Istanbul is fun to explore for many of reasons and food is definitely one of them. Although the city’s food scene is very diverse, finding great restaurants in Istanbul is not really easy. From traditional to modern, you’ll find all kinds of restaurants in Istanbul, so deciding where to eat can be really difficult.
Food is not my first priority when I travel. Nonetheless, I always take time to research the best places to eat in a city I am about to visit. However, this time around the culinary aspect of our 3 day trip to Istanbul wasn’t well researched.
I have to say this in defense of all the good restaurants that may be hiding somewhere in Istanbul. That being said, here is my experience with eating in Istanbul.
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How Is Food in Istanbul?
Overall, food in Istanbul is not that great. Although I am not a big fan of the Turkish cuisine, I enjoy eating it if it’s well prepared. However, finding a good place to eat in Istanbul posed a real challenge for us. Most of the restaurants tried were less than mediocre, except for maybe a couple which I’m going to mention in this post.
Also, food prices are higher in Istanbul compared to other Eastern European countries ($20-$40/main course). Many of the items that a restaurant serves are not listed on the menu and as such their prices are not visible.
What to Expect in Istanbul’s Restaurants
The waiter will bring you a cart with all kinds of dishes, or fresh fish for instance, but not tell you how much each costs unless you specifically ask. Don’t assume that a 15 inch Red Snapper can’t be too expensive.
You may be surprised with a $200 bill at the end that is not even itemized. And speaking of the bill, some restaurants will add a hidden service charge without advising you that a tip is no longer necessary.
Service is relatively poor. Waiters try to please you, but they don’t seem to have the culture of serving. In most places we received a rushed service, which is equally unpleasant to having to wait forever for your food.
In many restaurants dishes seem to be prepared in advance, so when you order something they just reheat it. Bread is almost always cold. In one restaurant I ordered some flaky pastry that sounded great from the description, but I was brought something that looked more like deep fried dough.
Wine in Restaurants
Turkey is a strongly Islam-oriented country, so the consumption of alcohol is strictly regulated. Many restaurants don’t even serve alcohol. The ones that do serve alcohol are mainly located in the tourist areas. However, they have a very reduced selection of wines. They mostly serve Turkish wines and at very high prices (between $45-$200/bottle).
Where to Eat in Istanbul
Restaurants in Sultanahmet
Most of the restaurants in Sultanahmet have very beautiful terraces overseeing the Bosphorus, Golden Horn, Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, which is most likely why people put up with their mediocre food and poor service.
Restaurants in Beyoglu
However, in our quest to discover good restaurants in Istanbul, we found a couple that I think are worth mentioning. One of them is Y-Pera, on Mesrutiyet Cad. Oteller Sok. Y-Petra a newly opened bistro style restaurant located in Beyoglu, close to Istiklal Caddesi street. They are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and serve all kinds of delicious salads, soups and other international dishes.
We went there for dinner. The food was very tasty, the service was excellent and the music was outstanding – traditional jazz from the 1920’s played by the Uninvited Jazz Band. The owner, Ahmet Aytaç, came to greet us and after a little chat he offered us to taste his favorite wine.
Restaurants in Eminönü
The other restaurant we liked is CaféKat 4, located in one of the historical buildings of Eminönü, in Faith (Hobyar Mh., Yalı Köşkü Cd No:64, 34112 Eminönü, İstanbul, Tel: +90 212 514 6688.) The significant advantage of this restaurant is its location that offers a unique panorama.
The terrace atop of the building is facing the Bosphorus and Istanbul’s most important historical symbols, such as Topkapı Palace, Bosphorus Bridge, Dolmabahce Palace, Galata Tower, Galata Bridge and Golden Horn.
The restaurant serves local and international dishes. The food is good, but not excellent. Prices are relatively high, especially for wine. Atmosphere is extremely relaxed and pleasant and service is very friendly.
Best Street Food and Turkish Dishes to Try in Istanbul
Vicki Green
I was in Istanbul for only a few days – a business trip with a couple of extra days tacked on. Our hotel included a breakfast which had quite a few options and also tea/coffee time at 5 which included sandwiches, wine, fruit, vegetables and desserts which a couple of times served as our evening meal. In the middle of the day we snacked a lot on street food like pizza and pretzels. The best restaurant I ate at was in Osterkoy – it’s been several years ago so I can’t remember the name.
beatravelling
I found this hole-in-the-wall place. Don’t know the name or address, just how to get there from the hotel I stayed at 🙂 Been in Istanbul twice, and just had to do lunch there both times as well 🙂
Anda Galffy
Seems that you liked the food, which is great.
Paula McInerney
We got lucky, most of the time but not always. I did love the very fresh breakfasts, but we were staying in a B&B. and we did find some unique hole in the walls. Actually, overall I would say it was a pretty good experience. We did tend to go a number streets back and away from the big tourist draw cards though.
Anda Galffy
Some people love the food in Istanbul, but I wasn’t quite so thrilled.
Paula McInerney
We must have got lucky because we had some lovely and very fresh meals. We were staying at a B&B and each day the owner would send us somewhere that she liked.
Anda Galffy
I’m sure there must be very many great places to eat in Istanbul, but we just didn’t stumble upon them.
Fairlie
When we were in Istanbul, we had a really special big night out dinner at Mikla, which is on the roof of The Marmara Pera Hotel. The food was incredible.
Anda Galffy
They have very beautiful roof terraces in Istanbul, indeed.
Linda Bibb
it’s disappointing to hear about your experiences with Turkish restaurants, and even worse that alcohol is hard to come by. We enjoy trying the regional drinks when we travel. We have only been to Istanbul overnight; we had the chance to visit a local restaurant near our hotel. The food was great and the service was fine, but since it was a local place no one spoke English.
Anda Galffy
Thank you for your comment, Linda. We might not have had enough time in Istanbul to discover the good places, what can I say.
Irene S. Levine
Certainly sounds like it was challenging to find good places to dine. The alcohol restrictions must have made it worse:-)
Anda Galffy
Tell me about it!
Donna Janke
The setting looks fantastic even if the food often left something to be desired. Tasting the food in places I visit is an important part of the travel experience for me.
Doreen Pendgracs
I’ve never been to Turkey, but it’s certainly on my list. I love the fact that it’s a blend of Europe and Asia. As a Gemini, I can relate to having a blended personality!