in Istanbul, but this tiny stall is definitely worth a visit. First of all, the falafels are tasty and not too fatty, then you can dress them up as you wish with: mixed vegetables, gherkins, red cabbage, olives, corn... and the famous tahini (sesame) sauce. You can enjoy your falafel as a dürüm (wrap) or by the plate. We love this well-balanced, inexpensive and filling snack, which is also a great vegetarian alternative.

A pleasant restaurant, offering many typical Turkish dishes but worth a visit especially for its speciality specific to the Konya region (the owner is from Konya), etli ekmek (pizza dough coated with spicy minced meat). Only problem: as the dough is very thin and therefore very long, it cools quickly. Baked lamb kebab is delicious and melts in your mouth, but it is the most expensive dish on the menu, otherwise prices are average. As this place is very busy, we regret the very long service.

This sign was created in 1938 and is one of the pioneers of kebap in Istanbul. Simple but full of flavor, the cuisine offered corresponds to all types of palates. Perfectly located in the historic district, you can stop here at any time for breakfast, lunch or snacks: you will find sweets (walnut, almond or pistachio halva...), everything for breakfast, hot drinks (including Turkish coffee), some cheeses and a wide variety of egg and meat dishes.

Restaurant specialising in köfte, which it serves with tomatoes and onions. Piyaz (white bean salad) is a classic in köfte restaurants. These köfte are particularly tasty thanks to the meat that comes from the Trakya region (east of Istanbul). The irmik helvası (dessert made with semolina often served with a scoop of ice cream) is a must! The prices are not really cheap and the portions are quite small but it remains a trusted establishment in a neighbourhood where good addresses are scarce.

In Istanbul, this is surely the restaurant that offers the greatest number of varieties of dishes to compose your personalized breakfast, but Turkish style! There are many specialities from different regions of Turkey. Don't hesitate to try the Turkish sausage, especially the Turkish sausage called "sucuk". There is something for everyone, and you can test it before making your final choice. The terrace of this popular delicatessen is overcrowded during the week as well as on weekends. Make a reservation if you are in a group.

This tavern with its terrace overlooking the street will propel you into the atmosphere of rakı-balik 100% Turkish. A very good atmosphere, very good mezze at low prices and a minimal but efficient service. The fener şiş ızagra ızagra (fish skewers) and the yaprak cığer (liver) are particularly successful. As a main course, some kebabs, grilled meats and fresh fish are available. If you are still hungry, let yourself be tempted by sıcak helva (hot sesame cream). Feel free to test this typical meyhane, close to Taksim.

After a wild evening on the dance floors or in the concert halls of Kadiköy, the locals like to get drunk in this restaurant which is often quite full from 11am to 3am. The place has become very popular in recent years, it is difficult to find space on weekends. The speciality is dürüm (wraps) with beef, lamb or chicken. There is also a large choice of kebabs and pide (Turkish pizzas). The service is impeccable. Do not hesitate to try the beyran soup, it is a speciality of the south-east, based on lamb.

Accessible directly by an elevator, Tavaranası offers a subdued, under the roofs and a little jazzy atmosphere. As a bonus, a view of Asmalı street. The speciality of the place is the güveç, this Turkish stew served in cassolettes. Potatoes, meat, cheese, vegetables, the choices are varied. There is a wide choice of vegetarian dishes. Once very popular with students, it is now a little more expensive but the prices remain affordable. We like its calm and tranquility although it is in the heart of Beyoğlu.

Le is the first meyhane in the Cihangir district. Here you can feel at home with a nice but simple decoration, the portraits of celebrities alongside family photos on the walls. Here, Mediterranean cuisine is offered with rakı: . are tasty and reasonable prices. But you can also bypass the rule and enjoy a rich breakfast by a sunny afternoon. The terrace offers a superb view of the Bosphorus. It is advisable to book for dinner. 

This name is known all over the world. You will surely remember this moustachioed character with long hair in a ponytail, sprinkling a meat with coarse salt. It is indeed this restaurant, which opened in Miami, New York, Dubai, and which does not intend to stop there. If budget is not a problem, go for it, because this is a very good restaurant offering a rare quality of meat and cooking. You will get your money's worth! For those who don't want to break the bank, the burgers are much more affordable than the steaks or the pirzola.

In this tourist area, which has no shortage of kebab restaurants, this is considered one of the best doner restaurants in the area. This charming but modest authentic place proposes only one dish: the sandwich with grilled meat then cut in "sheets", in other words, the yaprak doner, there is also a version with the plate. There is a queue, but it's worth it and it goes quite quickly. You can eat your sandwich on the spot or take it away. Once the last spit of meat is finished, the house closes. Go early!

Fans of fine Asian cuisine will find something to their liking in this beautiful restaurant, which is tastefully decorated and offers original dishes compared to other restaurants in Istanbul. The view on the Bosphorus and the^1st bridge of Istanbul offers you a beautiful panorama which will not leave you unmoved. We advise you to go there for the sunset. Ideal for a romantic evening. A large choice of wine is proposed on the menu. Note that the average age remains high and that the restaurant is very popular with tourists. Reservations are recommended.

If you are in Istanbul for a little longer, maybe you will get tired of Turkish cuisine (even if we have never finished walking around!), Çok Çok Çok can therefore be a good alternative to taste gourmet and refined Thai cuisine. A few steps from the Péra Museum, the wooden terrace is very pleasant. On the menu, tasty and spicy dishes, often made with rice. The nems and small starters are really good, the original side sauces change from what we already know. To try, if only out of curiosity!

Here, we are in Turkey, but not completely ... Far from the grilled meats, the menu is more focused on Polish specialties, the house specialty is its famous baked duck in orange sauce. There are a few Turkish classics on the menu. The very good breakfast, the swimming pool and the children's playground will make you spend a relaxing day, alone or with your family. The only downside is that the prices are excessive, which is due to the growing success of the village of Polonezköy in recent years, and the restaurant owners are taking advantage of this.

This historic restaurant, which has been located in the Egyptian bazaar since 1926, has reopened its doors after a period of renovation. With blue earthenware on the walls, the decoration is much more sober than before. The chef offers a fine and gourmet Ottoman cuisine. As a starter, we will remember the aubergine börek served with a slice of doner meat. As a main course, we recommend lamb shank in tomato sauce with spinach or sea bass cooked in papillote. There is a good atmosphere and the waiters are very welcoming.

Formerly a recording studio, art gallery and then a pottery studio, the 49 (Kırk Dokuz in Turkish) reflects the surrounding area: gentrified and now between vintage design and authentic sobriety. What is the speciality of the place? A pizza with a thin and crispy dough, which you are advised to accompany with a bottle of Bozcaada wine, from the Aegean region, and the appellation "Desperate Housewives" whose owners are the owners of the 49. Don't expect to eat the best pizza of your life, but that's okay.

A quality fish restaurant, located below Sultanahmet, in Cankurtaran, by the Marmara Sea. Opened in 2005, this excellent restaurant will offer you, in the dining room or on the terrace, its magnificent setting and view. A very large choice of fish whose prices are per kilo, as well as a very good wine list (with some French wines). But prices are rising fast. A favourite for oven-baked ginger shrimps and eggplant caviar. The cooking of the fish is perfect and the service is impeccable.

This establishment offers a few different but equally well prepared specialities. Amongst others, the Islim kebab, a very classic dish with beef sautéed with eggplant, or, for those who like flavoured dishes, the Papaz Yahnisi, a typical Byzantine dish made of lamb pieces with onions, potatoes and squash cooked with cumin and garlic. You will also find a large choice of breakfasts, all the classics of Turkish cuisine and also pancakes for the sweet tooth.

Café-bar-restaurant, the Balkon opened since 2004 is the ideal place to eat local specialities (Turkish breakfast in particular), more classic dishes like pizzas. Everything is good. You can also drink a tea at any time of the day and contemplate the incredible view of the old town from the terrace or have an aperitif before dinner to enjoy the sunset. The wine list is honest as are the prices. In the evening, the place becomes a lounge bar, often crowded, but just as pleasant. Nice atmosphere.

Would you like to discover the gastronomic specialities of the Black Sea (Karadeniz)? So the Hayvore is done for you. At affordable prices you will be able to indulge in prepared and enfournés uy in your eyes, as well as the famous hamsi (fried anchovies) and many other tasty dishes. 

The Flower Passage is a real institution in the world of Istanbul's meyhane (taverns). Intoxicating music mingle with laughter and lively discussions, the mezze pile up on the tables and the rakı flows freely. The other side of the coin: a lot of people and noise, and easily inflated additions. So drop by for the setting, and for dinner, meyhane lovers will go just behind the passage into the Nevizade Sokak. Same atmosphere, more authentic.

Located at the top of the Ceylan Intercontinental Hotel, the Saffron, a classic in Istanbul since 1998, has just been renovated. In addition to the incomparable view of the city, the Bosphorus and the shimmering light bridge, the kitchen will take you to the seventh heaven. Safran has been rewarded by the "International Academy of gastronomy", for the elegance of the place, the service and the card. You will surely also have the chance to see your meal accompanied by a concert of Turkish classical music. Reservation strongly recommended. 

An unpretentious establishment in the heart of the traditional Balat district, which owes its popularity to its very friendly atmosphere. The köfte are delicious and cooked on seasonal vegetables. The menu also includes various grilled meats, salads, daily specials and tasty mezze. You will also find some traditional Turkish desserts. The portions are generous and the staff is welcoming. As a bonus, enjoy the view of the Golden Horn from the terrace in summer. Perfect place for a lunch in the heart of the Balat.

This renowned brand, ideally located in front of the Golden Horn, will make you experience a typical raki-balık evening. A wide range of fresh fish is available. Among the mezzés, we recommend tasting cibes (plants from the Aegean region) and octopus salad. The restaurant also offers a vegetarian alternative composed of several mezzés. As an accompaniment, we will have rakı but also some Turkish and French wines. The waiters are helpful, attentive, and do everything to make sure you have a great time. Remember to book the weekend

A lovely little restaurant where you can watch the women prepare your gözleme (a salty crepe filled with cheese, minced meat or mashed potatoes) before it is served hot with yogurt and pickles. To get away from the classics, try the delicious lens version! The sober decoration, in the colours of Anatolia, makes it a unique restaurant in the modern district of Kadiköy. The portions are generous, the staff is warm and smiling, this place has a very good price-quality ratio.

In the heart of a park on the heights of Üsküdar, the Dilruba offers a varied map of Ottoman or simply Mediterranean dishes. Its large terrace, as well as the glass room, offer an unobstructed view of the Bosphorus and its bridges. A place, unknown to tourists, where they like to find themselves families on weekends. At sunset, it is good to drink just a tea. 

Discovered by the general public through the «Fatmagülün Suçu» series, this small café-restaurant is held by the very pleasant winner of the Master chef in Turkey. The map is not especially wide, the dishes and pastries of the day make the place a success. For a breakfast at the weekend, it is best to book in order to be sure to enjoy delicious cakes and barely sortis out of the oven. As for decoration, it does not lack charm: The building is built around a tree and coloured wood furniture does not contradict.

For a real mezze-rakı, nothing better than a real meyhane. The decoration is simple, almost rustic. The shaded terrace, a small paradise. The Rakı card is provided and the mezze are delicious! Everything here breathes authentic and traditional music wastes nothing.