Restaurant Istanbul - The 10 best restaurants Istanbul - Turquie in 2025

Practical information : Eating out Istanbul

Timetable

In Turkey, except during Ramadan, and especially in Istanbul, there are no fixed times for eating: you eat when you are hungry. Most restaurants offer continuous service. On weekends, some places serve breakfast until 1:30 pm.

Budget & Tips

It is easy to find good and inexpensive restaurants, however avoid the overly touristy areas such as Sultanahmet and under the Galata Bridge, where prices are much higher. If you plan to eat local, opt for the smaller, more crowded restaurants. If you have to wait a while, at least you can be sure that the crowds will ensure a good flow and therefore a real freshness of the food. Restaurants accept payment by card and cash, but not by check.

What costs extra

The bill arrives either in a small booklet or in a box, and taxes are included in the price. It is common to leave a tip, 5 to 10% of the bill depending on your appreciation of the service. Tap water is not drinkable, so you have to pay for bottled mineral water, and bread is free unless it is in plastic packaging (this is sometimes the case in canteens). In meyhane (place where you drink rakı) and fish restaurants, you pay extra for cutlery, as it will be changed several times during the dinner.

The local way

In restaurants, the service has the particularity to be fast. It is not uncommon that as you swallow your last bite, your plate is taken away on the spot! The same goes for drinks: before you've even taken your last sip, the waiter takes the glass and offers another one. Don't hesitate to tell the waiter to wait before removing your plate or glass if this bothers you. In some establishments, especially in fish restaurants, you may be offered cologne to freshen your hands before leaving.

Smokers

Since 2010, smoking is prohibited in enclosed public places. However, some bars and restaurants (especially those that offer alcohol) allow their customers to smoke after a certain time.

Tourist traps

In the tourist areas, you will be besieged by pushers who are sometimes too insistent: avoid following them!

Learn more about gastronomy Istanbul

The best restaurants Istanbul

Map of top points of interest Istanbul

ARMADA TERRASSE RESTAURANT

NICOLE

DOY-DOY RESTAURANT

ALBURA KATHISMA CAFE RESTAURANT

SUNSET

SIREVI RESTAURANT & BISTRO

OLIVE RESTAURANT

KHORASANI RESTAURANT

DREAMER'S KITCHEN EON

RESTAURATION EN LIGNE - YEMEKSEPETI

SURA KEBAB HOUSE

HOCAPAŞA PİDECİSİ

HELVETIA

MATBAH RESTAURANT (OTTOMAN PALACE CUISINE)

SEYHMUS KEBAB EVI

HOUSE OF MEDUSA (MEDUSA EVI)

OZZIE'S 1968 KOKOREÇ

ÇIYA

KAHVE 6

KARAKÖY LOKANTASI

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