Turkey - Food & Drink

It's see and be seen in the city's most famous and trendy bar on the roof of an old palace that was built... for an Egyptian pasha in the 19th century. This is where the hip people of Istanbul meet, enjoy a blend of Turkish and European dishes and a great view in every direction. more

This restaurant, housed in the vaults of the castle above the marina, upscale Turkish cuisine is served... in a typically Seljukian ambiance and on a nice terrace. more

In the Lokanta at the Grand Bazaar, good and hearty dishes such as soups and Anatolian kebab are served... in a nice atmosphere. more

After its renovation, the restaurant was reopened and now serves Turkish specialties, particularly fish,... in a pleasant atmosphere. Locals also like the place very much. more

In this restaurant serving Anatolian and Central Asian cuisine, you will feel like traveling back in... time to the Ottoman era. Copper trays placed on old carpets are used as tables. Alcoholic beverages are not served here. more

This traditional restaurant is located right in the middle of the Spice Bazaar and decorated with blue... Iznik tiles, which gives the place its special atmosphere. Be sure to taste the sea bass cooked in wax paper (kagitta cevrek) and the fried swordfish (kiliç sis). more

In this extremely popular Lokanta, which was opened in 1920, Anatolian dishes such as stuffed pancakes... (gözleme), beans with vinegar (piyaz) and meat balls (köfte) are served. more

In one of the finest restaurants in the historic city center, Ottoman delicacies such as meat with eggplant... sauce (bünkar begendi) are on the menu. From the terrace of the renovated wooden house you can watch the sound and light show at the Blue Mosque. more

In a panoramic location right on the Bosphorus the new Chef de Cuisine, Fahretin Temel, serves mostly... Italian-inspired creative Mediterranean gourmet food as well as variations of Turkish specialties. If you feel like trying these haute cuisine delicacies, you should make a reservation. Nighthawks visit the adjoining club after dinner. more

The restaurant specializes in (mostly grilled) dishes from southeastern Turkey and is located right in... the thick of Eminönü. From the rooftop terrace you have a good view of the hustle and bustle on Eminönü Square and Galata Bridge. For dinner it is advisable to make a reservation. more

Agatha Christie fans will not want to miss the elegant old train station restaurant of Sirkeci. Since... 1890, it has offered decent Turkish food at fairly good value for money in an atmosphere true to the times of the Orient Express. You can also just come for a drink. more

This restaurant is located near Sirkeci railway station in a nice and quiet pedestrian zone. The dining... room imitates an Ottoman alley from the 19th century, a few tables also stand outside. The cuisine is varied and, to some extent, follows old Ottoman recipes, for example, Tavuk Sultan Sarma: chicken breast stuffed with pistachios and herbs in tomato sauce. There are also many vegetarian dishes. more

The charming former Greek home, once the palace of a rich Phanariot, lies at the Golden Horn (Haliç)... between the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate and Bulgar Kilise. Turkish and Greek Mezeler and Mediterranean cuisine with fish and meat are served. Large selection of different dishes and wines. more

Across from Zeyrek Camii, the former Byzantine Pantokrator monastery, the Rahmi Koç foundation set up... a stylish café-restaurant. From the terrace at the former warehouse you look over to Süleymaniye Mosque and then to the Bosphorus. There are many snacks for a sightseeing break on the menu, but also good grill dishes. No alcohol. more

The large restaurant at Beşiktaş pier actually consists of four: two high-priced restaurants (one for... fish, one for meat), a wine bar (Wineport) and a nice beer garden (Beerport) on the ground floor. Here you sit in the beautiful countryside overlooking the Bosphorus. Since in Istanbul beer gardens in nice locations, where you are not obliged to eat anything, are rare, it's always crowded here. At the Beerport, snacks and finger food are served with Efes beer, which can also be ordered in 2-liter kegs. On the roof terrace you enjoy your dinner with a spectacular view of the Bosphorus. more

The restaurant on the main square of Ortaköy has been serving good fish dishes for decades, but also... traditional Turkish meat dishes from the grill. It is named after the sycamores (Turkish: Çınar) on the square. The Çınaraltı is also famous for its romantic nightly view of the illuminated Ortaköy Mosque with the large Bosphorus Bridge in the background. more

Since 1998, the "fisherman of Bebek" is considered to be one of the best and finest fish restaurants... in Istanbul. In an elegant atmosphere with a magnificent view of the Bosphorus, Al Gore, Joschka Fischer and Jean-Claude Van Damme, among many other celebrities, already dined here. The house specialty is Tuzda Balık, fish in a salt crust, but the chocolate soufflé is much praised as well. Since 2003, the restaurant has been voted the best fish restaurant in Istanbul several times. more

The romantic café, bistro and bar located directly at the ancient port of Side serves fish and seafood,... burgers and snacks, as well as good cocktails. You sit on a magnificent garden terrace overlooking the sea (sunset!) or in the rustic interior (fireplace room!). more

As the name suggests, you dine in a nostalgic Ottoman atmosphere. The place also features a beautiful... garden and live music. International cuisine is on the menu, however, the traditional Turkish food and the fish dishes are highly recommended. more

In the cozy restaurant by the harbor – lake view included – fresh fish and seafood are served. But... the good selection of kebabs and steaks is tempting as well. more

The renowned restaurant has an impressive selection of fish presented in a chilled display case. Cozy... atmosphere in a convenient location just off the main road. Attentive service. more

The beautifully renovated, typical Ottoman wooden house with a big, modern garden is currently an alternative... hotspot to the loud discos at the port. Serves excellent Mediterranean cuisine. more

The restaurant is located at the western end of Cleopatra beach; a beach club with a children's playground... and a beautiful garden are part of the venue. International Mediterranean cuisine, plus breakfast, pizza and steaks. more

This is a true insiders' tip – at night you sit in this quiet garden restaurant in front of the castle... walls with great views of the illuminated city of Alanya. The cuisine follows Turkish traditions. more

Simple, down-home restaurant in a quiet and picturesque location between Side and Titreyengöl at the... river Manavgat. The house specialty is fresh trout, but there is good traditional Turkish fare as well. more