Istanbul is one of the most unique and vibrant cities in the world, with its chaotic streets, incredible food, and fascinating culture. This vibrant metropolis is home to some of the best restaurants in the world.
In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the best restaurants in the city and explore what makes them so special.
Top 18 Restaurants in Istanbul
- Yeni Lokanta
- Beyti
- Neolokal
- Mikla
- Banyan Restaurant
- Mürver
- Turk Fatih Tutak
- Sarnıç Restaurant
- Lacivert Restaurant
- Nusr-Et Steakhouse Etiler
- Frankie
- Karaköy Lokantası
- Araka Restaurant
- L’Olivetto Restaurant
- Emporio Ristorante
- Calipso Fish Restaurant
- 360Istanbul Restaurant
- Tuğra Restaurant
Yeni Lokanta
Yeni Lokanta is a cutting-edge restaurant that can be found off of Istiklal Street’s side streets. A minimum of one meal from their menu is required due to its utter deliciousness.
A lot of the most impressive meals are found in the meze portion of the menu. If you’re searching for a healthy option, the green salad is superb. The broccoli is perfectly cooked, and the crunch from the walnuts and apples is a nice addition.
Beyti
Beyti is a well-known meat eatery with contemporary architecture that is situated in the Florya residential area near to Istanbul Ataturk Airport. Turkey’s Istanbul, namely the Bakirkoy neighborhood. Mr. Beyti Guler, the restaurant’s proprietor and perhaps one of the first chefs in Turkey to do so, named a unique meat dish after himself.
It has eleven dining rooms and three patios, all decorated in a style derived from Ottoman Turkish art. If you’re looking for great meat, Beyti Restaurant may be the greatest in Turkey.
Neolokal
Neolocal is a neologism comprised of the terms ‘neo’ (new) and ‘local,’ therefore it comes as no surprise that the renowned chef Maksut Aşkar is reimagining his mother’s traditional tastes.
It’s hard not to fall in love with each dish since they are all aesthetic masterpieces in their own right. The braised root veggies will make you happy regardless of whether or not you follow a vegetarian diet.
Mikla
Mehmet Gürs, the Chef-Owner of the award-winning Mikla Restaurant in the trendy Beyoglu neighborhood of Istanbul’s Marmara Pera Hotel, is widely credited for establishing Istanbul’s modern restaurant scene.
The new Anatolian Kitchen at Mikla (where traditional and authentic noble goods are handled with the highest care while transformed with a combination of contemporary and old methods) is renowned for its superb cuisine, as are the restaurant’s stunning vistas and uplifting soundtrack.
Banyan Restaurant
Banyan Restaurant, sophisticated with breathtaking views of the Bosphorus, offers an extensive menu from which to choose. Winter in Istanbul calls for a bowl of Banyan’s winter soup or Tom Yam Kung soup, both of which are excellent.
If you’re craving sushi, get the beef tartar roll with red wine reduction. Try some new tastes with the caramelized pineapple and grilled sirloin served with wok veggies.
If that weren’t enough, there was also gluten-free bitter chocolate ganache with passionfruit compote to savor while gazing at the breathtaking scenery.
Mürver
Mürver is the epitome of fine dining. Their menu varies seasonally to reflect the mood and ingredients of the season. Each meal seems to be a seasonal and natural celebration.
The veggies from the brick oven deserve particular mention since they will make anybody fall in love with vegetables! It goes well with the dry beef beginning. The dry meat beginning is a beautiful meal consisting of juniper-smoked beef served with scorched peach and Sürmene cheese.
Typically, a şekerpare is a tiny yet filling Turkish dessert. Mürver’s vegan version is less potent. It’s also accompanied with pistachio, pear, and cherry compote. Each item on that list is delicious on its own, but when combined, it creates an unforgettable gourmet experience.
Turk Fatih Tutak
The restaurant Turk Fatih Tutak is considered to be among the finest eating establishments in all of Istanbul. It is situated in the Bomonti neighborhood of the Sisli neighborhood, and it provides a contemporary and refined assortment of traditional Turkish dishes prepared by Chef Fatih Tutak. This is a fantastic eatery with tasteful, contemporary furnishings and a calming atmosphere inspired by bamboo. Tutak’s cuisine is reminiscent of a contemporary Turkish meze with a creative, adventurous edge. You find yourself becoming eager as each dish arrives.
Sarnıç Restaurant
Sarnıç Restaurant is one of the best in Istanbul because to its wonderful cuisine and incredible romantic environment.
The restaurant Sarnç in Sultanahmet is housed in a cistern that dates back to the 15th century. Tourist hotspots including the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Grand Bazaar, and Topkap Palace can all be reached on foot from here.
The Venetian in the Harem is a flavorful explosion. Beef medallions are the main component of this traditional Venetian meal, which also includes oyster mushrooms, goat cheese, roasted potatoes, and a tasty sauce. Their flour halva is out of this world delicious, especially when combined with walnuts, hazelnuts, and caramel.
Lacivert Restaurant
Due to its proximity to the Bosphorus strait, Lacivert is widely regarded as one of Istanbul’s finest restaurants for a candlelit supper for two. The cuisine is delicious, and the scenery is breathtaking.
Warm shrimp salad in the Thai manner is a citrus lover’s paradise. Juicy grilled lamb chops go well with earthy porcini mushroom sauce.
The dessert menu is full with mouthwatering options. A semolina dish made in the Hatay tradition, served with cheese and ice cream, is a must-have if you can only try one. It’s like putting your mouth on a cloud and swallowing it.
Nusr-Et Steakhouse Etiler
In Istanbul, Nusr-Et is widely regarded as one of the most outstanding steakhouses where one may satisfy their need for meat. Those with a taste for meat will be aware that here is where the mythical Salt Bae originates.
There’s a wide variety of steaks to choose from, and they’re all excellent. There is a reason why the New York strip is such a classic. It has the perfect balance of taste, moisture, and fat.
Tomahawks are a delicious and tender cut of meat. Try serving it with a Nusr-et salad. Though the lokum is as tender as a Turkish treat, the sushi addition is brilliant. Order the French fries; there are apparently many dipping options. If you haven’t already, try honey&mustard or truffle mayo; you could fall in love with these!
Frankie
At Frankie, you may choose from the Smart, Chic, or Lux tasting menu. The hardest part of ordering from a tasting menu is deciding what to eat for the first and second courses, since each menu offers several options. If you choose with the rock bass option in Lux, you may never look at leeks the same way again. You’ll discover a riot of flavor thanks to the combination of the fermented melon sauce, the walnut pesto, and the squash.
The Chic option’s 72-hour roasted beef pulled ribs in a creamy cheese sauce with veggies will seem like an upscale take on meat. Your taste buds will do a happy dance after trying Smart’s free-range chicken dish served with charred cauliflower puree, broccoli, and chicken liver sauce.
The live music and sleek, contemporary interior design at Frankie are additional highlights. That is to say, if you want to have a night to remember in Istanbul, Frankie is one of the greatest places to do it.
Karaköy Lokantası
You may get lost in the night at this meyhane, which is a traditional Turkish pub managed by a family. Have a shot of rak, an alcoholic beverage made from anise seeds, then sample everything on the meze menu. Those who are feeling brave may try the dil söüş or the cooked veal brains (beyin salatas) (boiled veal tongue). Let’s say you just can’t bring yourself to do it. So, chilled meyhane cac (tzatziki) is the ideal complement to the hot muhammara dip. You may also be interested in ordering fish that has been marinated, mussels that have been stuffed, or samphire that has been cooked in olive oil.
The meze may not be for you if you aren’t in the mood to share. The grilled meatballs (zgara köfte) and Dana ökertme at this eatery, however, are worth a visit on their own (veal strips and shoestring potatoes served with yogurt and tomato sauce).
Araka Restaurant
Fantastic food and service can be found at Araka Restaurant, which can be found in the Sariyer neighborhood of Istanbul. The Araka restaurant, with its stunning exterior and intimate, romantic interior and back patio designed by Zeynep Pnar Taşdemir, is sure to wow.
Vegetables and herbs are used to make delicious gourmet dishes.
L’Olivetto Restaurant
One of the best Mediterranean eateries in Istanbul’s Atasehir neighborhood is L’Olivetto. The restaurant’s excellent traditional-based dishes, cozy environment, and kind service adhere to the principle of fusing unsophisticated tastes and a polished attitude to provide its patrons with one-of-a-kind experiences.
At the L’Olivetto restaurant, you’ll see dishes that are regularly updated and inspired by the city on tables decorated with moments and memories. With its extensive menus and knowledgeable staff, the restaurant is also a great choice for those special occasions and large gatherings.
Emporio Ristorante
When it comes to Italian cuisine, many Istanbul locals choose Emporio Ristorante & Emporio Pizza Pasta. Real Italian specialties are prepared using recipes that have been passed down for generations, with high-quality ingredients and convenient locations gathered from all around Italy. Both Emporio Ristorante and Emporio Pizza Pasta may be found in Akaretler, Turkey.
Calipso Fish Restaurant
On another Asian side of Istanbul, on the Kucukyali beach road, is where you’ll find the wonderful Calipso Fish Restaurant. The partners behind this establishment have a combined 30 years of expertise in the field of seafood cuisine.
The restaurant is renowned for its one-of-a-kind tastes, which include Aegean herbs that have been meticulously prepared, appetizers that are both cold and hot, fish that has been meticulously selected, fish specialties, and sauced sea shells, as well as exquisite choices of desserts and wine. After its first year in business, Calipso Fish was also voted one of “The Best 50 Restaurant Oscars” by foodies and culinary experts.
360Istanbul Restaurant
The well-known restaurant, bar, and nightclub known as 360Istanbul can be found atop an apartment building from the 19th century in the Beyoglu neighborhood of Istanbul, just over the well-known Istiklal Street.
It has breathtaking views of Istanbul in every direction. Lunch and dinner service are available at 360Istanbul, where contemporary Turkish meze is served alongside traditional Turkish fare, foreign fare, and an extensive wine list. In addition to an intelligently designed and wide wine and dessert menu, many of the main dishes are our own creations, again fusing Turkish and foreign inspirations.
Tuğra Restaurant
You can dine like a monarch at no other restaurant in Istanbul quite like Tuğra. It’s in a palace that dates back to the latter days of the Ottoman Empire. The restaurant provides traditional Ottoman dishes that have been prepared according to time-honored family traditions. Also, the view of the Bosphorus Strait is spectacular. The question is, “What else could one possibly want?”
Is there anything better than a bowl of pomegranate sorbet after a meal of organic chicken Topkap? (Chicken packed with rice, nuts, and spices). When celebrating a special event in Istanbul, make a reservation at Tuğra.
