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Istanbul Recommended RestaurantsISTANBUL RESTAURANT RECOMMENDATIONS
ANTIOCHIA
Minare Sokak No 21/A Asmalımescit
Tel:(0212) 292 11 00
Specializes in Antakya cuisine
Area :Off Istiklal avenue
ASİTANE
Kariye Camii Sokak no.18 - Edirnekapi
Tel : (0212) 534 84 14
This restaurant specializes in fine Ottoman court cuisine in a refurbished typically Turkish mansion.
Area: Old part of town, near the Museum of St. Savior in Chora.
BALIKCI SABAHATTIN - Seafood specialties
Cankurtaran – Seyh Hasankuyu Sokak no1 Sultanahmet
Tel : (0212) 458 18 24
Very simple restaurant in a picturesque back street of the old town surrounded by flowers and derelict wooden houses. A good choice of very tasty "mezes" and fresh fish. Reservation is a must.
Area : Old part of town behind the hotel Armada.
BORSA
Lütfi Kırdar Convention Center
Harbiye
Tel:(0212 2324201)
Open since 1927 Borsa serves high quality Turkish cuisine with empeccable service.
CHANGA
Sıraselviler Caddesi No 47/1 -Taksim
Tel : (0212) 251 70 64
Contemporary international dishes with a Turkish flair.Reservations recommended.
Area : Near Taksim and Cihangir
CIYA SOFRASI
Günesli Bahçeli Sokak no43-44 – Kadıköy
Tel : (0216) 330 31 90 – or (0216) 418 51 15
Traditional dishes from South East Anatolia, with an incredible selection to include both vegetables, salads and kebabs.Alcohol is not served.
Area : Asian side of Istanbul
DELICATESSEN
Mim Kemal Öke Caddesi No 19/1
Nişantaşı
(0212) 345 62 56
Menu includes freshly made ravioli,meat and vegetable dishes.Trendy venue for drinks
DOKUZ ECE AKSOY- Home cooking at its best
Asmalımescit Oteller Sokak no:9-B Tepebası / Beyoglu Tel :(0212) 245 76 28-41
Area:Off Istiklal Avenue
FES CAFE
Ali Baba Turbesi Sokak -Nurosmaniye
Tel : (0212) 526 30 71
This cafe is near the Grand Bazaar.The owner has also a cafe in the Bazaar where you could have an excellenty salad or a sandwich and freshly squeezed fruit juices.
Area : near the Grand Bazaar
FERIYE
Ciragan Cad. no.124 - Ortaköy
Tel : (0212) 227 22 16
Feriye is located in a restored historical building right on the Bosphorus, not far from the Çiragan Palace Kempinski Hotel.Beautiful terrace right on the water.
Turkish and international cuisine.
Area : Between the Kempinski and the village of Ortaköy ( a very lively area of Istanbul where the younger crowd likes to hang around
FICCIN
Kallavi Sokak No 13/1
Beyoğlu
Tel: 0212 243 85 53
Delicious dishes from the Caucasian Region.
KARAKOY BALIKÇISI
Kardeşim Sokak No 30 Karaköy
Tel: (0212) 251 13 71
Sea food restaurant open since 1923 with a lovely view of the Golden Horn.
GİRİTLİ- Aegean Turkish Cuisine Keresteci Hakkı Sok. (next to Armada Otel ) Cankurtaran/Ahirkapi- OLd city
Tel: (0212 )458 22 70 The Giritli restaurant is located in a restored Istanbul wooden house in the old city (close to Four Seasons hotel).
Owner Ayse sensılay has her roots in Girit, meaning Crete. She inherited her love of cooking from her family and serves all her family's favourite dishes.
You can also find unique versions of Istanbul fare. A meal at Giritli consists of a lot more than what's on the menu.
The joys of the Cretan kitchen are slowly unveiled during the course of your meal, allowing plenty of time for conversation.
Everything is done for you: even the ordering!It is a fixed menu
Reservations recommended.
HACI ABDULLAH
Sakizaga Cad. no.17 - Beyoglu
Tel : (0212) 293 85 61
Old Turkish restaurant established in 1876 serving traditional cuisine and no alcohol.
Area: Central, off the pedestrian road of Istiklal Caddesi also known as Beyoglu ( old Pera).
HACI BABA Istiklal Cad. no.49 - BeyogluTel : (0212) 244 18 86 Another Turkish restaurant serving traditional food. Most of the dishes are exposed for people to see and choose. Has an open air terrace facing an old Greek Orthodox Church. Area : Beyoglu HACIBEY KEBACISI
Tesvikiye Caddesi no 156/B
Best Bursa Kebab in Istanbul !No alcohol is served.
Area: Nişantaşı
HAMDI
Kalçin Sokak – Eminönü
Tel : (0212) 528 03 90
Specializes in kebabs. It is in the old city next to the Spice Bazaar and has a magnificent view over the Galata Bridge, the mosques and the sea.
Area : Near the Spice Bazaar
HAYVORE
Best Black Sea food in town.
Turnacıbaşı Sokak 4
Beyoğlu
Tel:(0212) 245 75 01
HÜNKAR
M.Kemal Öke Cad. Nisantasi
Tel : (0212) 225 46 65 or 225 46 30
An Istanbul classic ,excellent authentic Turkish food. Presented in trays and easy to chose from. Try the lamb with quince or if you are vegeterian the rice with anchovies , the okra cooked in olive oil etc. Wonderful Turish desserts.
Area : Nişantaşı
ISKELE RUMELI HISAR
Yahya Kemal Caddesi no.1 Rumelihisar
Tel : (0212) 263 29 37
Excellent fish restaurant on the waterfront on the European side of the city
Specialty : Grilled calamar
Area : Near the Rumelihisar fortress on the Bosphorus
ISTANBUL MODERN MUSEUM - LOFT
Salıpazarı
Tel : (0212) 292 26 12 -13
Contemporary Art Museum near the Cruise ships port.
The museum has an excellent restaurant and a breathtaking outdoor terrace on the Bosphorus overlooking the old town and the Marmara sea.
The Museum is closed on Mondays
Area : Commercial part of town not far from the Dolmabahçe Palace.
KANTIN
Akkavak Sk 16/2 Nisantası– open until 9:00 pm serves lunch and dinner.
0212 - 219 31 14 Istanbul Cuisine at its best by talented Chef Semsa Denizsel.
Area : Nişantaşı
KARAKÖY LOKANTASI
Kemankeş Caddesi No 37/A - Karaköy
Turkish cuisine at reasonable prices
Area: Across cruise port in Karaköy
LOKANTA MAYA Delicious food by talented chef Ms . Didem Senol in a modern Istanbul ambiance! Its young, stylish tasty yet not too expensive!
The chef also has a delicious cook book you can acquire at the restaurant.
Kemankeş Caddesi No 35A Karakoy 212 -252 68 84 www.lokantamaya.com
Area: Across the cruise port in Karakoy
MIKLA
The Marmara Pera Hotel - Tepebasi
Tel : (0212) 293 5656
On the roof of Marmara Pera Hotel. Amazing view over the city and very refined cusine by a young very talented celebrity chef Mehmet Gürs. a 12 course tasting menu is available.
Very popular need booking well ahead
Area : Near the Pera Museum and behind Istiklal Caddesi
MUZEDE CHANGA
Sabanci Muzesi – Emirgan
Tel : (0212) 323 09 01
Magnificent open air terrace overlooking the Bosphorus through the garden of Sakip Sabanci residence, today a private museum.
Excellent imaginative fusion" cuisine, under the supervision of famous London based chef Peter Gordon (from the Sugar Club) has made of Changa the trendiest restaurant in town.
Area : On the Bosphorus in Summer and in the modern part of town, near Taksim Square in winter
Closed on Mondays.
PARK SAMDAN
Very trendy and elegant fine dining restaurant . Excellent service and excellent cuisine, both Turkish and International. Try their vegetable starters cooked with olive oil, their kebabs or the grilled sword fish.
Reservation is a must.
Area : Nişantaşı
POSEIDON
Cevdetpasa St. No.58 Küçük Bebek-İstanbulTel: 0212-263 38 23
Excellent fish restaurant, right on the water on the European side
Relaxed atmosphere and picturesque surroundings.
Area: On the Bosphorus
SUR OCAKBAŞI
İtfaiye Caddesi 19,Fatih
Tel:(212) 533 80 88
Grill restaurant serving food from South East Turkey.Çiğ köfte (Turkish steak tartar
 ) are worth a try.SUNSET GRILL & BAR
Adnan Saygun Caddesi Yok Sokak no.2
Ulus Parki – Ulus
Tel : (0212) 287 03 57
Located just below Ulus 29, Sunset has probably the best wine cellar in town .
Good selection of sushi and the rest is based on an international cuisine.
Area : Ulus ,Residential area overlooking the Bosphorus
VOGUE
Spor Caddesi BJK Plaza A Blok –Akaretler
Tel : (0212) 227 44 04
Very trendy restaurant with a breathtaking panorama of Istanbul. Music is sometimes loud.
International cuisine as well as excellent sushis. Reservation is a must
Area : Modern part of town
ULUS 29 (YIRMIDOKUZ)
Ahmet Adnan Saygun Cad.
Ulus Parki içi no.1 - Ulus Very elegant restaurant, refined interior decoration, the restaurant overlooks the Bosphorus from one of the seven hills of Istanbul.
Beautiful terrace. Delicious Turkish food!
Reservation is a must.
ZENCEFİL
Kurabiye Sok.No 8 Taksim Tel: 0212 - 243 82 34
The best vegeterian restaurant in town!
Area : Taksim ,off Istiklal
ZÜBEYİR OCAKBAŞI Bekar Sokak No 28 - Beyoğlu
Tel: (0212) 293 39 51
Delicious Turkish grills !
Area: Off Istiklal
MEYHANE RECOMMENDATIONS
Refik
Refik Aslan opened this Meyhane on Tünel Sofyalı Street in 1954 and still runs the place with his son. Refik offers Turkish dishes during lunchtime and serves as a meyhane at night. The specialties are karalahana dolması (stuffed kale), stewed anchovy, and kuzu sarma (lamb's chitterling). It is open every day except Sundays until 01:00. Reservation is required for the weekend. Another pleasure is the tables on the street in summer.
İmroz
First opened in Kerpen Arcade - Balıkpazarı in 1941, İmroz is now located on Nevizade Sokak. The owner for sixty years and now partner Yorgo Okumuş is still working there. Lakerda (salt bonito), sauced bonito and tarama (made by spawn and bread) are the most famous among the 35 kinds of meze İmroz offers. It is open everyday until midnight. Reservation is accepted until 19:00. The terrace is open in summers.
Yakup 2
Yakup 2 has been in service on Asmalımescid Street near Tünel for 27 years. It is famous for its special hot mezes. Arnavut ciğeri (fried liver), mushrooms with butter and kağıtta pastırma (dried meat flavored with cumin and garlic and cooked and served in a special paper) are among its indispensable tastes. Lunch is served between 12:00 and 14:30 and dinner is between 18:30 and 01:00.
Kuleli
Kuleli has been in Samatya for 25 years and is famous for its seafood. Kalamar (calamari), ançuez (salted anchovy), sardalya (sardine), ahtapot (octopus), lakerda (salt bonito) and çiroz (dried mackerel) are the favorite mezes. It may be difficult to find a table without a reservation.
Sevic
Seviç was first founded as a beer house in Çiçek Pasajı, Galatarasay in 1948. Foreign customers enjoy the site and Hungarian violinist Korçi performs between 15:00 and 19:00. It is open everyday until midnight.
Kör Agop
At the historical customs building in Kumkapı, Kör Agop is a 65-year old establishment preferred by foreign customers. Special "Kör Agop-style" cold and hot mezes are famous. For example, Kör Agop soup is a kind of fish soup. It is open everyday between 11:00 and 01:30. Fasıl Heyeti (a group of traditional style musicians) performs live music from 20:00 on.
Boncuk
Located on Nevizade Street in Galatarasay, it is famous for uskumru dolması (stuffed mackerel), topik (an Armenian meze), Cerkez tavugu (Circassian chicken) and Boncuk tatlısı (bead dessert) made of apple. It features live guitar music on Fridays and Saturdays.
Cumhuriyet
The most famous meyhane in Nevizade, featuring live fasıl music every day. |
