The best restaurants Turkey

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. 

AVLU is a typical Lokanta-style restaurant that is popular with local merchants and travelers alike. The formula is well known and widespread, with home cooked dishes, soups and grilled meats. You will have a wide choice among mezzes, cooked dishes, kebabs and all the essentials of Turkish cuisine. Hummus is particularly recommended. Nice restaurant, nice waiters. The place is very popular but you can always find a place. The bill is very reasonable.

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.

The Tandir Restaurant is an establishment with original cuisine, run by a friendly family in the historic village. The highlight is its large glass room with its very pleasant view. The menu will leave you speechless, everything is tasty, and there are many vegetarian options. We recommend stuffed zucchini flowers, mushrooms with cheese, soups sprinkled with goat's cheese (Tulum), and all dishes in cassolette . A good idea for lunch before resuming your hike in the valleys.

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!

Sakir the owner (in love with Paris) welcomes you since 2005 with a smile and proposes an excellent regional cooking based on fresh products at a very correct price (rather rare in Bodrum). Here everything is made at the minute and the portions are very generous. Great choice of kebabs (the adana dürüm with its precise and spicy seasoning is a marvel), soups (try the one with red lentils), lahmacun and authentic local dishes. Friendly and fast service. Take-out or delivery available.

This is a great address on the marina to eat the famous manti but also lots of other good things like fantastic meatballs or the tasty cökertme kebabı. For starters, try the halloumi cheese. Everything is prepared to order. The restaurant does not serve alcohol but does offer excellent homemade lemonade, perfect for cooling down after a long walk. Tea and coffee are on the house. Friendly waiters, friendly atmosphere. Reasonable prices, quite rare in the center of Bodrum.

This restaurant, one of the oldest in Bodrum, can be reached either from the bazaar or from the marina. Located on a small square, very central, in the shade, it is the perfect place to discover the famous doner with vegetables of Bodrum: a spit of meat assembled with vegetables, a treat! The meats are of good quality, the bread is made on the spot and the staff is welcoming. It is a popular address, known by the locals and very frequented. The good news is that in summer the place is open 24 hours a day. In the mood for a peasant plate at 4am? Hoş geldiniz!

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.

In a somewhat kitschy decor, tasting of local plates: mantı, pastırma, iskender, as well as many choices of kebabs or even salads. Of course, we go there to enjoy the delicious and hearty dish of iskender, the specialty of the house. The restaurant being famous, it is sometimes difficult to find a place even if the room is very large, so do not hesitate to book a little in advance. The establishment does not serve alcohol and the waiters are friendly.

The restaurant specializes in lamb and chicken kebabs and, as the name suggests, pide. The pitas that come out of the oven are famous. The establishment does not serve alcohol but the inevitable ayran which, it seems, is the drink that goes best with the meat of the kebap and the pide... The room is not really charming but it is spacious, you can go there in group or with your family without reservation. The service is efficient, it's a good place to eat quickly on the go at correct prices.

The restaurant is installed under an arbour with many flowers and plants and it is very pleasant to have lunch in the shade. The view is superb, you have the impression to eat in a garden. We recommend the excellent gözleme, the famous Turkish pancakes. If you wish to bring back a small gastronomic souvenir of the region, bottles of olive oil are on sale as well as jars of home-made jam. A friendly family takes care of the place. It is an excellent choice for a treat and the bill is more than reasonable.

Run by Urfa restaurateurs, this restaurant is very famous among local (and Greek!) customers for its grilled mezze. It also serves dishes with sauces and pide... You will find a great choice and a quality cuisine, all served in generous portions. There is a choice of indoor dining room and terrace, as well as a few tables on the street. It is one of the best addresses in the city, even if the place does not look like much. The price of the dishes is more than reasonable.

Typical and popular, this restaurant is mainly frequented by a local clientele. Don't expect a chic or cosy sign, the Kardeşler restaurant (literally "the friends' restaurant") is in fact a lokanta, one of the classics of the genre, clean, a bit sanitized and with a decoration that we would describe as "sober". On the other hand, you will eat there very copiously and for not very expensive typical Turkish specialities. It is without frills but good. The dishes are prepared in the morning and proposed in the window.

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. 

Charming restaurant, ideal for a romantic dinner or with friends. With its intimate atmosphere and terrace, the selection of seafood is impressive. A few selections from the menu will make your mouth water: oysters au gratin with parmesan cheese, baked mussels, squid, octopus tentacles, fresh sea urchins, and many other finely cooked bivalve mollusks... The tasting menu will save you a lot of thought. The two young brothers (one at the stove and the other at the service) will gladly advise you among the different preparations.

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. 

Mr. Mehmet Aksoy's restaurant is famous and attracts Kayseri lovers. The room is halfway between a cave and a troglodyte house and it is a bit dark with a decoration that mixes rustic and kitsch. The dishes are rather good and the bill is very wise. The specialties are pide (pizza bread with cheese or meat) and kiremit (vegetables, fish or meat, cooked in a special pot). Sütlaç (rice pudding), made on a wood fire, delicious. No alcohol but a nice terrace to have a tea on nice days.

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.

From Sinop, at the entrance to Gerze, above the harbor, you will find this small family-run establishment that offers the specialties of the region (tasty mantı and beautiful fish...) as well as gözleme and the unmissable köfte. Everything is delicious and the location of the establishment promises a superb view of the water. Large terrace. As a bonus, the roof terrace offers a beautiful view of the coast. In the evening, you can have a beer while listening to live bands. Without doubt the most lively place in town.

The Mabeyin proposes to discover the richness of the most famous Turkish cuisine, that of Gaziantep. The hotel has a large park, as well as a children's playground, a pool, several rooms including a conference. It is perfect for banquets with family or friends, and for business meetings. 

A charming little establishment in a quiet alleyway above the Galata Tower. The place is in fact very warmly recommended for its breakfasts and its wide choice of homemade jams. After breakfast here, forget your lunch because you will no longer be hungry. Lunches and dinners are not to be missed. The menu varies according to the chef's inspiration and the freshness of the seasonal products found on the market. A beautiful place for a moment of relaxation. Wifi access. Possibility to have a drink in the evening.

"Chez Yilmaz" is a delightful country address, nestled in an apple orchard on the banks of a stream. In the summertime, lunch on the wooden tables in the garden is a pure moment of relaxation. Simple and good dishes to choose from: soups, salads, delicious gözleme, exquisite bread and for dessert sheep's milk cheese with honey. Yilmaz, your host, will surely take the opportunity to practice his knowledge of French, German or English.

The elegance of this Greek tavern is matched only by the finesse of its cuisine. Here we come to eat fish and buy it whole. It is chosen raw and ultra fresh as well as the way to cook it. It is then served with a few rocket leaves (roka) and lemon. It can therefore be served with an assortment of mezze, all delicious. As a bonus, a splendid view of the Bosphorus. Another establishment at Yeşilköy with a view of the Marmara Sea. In a few months, this restaurant has become one of the best restaurants in Istanbul.

You will rarely find such low prices for such high quality products and presentation. The various breakfasts in this establishment cover all tastes and are really worth a visit. A wide choice of vegan dishes are on the menu. There are burgers, pizzas and pasta, but also main dishes made with chicken or beef. The place is very relaxed and welcomes the whole district on its terrace in summer. Feel free to stop there to drink açay and let yourself be tempted by the more than satisfying menu.

In this lokanta, Mehmet welcomes you with a smile to make you taste his tasty family cooking. Mezze, fish casserole and grilled lamb chops: everything is fresh and excellent. Vegetarians will also enjoy delicious zucchini flowers, fried vegetable patties, and the sarmas (vine leaves stuffed with rice) are to die for, as well as the moussaka, the kebabs, difficult to choose... Absolutely everything in this little gargote is delicious. It's cheap, generous and the owners are very nice. Go for it!

Körfez Restaurant is the oldest restaurant in Bodrum, open since 1927. On a beautiful terrace with a view of the sea. Ali, the owner, likes to tell the history of Bodrum. Here, the seafood is in the spotlight. Shrimps, crayfish, fried squid, octopus, you will not know what to choose! The recipes have been handed down from generation to generation, the fish dishes are delicious and the service is of high quality. A bar with traditional music, located in a street perpendicular to Cumhuriyet Street, offers a local atmosphere and a good rakı.

In the heart of the Beşiktaş market, when it's lunchtime, you'll see a long line in front of the tiny kebab restaurant. Be careful, the restaurant closes when the brooch is finished, around 5pm. You can eat standing in front of the restaurant like most customers, or on the small wooden seats in front (rarely free). If you don't want to eat the kebab in a sandwich, you can go upstairs and ask for it on a plate.

In the evening, it is very pleasant to dine in this typical restaurant with a rustic style. Overlooking the street, the outdoor kitchen with its fish, seafood and meat stalls allows you to choose what you want to eat. Everything is fresh and tasty. To keep you waiting, they will bring you a tandır, a delicious flatbread that comes out of the oven, made at the minute for the guests. The staff is very friendly and the establishment is among the best restaurants in the city. A must-see!

Located in a former school, this great restaurant offers an unforgettable setting. The menu offers different dishes: chicken, lamb, turkey, köfte... The choice is yours! Far from what the beauty of the establishment might suggest, the prices are very reasonable and the cuisine is typical and good. Do not miss the speciality: the unavoidable lamb chops. Also breakfast options, cheese platter, aperitif plates of several mezzes and vegetarian formula.

A little hunger in the middle of the night? This establishment is open 24 hours a day and will serve you one of the best soups in town at any time. This simple restaurant offers a generous and efficient cuisine with a wide variety of Turkish specialities on the menu such as various soups, grilled meats, etc. If it doesn't look like much, it is mainly frequented by locals and will plunge you into an authentic atmosphere. An address to keep in mind if you plan to go out one evening in the Golden Horn district.

In a traditional house of Izmir dating precisely from 1888, this restaurant of the same name proposes a great choice of Turkish, Spanish and Jewish specialities, but also an international menu with burgers. The interior is warm and decorated Art Nouveau, the garden is very pleasant. The restaurant is also a bar and a pub: sometimes, there is a live band playing, it's very nice! Other nights, the atmosphere is techno music. The establishment is located in the animated district of Alsançak. There is crowd the weekend.

There is no coincidence, and Yeni Lokanta is not one of the most popular restaurants in Istanbul by a stroke of luck! His recipe? The boss and chef, Civan Er, has travelled all over the world to immerse himself in his cultures and make them a unique symbiosis. A bet taken! The service is impeccable and the staff pleasant. Among the essential dishes: sucuk (spicy sausage) with nuts, or mantı (ravioli) filled with dried eggplant. Prices are much higher than the average in Istanbul, especially the wine list.