Istanbul is so varied in cuisine, you’d find it hard to try it all in one trip! Here’s a foodie’s guide to Istanbul so you know all the good stuff to munch on.
Istanbul is as much of a cosmopolitan metropolis as is a traditional city! So, it’s no surprise that the food culture is just as varied! You can find budget street eats as well as uber expensive bars.
Traditional Turkish cuisine can be found unchanged, as was found generations ago. Contemporary restaurants offer fusions of familiar Turkish ingredients with flavors from around the world. In fact, I would say—one of the greatest challenges on a trip to Istanbul would be narrowing down where to eat!
I visited Istanbul, and the foodie in me couldn’t be happier. I don’t know how they do it, but every single morsel produced here is delicious. And to understand what I mean, you’d have to try 😉
Keep reading for the ultimate food guide to Istanbul, where I’ll be shortlisting all the good stuff 😋
Breakfast
Breakfast in Istanbul was sooo good! They’ve got traditional options plus some healthy classics—basically anything and everything you can crave.
Sureya Kahvaltı
If you want a lip-smacking breakfast, this family-run restaurant is it. Sureya serves fresh and seasonal breakfast as well as homemade goodies.
You can expect a range of classic Turkish breakfast food. This includes fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs (watermelon, grapes, orange slices, mint, parsley, and cucumber); home-cured green and black olives; a cheese platter and menemen (Turkish scrambled eggs with tomatoes, peppers and onions). I tried their gözleme—stuffed Turkish pancakes—with a filling of cheese (you can also go for a potato filling), and it lived upto the name!
Arada Cafe
When you’re looking for a good kahvalti (Turkish breakfast), there are seemingly a million places doing the same thing—but not when it comes to Arada Cafe. They serve kahvalti Lebanese style!
Their Turkish breakfast menu includes muhammara (a dip made from roasted red peppers and pomegranate molasses); light pisi (a doughnut-like bread made from sweetened sourdough); crispy falafel; hummus drizzled with chilli oil and two types of Lebanese flatbread. I had menemen and small pastries stuffed with courgettes. They were both really good.
Porridge and Pastry
If you’re in the mood for something less extravagant—and a tad bit healthier—Porridge and Pastry has some good options.
This is a lovely vegan and vegetarian cafe where you can find beautifully presented porridge bowls. Their toppings are absolutely gorgeous; you wouldn’t even want to eat them. But I did, and with gusto!
Brunch
You may have enjoyed Istanbul’s breakfast, but on Sunday, it’s great—and feels decadent—to swap breakfast for a few more hours in bed before strolling to a restaurant. And, when in Istanbul, there will be quite some amazing brunch spots awaiting you…
Backyard
This is one of the few places in Istanbul where you can relax in a garden—all the way from breakfast to evening cocktails. Backyard is especially famous for its weekend brunch. Eggs Benedict and pancakes are two classics. I tried their toasted sandwich with prosciutto and mozzarella and absolutely loved it. If you’re in the mood for something simple, just granola with fresh fruits is also on the menu.
Naan Bakeshop
For one—their interior is lovely. Natural wood meets a terrazzo floor in a space that beckons you to come enjoy a midday meal. In terms of food, Naan Bakeshop is famous for its excellent sourdough bread varieties. You can find delicious bagel sandwiches, eggs of virtually every style, and French toast. Plus, a Turkish breakfast spread which is so good.
Mangerie
We managed to snag a table on the balcony for one of Istanbul’s BEST brunches, accompanied by a beautiful view of the Bosphorus. The menu had everything: pancakes with fresh fruits and maple syrup, scrambled eggs with crispy bacon, etc. I was in the mood for something a little more Turkish, so chose the Mangerie breakfast spread. They also had some great apple pie and fresh orange juice.
Lunch
A little wandering around Istanbul on foot (by the way, it’s one of the most walkable cities in the world) will have your tummy grumbling again. A sign that it’s lunch time!
Pandeli Restaurant
The Pandeli is a well-known eatery in Istanbul (so expect an atmospheric and bustling scene) where you can find authentic Turkish cuisine. The restaurant has vintage furnishings and offers Turkish dishes. I tried kofte (meatballs) and piyaz (bean and onion salad); both paired well together. Other good dishes are lamb stew and döner kebab with pilaf. I’ve also heard their seabass en papillote is legendary—I’ll give that a go next time for sure.
Şehzade Cağ Kebap
I knew I had to try kebabs when in Istanbul, so Şehzade Cağ Kebap was on my list. They’re known for their horizontally cooked kebabs—which the chef cooks over a wood-fired oven. The meat is nice and tender, and dripping with fat! It’s served on skewers cut from the horizontal doner (which sets it apart from other kebab places that use vertical cooking methods). This is a small place but has a lovely atmosphere.
Evening Snacks
Coffee and baklava is the thing to do in early evenings in Istanbul—and I’ve got one pick for this:
Karaköy Güllüoğlu - Nadir Güllü
You’ve got to try the baklava at this family-owned eatery. The experienced chefs prepare paper-thin phyllo dough and then generously fill it with pistachios. But that’s not it—you can find various flavors for baklava, including chocolate. Truly the best I’ve ever had! Pair it with coffee, and evening made
Dinner
The day’s winding up—but there’s still one important meal of the day left: dinner. You want to make it memorable! Here are some restaurants I tried and loved in Istanbul:
Mikla
Mikla is on the 18th floor of the Marmara Pera hotel—one of Istanbul’s highest points—so you can expect 360° views. I’d go as far as to say, the moment the lift doors open, the panorama is sure to blow you away! This place serves food from the New Anatolian Kitchen. Like the location, the standard of the cuisine is sky high. Each dish is delicious, including the rabbit and mushroom soup to the smoked duck breast with crunchy almonds.
Balkan Lokantasi
I had no idea what to expect when I walked over to Balkan Lokantasi for dinner; the line was out the door and dozens of prepared dishes could be seen. It’s cafeteria style—and there’s no way I could list all the dishes. But you can get any kind of home-style Turkish food, like casseroles and stew. Lokantasi is a great spot to have a feast on a budget.
Aheste
Aheste sits on a busy road with plenty of bars and cafes—so it can get pretty crowded. That’s why you want to book beforehand. Their menu is inventive but inviting, with a good spread of fish, meat and vegetarian options. Fish cakes, grilled octopus, lamb with figs, stuffed vine leaves…all the good things can be found here 😋
