The 17 Best Restaurants in Istanbul

Istanbul's most beloved ocakbaşı (open-grill restaurant), where skewers of lamb, chicken wings, and köfte are cooked over charcoal right in front of you. The beyti and adana kebabs are exceptional, and the smoky atmosphere is half the experience. Expect a wait on weekends — they do not take reservations and the place is always packed.

The kebab-focused sibling of the famous Çiya Sofrası, this casual spot on the same Kadıköy market street serves exceptional Anatolian kebabs, pide, and lahmacun at very fair prices. The lamb skewers and the regional pide varieties are the stars. It is a stand-and-eat or quick-sit operation — do not expect comfort, just great food.

Operating since 1920, this is the original and most famous köfte restaurant in Istanbul, serving just one thing: grilled köfte with white beans and bread. The simplicity is the point — the recipe has not changed in a century and the köfte are genuinely excellent. Lines form at peak hours but move quickly, and the tourist location means prices are still fair.

Chef Maksut Aşkar's research-driven restaurant inside the landmark SALT Galata building reinterprets forgotten Anatolian recipes with modern technique. The tasting menu is a genuine culinary journey through Turkey's diverse food heritage, and the wine list focuses on Anatolian producers. It is one of Istanbul's most intellectually serious restaurants — not a place for a quick bite.

A genuine neighborhood meyhane tucked into the antique-dealer streets of Çukurcuma, beloved by artists, writers, and longtime Beyoğlu residents. The meze table is generous and changes seasonally, and the raki flows freely in a warm, unpretentious setting. It can get loud and smoky on weekend evenings, which is entirely the point.

A beloved Üsküdar esnaf lokantası running since 1933, serving Turkish home cooking, stews, olive-oil vegetables and legendary milk puddings, from a steam counter. No pretension, just point at what looks good. Yes, a friend sends you here after a Bosphorus ferry. A real Asian-side institution.

Musa Dağdeviren's landmark in Kadıköy market, reviving forgotten Anatolian regional dishes you won't see anywhere else, served cafeteria-style from a changing daily spread. Prices are fair, the food is extraordinary. Yes, a friend sends you across the water just for this. It's a genuine destination, not a scene.

A rare find in the tourist-heavy Sultanahmet area — a genuinely good southeastern Turkish restaurant specializing in the rich, spiced cuisine of Gaziantep and the broader Khorasan tradition. The içli köfte, katmer, and slow-cooked lamb dishes are outstanding. It is one of the few places near the historic sites where locals actually eat.

A small, warmly lit lokanta near Galata Tower that serves honest, home-style Turkish cooking to a loyal neighborhood crowd of artists and young professionals. The daily rotating menu of stews, stuffed vegetables, and seasonal vegetable dishes is excellent value, and the atmosphere is genuinely convivial. It is tiny and fills up fast — arrive at opening or expect to wait.

A beloved neighborhood restaurant in bohemian Cihangir serving creative, market-driven Turkish and Mediterranean food in a relaxed, unpretentious setting. The daily specials board changes with what is fresh, and the brunch on weekends is one of the best in the city. It is small and fills up fast, so arrive early or expect to wait.

A stylishly revamped traditional lokanta in a historic building, serving elevated Turkish home cooking to a fashionable crowd. The daily changing meze spread and slow-braised meat dishes are the highlights — arrive early for the best selection. Reservations are strongly recommended as it fills up fast, especially at lunch.

Chef Mehmet Gürs's rooftop fine-dining restaurant atop the Marmara Pera hotel is one of Istanbul's most celebrated tables, blending Nordic and Anatolian culinary traditions. The tasting menu showcases rare Anatolian ingredients with precision technique, and the Bosphorus views are genuinely spectacular. It is expensive and formal, so come with an occasion in mind.

A multi-story kebab institution near the Spice Bazaar with sweeping views of the Golden Horn from its upper terrace. The Urfa and adana kebabs are the reason to come, and the lahmacun is among the best in the city. It is popular with tourists but locals still eat here — go for lunch to avoid the worst crowds.

Set in a restored 19th-century Ottoman palace building on the Bosphorus shore, Feriye serves refined Ottoman and Turkish cuisine in one of the most atmospheric settings in the city. The Ottoman-inspired dishes like hünkar beğendi and stuffed lamb are beautifully executed, and the waterfront terrace is magical at sunset. The experience is somewhat formal and the prices reflect the location.

A tiny charcoal-grill dürüm joint off İstiklal, famous for smoky, thin-lavash-wrapped kebabs, made hugely popular after Anthony Bourdain filmed here. The wrap is genuinely good. Honest caveat: fame has pushed prices up and drawn queues, so it's tastier than it is the bargain it once was.

A long-standing Bosphorus-side seafood restaurant in the upscale Bebek neighborhood, popular with Istanbul's well-heeled residents for its fresh fish and stunning waterfront setting. The grilled sea bass and the meze spread are reliable highlights, and the terrace tables are among the most coveted in the city. It is pricey and you will need a reservation for terrace seating.

A charming waterfront restaurant and café in Bebek with a loyal following among Istanbul's creative and professional class. The menu blends Turkish and Mediterranean influences with an emphasis on quality ingredients, and the Bosphorus-facing terrace is one of the most pleasant places to eat in the city. It is pricier than it needs to be, but the setting justifies the premium.