Best Turkish Restaurants in Istanbul: A Complete Guide for Tourists

This guide highlights the best Turkish restaurants in Istanbul for tourists, organized by budget, location, experience, and dining preferences. We’ll go deeper into each category with more background, tips, and recommendations so you can enjoy a truly unforgettable culinary journey.

Istanbul is a city where East meets West, and nowhere is that more apparent than in its food scene. From Ottoman palace dining to street food delights, the city offers an endless array of Turkish restaurants to suit every budget, location, and occasion.

---

Fine Dining: Turkish Cuisine with a Luxury Touch

Fine dining in Istanbul blends Ottoman history, Anatolian flavors, and contemporary gastronomy. These restaurants are perfect for travelers seeking refined experiences with world-class service.

Tuğra (Beşiktaş)

• ✨ Ambiance: Located in the Çırağan Palace Kempinski, with gilded interiors and Bosphorus terrace.
• 🍽️ Cuisine: Refined Ottoman recipes inspired by palace archives.
• ⭐ Specialties: Hünkar Beğendi, grilled lamb liver, Ottoman-style desserts.
• 💰 Price Range: 400–800 TL mains, 3,250 TL tasting menu.
• ❤️ Occasion: Romantic dinners, luxury dining, anniversaries.
• 🎶 Unique Touch: Live kanun (zither) performances.
• 📅 Reservations: Required; dress code applies.

Mikla (Beyoğlu)

• ✨ Ambiance & View: Rooftop restaurant atop The Marmara Pera Hotel, offering stunning views of the Bosphorus and Old City skyline.
• 🍽️ Cuisine: “New Anatolian Kitchen,” reinventing Turkish classics with Scandinavian precision and Anatolian ingredients.
• ⭐ Specialties: Smoked lamb loin with apple molasses, fried Black Sea anchovies, seasonal tasting menus.
• 💰 Price Range: 5,000–7,000 TL per person for tasting menus.
• 🥗 Dietary Options: Vegan tasting menu available.
• ❤️ Occasion: Romantic dinners, business dining, celebrations.
• 📅 Reservations: Essential, often weeks in advance.
• 🌟 Unique Features: Ranked among the World’s 50 Best Restaurants, offers open-air terrace cocktails.
• Mikla Restaurant

Neolokal (Karaköy)

• ✨ Ambiance: Michelin-starred, inside the historic Salt Galata building with terrace views of the Golden Horn.
• 🍽️ Cuisine: Modern interpretations of forgotten Anatolian recipes, using seasonal and sustainable produce.
• ⭐ Specialties: Hüveydanın (slow-cooked lamb stew), pistachio baklava, vegetarian tasting menu.
• 💰 Price Range: ~3,900 TL tasting menu.
• 🥗 Dietary Options: Vegetarian menu available, Michelin Green Star for sustainability.
• ❤️ Occasion: Cultural fine dining, couples, gastronomy enthusiasts.
• 📅 Reservations: Recommended.
• 🌟 Unique Features: Focuses on culinary heritage while embracing innovation.
• Neolokal

---

Mid-Range Dining: Local Favorites with Style

For travelers who want authentic food without the extravagance of fine dining, Istanbul offers mid-range gems. These restaurants combine atmosphere with tradition and are perfect for families or groups.

Balıkçı Sabahattin (Sultanahmet)

• ✨ Ambiance: Family-run seafood restaurant in a restored 1927 Ottoman wooden mansion.
• 🍽️ Cuisine: Traditional Turkish seafood with generous meze options.
• ⭐ Specialties: Daily catch, octopus salad, almond pudding.
• 💰 Price Range: 600–800 TL per person.
• ❤️ Occasion: Relaxed seafood dinner near the Old City.
• 🌟 Unique Features: Outdoor garden dining in summer.

Karaköy Lokantası (Karaköy)

• ✨ Ambiance: Known for its striking turquoise tiles and lively tavern atmosphere.
• 🍽️ Cuisine: Home-style dishes by day, refined meyhane at night.
• ⭐ Specialties: Hünkar Beğendi, grilled octopus, artichoke hearts.
• 💰 Price Range: ~600 TL per person at dinner.
• ❤️ Occasion: Stylish evening out with friends or colleagues.
• 📅 Reservations: Essential for dinner.
• karakoylokantasi.com

Çiya Sofrası (Kadıköy)

• ✨ Ambiance: Canteen-style setting in Kadıköy Market, beloved by locals and tourists.
• 🍽️ Cuisine: Rare Anatolian recipes, many vegetarian-friendly options.
• ⭐ Specialties: Lamb with quince, ekşili aş (sour lentil soup), seasonal stews.
• 💰 Price Range: 400–500 TL per person.
• ❤️ Occasion: Cultural food exploration, casual meals.
• 🌟 Unique Features: Featured in Netflix’s Chef’s Table.
• Çiya Sofrası

Hamdi (Eminönü)

• ✨ Ambiance: Multi-floor eatery with rooftop views of the Golden Horn and Galata Tower.
• 🍽️ Cuisine: Southeastern kebabs and meze.
• ⭐ Specialties: Pistachio kebab, Ali Nazik, testi kebab.
• 💰 Price Range: ~500 TL per person.
• ❤️ Occasion: Family dinners, casual business meals.
• 📅 Reservations: Advised for sunset terrace seating.
• Hamdi Restaurant

---

Affordable Eats: Turkish Food on a Budget

Istanbul is equally famous for its inexpensive eateries and street food. You can enjoy some of the most iconic dishes for under $10 per person.

Tarihi Sultanahmet Köftecisi (Sultanahmet)

• ✨ Ambiance: Historic cafeteria near Hagia Sophia with fast service.
• 🍽️ Cuisine: Famous for its köfte (grilled meatballs).
• ⭐ Specialties: İzgara Köfte, piyaz (bean salad).
• 💰 Price Range: ~150 TL per plate, under $10.
• ❤️ Occasion: Quick, authentic lunch between sightseeing stops.
• 🌟 Unique Features: Over 100 years old, a true institution.

Şehzade Cağ Kebap (Sirkeci)

• ✨ Ambiance: Casual grill house near Sirkeci station.
• 🍽️ Cuisine: Erzurum-style cağ kebabı cooked on horizontal spits.
• ⭐ Specialties: Skewered lamb kebabs with lavash bread.
• 💰 Price Range: ~60 TL per skewer, ~$20 for two people.
• ❤️ Occasion: Affordable kebab dinner for meat lovers.
• 🌟 Unique Features: Lamb is sliced directly from rotating spits.

Dürümzade (Taksim/Beyoğlu)

• ✨ Ambiance: Humble wrap shop that gained fame through Anthony Bourdain.
• 🍽️ Cuisine: Charcoal-grilled meat wraps.
• ⭐ Specialties: Lamb dürüm, spicy Adana dürüm.
• 💰 Price Range: ~100 TL per wrap.
• ❤️ Occasion: Late-night bites, casual snack after exploring Taksim.
• 🌟 Unique Features: Known as one of Istanbul’s best dürüm spots.

Borsam Taşfırın (Kadıköy)

• ✨ Ambiance: Unpretentious bakery with a wood-fired oven.
• 🍽️ Cuisine: Traditional lahmacun and pide.
• ⭐ Specialties: Crispy lahmacun, cheese pide.
• 💰 Price Range: ~50 TL per lahmacun.
• ❤️ Occasion: Quick and affordable meal.
• 🌟 Unique Features: Locals’ favorite for over 30 years.

---

Tips for Tourists

• 🥗 Halal & Vegetarian Options: Most meat in Turkey is halal; vegetarians will find plenty of meze, pide, and vegetable dishes.
• 📅 Reservations: Essential for fine dining and popular mid-range restaurants; budget places usually operate walk-in.
• 📍 Locations: Sultanahmet for history, Karaköy for trendy vibes, Kadıköy for local life, Bosphorus for stunning views.
• ❤️ Occasions: Fine dining for romance and business; mid-range for stylish dinners and family meals; budget eats for authentic street food experiences.
• 🚢 Extra Tip: Combine your dining with a Bosphorus cruise or neighborhood walk for a memorable experience.

---

Final Word

Whether you’re dining like a sultan in an Ottoman palace, enjoying a vibrant meyhane night in Karaköy, or grabbing a dürüm after a night out in Taksim, Istanbul’s culinary world reflects its diverse culture and centuries-old traditions. Each neighborhood offers a distinct flavor, from the seafood of Sultanahmet to the regional specialties in Kadıköy. Use this guide to plan your culinary adventures, explore both upscale and humble eateries, and experience Istanbul through its food.

Afiyet olsun – Bon appétit!