GİRİTLİ- Aegean Turkish Cuisine
Keresteci Hakkı Sok. (next to Armada Otel ) Cankurtaran/Ahirkapi
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 serving traditional cuisine and no alcohol.
Price : Cheap to moderate
Area: Central, off the pedestrian road of Istiklal Caddesi also known as Beyoglu ( old Pera).
Credit Cards : Amex, Visa & Mastercard
HACI BABA
Istiklal Cad. no.49 - Beyoglu
Tel : (0212) 244 18 86
Another Turkish restaurant serving excellent 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 is the Soho of Istanbul, with a large pedestrian street, an old fashioned tramway, shops, cinemas, restaurants, bars and discos.
Price : Cheap to moderate
Major credit cards are accepted.
HAMDI
Kalçin Sokak – Eminönü
Tel : (0212) 528 03 90
If you like meat, this is the best kebab restaurant in town. 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
Price : Cheap to moderate
All major credit cards are accepted
HÜNKAR
M.Kemal Öke Cad. Nisantasi
Tel : (0212) 225 46 65 or 225 46 30
Excellent 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 deserts.
Area : Modern part of town
Price : Moderate
All major credit cards are accepted
POSEIDON
Cevdetpasa St. No.58 Küçük Bebek-İstanbul
Tel: 0212-263 38 23
Excellent fish restaurant, right on the water on the European side
Relaxed atmosphere and picturesque surroundings.
Prices : Moderate to expensive
Major credit cards are accepted
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
Price : Moderate to expensive
Major credit cards accepted
ISTANBUL MODERN
Istanbul Modern Museum
Salıpazarı
Tel : (0212) 292 26 12 -13
Recently opened 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.
Prices: Moderate
All major credit cards are accepted.
KANTIN– Innovative Turkish Delicacies
Akkavak Sk 16/2 Nişantaşı – only lunch served
0212 - 219 31 14
LOKANTA – NU TERAS
Mesrutiyet Caddesi no.149/1 – Tepebası
Tel : : (0212) 245 60 70Another young talented chef ! The Nu Teras terrace is magnificent and overlooks the Golden Horn. Food is very good.
MEZZALUNA
Area : Behind Istiklal Caddesi, close to the Pera Palas
Prices : Moderate to expensive
Credit Cards : Mastercard & Visa
Abdi Ipekçi Cad. no.38/1 - Nisantasi
Tel : (0212) 231 31 42
Trendy restaurant with Italian food, good pizzas and pasta.
Area : Modern part of town in the nicest shopping area
Price : Moderate to expensive
Major credit card accepted.
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 chef.
Very popular need booking well ahead
Area : Near the Pera Museum and behind Istiklal Caddesi
Price : Expensive
Major credit cards accepted
MUSEE DE 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
Prices : Expensive
Credit Cards : Visa & Mastercard. No Amex.
Closed on Mondays
PARK SAMDAN
Very trendy and elegant 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 : Modern part of town, in the shopping area
Prices : Good value for money.
Visa and Master card accepted.
REFIK
Sofyali Sokak 10-12 Tünel - Taksim
Tel : (0212) 243 28 34
This simple "meyhane" is a classic. The owner Refik has been around for over thirty years. Popular with journalists and intellectuals in general,it serves good food and has a great atmosphere yet it should be avoided by non smokers.
Area : Central part of town behind the pedestrian street of Beyoglu (Istiklal Caddesi).
Price : Moderate
Closed on Sunday. Credit cards not accepted
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
Price : Expensive
Major credit cards are accepted
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
Price : Expensive
Major credit cards are accepted
ULUS 29 (YIRMIDOKUZ)
Ahmet Adnan Saygun Cad.
Ulus Parki içi no.1 - Ulus
Tel : (0212) 265 61 8
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.
Area : Residential area fifteen minutes from the Çiragan Palace Kempinski Hotel.
Prices : Expensive
Major credit cards are accepted.
ZENCEFIL
International, Not 100% Vegetarian
Taksim (0212) 244 40 82
Located behind the Fitas movie theatre in BeyoĿlu near Taksim square Zencefil serves not 100% vegetarian cuisine. Zencefil" means "ginger" in Turkish.
Billed as a vegetarian cafe (in spite of the chicken with leeks on the menu), this spot serves up wholesome fare worthy of its healthy designation. Homemade bread with herb butter accompanies every meal, which might be a big healthy salad, an ample slice of quiche, or Indian stew with exotic spices and vegetables. Menus have been skillfully translated into English, which is useful, because pumpkin pie probably isn't in your basic Turkish dictionary, and it's too good to miss.
Open Monday— Saturday from 10:30am to 11:30 pm with breakfast, lunch and dinner available. Mastercard and Visa are accepted.
