Istanbul
186 places we tried and liked in Istanbul. We went to every one of them and paid our own bill.
9Köroğlu Karadeniz Mutfağı
Köroğlu Lokantası has been doing the same thing, consistently, for more than thirty years in Fatih — one of the addresses keeping Istanbul's old-schoo…
8Balat Sahil Restoran
On the waterfront in Balat, one of Istanbul's most characterful and timeless places to eat: Sahil Lokantası. 🐟🌊 Welcoming regulars since the 1980s, Ba…
9Indochine Istanbul
A global touch to Istanbul's dining scene, in Etiler: Indochine. 🌿✨ Indochine Istanbul is the local chapter of an international brand with roots in wo…
10Pandeli Restaurant
In Eminönü's Spice Bazaar, a timeless address where history meets flavour: Pandeli. 💛 Founded in 1901 and still one of Istanbul's most deeply rooted d…
10Fiko Etiler
First in Etiler and later in Yeniköy, Fiko has left its mark on the kebab scene for years — and now it's back with a brand-new, far smarter room. Fiko…
11Casa Cooklife
One of the favourite spots in Bomonti's lively scene, Casa Cooklife is a meeting place built around slow-living culture. Drawing on Japandi aesthetics…
12Hona
Ansar, a 23-year-old chef, is doing wonderful things at a tiny omakase counter in Cihangir. At the daytime service you choose between just three kinds…
8Ata Lokantası
Esnaf lokantas are one of the most important assets of Turkish food, and there are many good examples all over Turkey. Because they serve the same cus…
10Tersane İstanbul
Em Sherif is one of the best global ambassadors of Lebanese cooking. A few months ago it opened its eighth branch outside Beirut, inside Tersane İstan…
5Lou Pizza Napoletana
Neapolitan pizza is known for its thick crust and soft, yielding base. Lou Pizza in Gayrettepe does it very well. Unlike most places, this small shop …
8Meshur Fetih Işkembecisi
Offal isn't something to eat just anywhere, but Fetih İşkembe in Balat has been serving customers reliably for over fifty years. The menu is entirely …
17Ayaspasa Russian Restaurant
Ayaspaşa Russian Restaurant has been welcoming guests in Taksim Gümüşsuyu since 1943. The historic texture takes you in as soon as you walk through th…
10Seoul Kitchen
At Bomontiada, the building that used to house Kilimanjaro has been turned into a Korean quarter. Seoul Kitchen, the Korean restaurant that opened her…
10Supernormal Burger Etiler
Supernormal is a burger place that opened recently in Etiler and became popular fast. They make smash burgers, with three options: the classic; the ho…
6Lale Lokantası
Lale Lokantası has been serving since 1970 in Hasköy, on the street opposite the Rahmi Koç Museum. For any business, staying open in Istanbul for more…
9Paraliaki Bebek
The room that served for years as Poseidon — and perhaps has the finest view in Bebek — is open again after all this time, under the Paraliaki name. A…
7The ordinary refettorio and bar
Bomonti grows more important to Istanbul's dining scene by the day. Ordinary is an Italian restaurant founded by the creators of Zula and Batard. It s…
10İstanbul Modern
Restoran Modern, inside İstanbul Modern at Galataport, has built a high-level kitchen. A menu that reinterprets Turkish cooking with small touches, qu…
7Koska Köftecisi
In places where simplicity can't produce quality, plenty of restaurants try to reach for goodness through sophistication — yet simplicity is beautiful…
7Intiba Döner Kağıthane
There are plenty of döner restaurants in Turkey, but few good ones. İntiba is one we like. It has eight branches in Istanbul. The döner is a blend of …
10Norm Pizza
Norm is a four-table pizzeria that opened three months ago in Arnavutköy. Beyond pizza there are wonderful sandwiches (panuozzo) served in freshly bak…
11Rita Moda
Majka, which opened about three weeks ago in Moda, is a representative of Balkan cooking. A lovely room has been created on the upper floor of Rita Mo…
11Mezkla
Mezkla is a Mexican restaurant that opened recently in Akatlar. It's a place whose name we've been hearing a lot lately, for both atmosphere and flavo…
8Ispartalı 1937
Ispartalı 1937 is in Şişli and, as the name suggests, serves the flavours of Isparta. The şiş köfte served with soaked flatbread is very good, and the…
8Ortaköy Kuru Fasulyecisi
Ortaköy Kuru Fasulyecisi is a place we try to make our way to whenever we can. This little room on Ortaköy Dereboyu has been welcoming guests with an …
10Chef Erdal ADANA KEBAP
Chef Göktürk Erdal has been keeping his customers happy since 2016 with a quality he hasn't let slip. Serving under the slogan 'you don't go to Adana …
8Çokçok Thai
Thai food is perhaps the Far Eastern cuisine best suited to the Turkish palate. Built on generous use of coconut milk and peanuts, its staples are dis…
10Havan'dan by Beff Gourmet
Reşitpaşa has become one of Istanbul's favourite districts in recent years. Havan'dan, one of the area's pioneers, has been welcoming customers since …
9Balıkçı Kahraman
Balıkçı Kahraman in Rumeli Kavağı is perhaps the most talked-about fish restaurant in Istanbul, for a quality it has never let slip. It's the first na…
9Therapia Bosphorus
Therapia is one of those Bosphorus places we were once regulars at but haven't been able to visit for a long time. We took bonito season as an excuse …
7Şen Kardeşler Lokantası
That a restaurant has been open since 1965 tells you everything you need to know. Şen Kardeşler in Kağıthane is an esnaf lokanta that has been serving…
9Cecconi's
Cecconi's is an Italian restaurant operating within Soho House in Beyoğlu. Housed in the old American consulate building, it is — unlike Soho House it…
10Batard İstanbul
Batard has been welcoming guests in Bomonti since 2019 without compromising on quality. The interior recalls a Paris restaurant, but the eclectic menu…
6Assagio
Newly opened, Assagio has brought an Italian breeze to Karaköy. Focaccia made to a special recipe, Italian charcuterie and wonderful sandwiches built …
10Marcel
Meyhane by Marcel has opened in Yeniköy on the site of the old Marcel patisserie. It's the second place the owners of Azur have opened in the area. Th…
10Il Sud Istanbul
Il Sud is a very accomplished Italian restaurant in the lively streets of Kadıköy. The standard of cooking in this small, likeable room is remarkably …
2Revma Balık Arnavutköy
Silverside season has started. You can find it fresh at Revma, caught in the nets set at Akıntıburnu. Don't miss silverside — you'll only find it in t…
10Seraf Vadi Restoran
Seraf, which began its journey in Mahmutbey, continues at Vadi İstanbul in a strikingly decorated room. Led by chef Sinem Özler, Seraf serves the fami…
8Fatih Sultan Mehmet Mah
Balıkçı Soner in Etiler is a place we'd been hearing about from several different people. Ambitious about turbot, Soner shows real mastery there. The …
10Adana Ocakbaşı
Serving since 1978, Kurtuluş Adana Ocakbaşı has for years been in our eyes one of the best ocakbaşı restaurants in Istanbul. The room is small and rou…
8Forno Balat
Balat is slowly getting the life it has long been waiting for. Tourist activity is up, and newly opened places are offering different things. Forno is…
10Sade Beş Denizler
Sade Beş Denizler is one of those Nişantaşı places we've been hearing a lot about lately. It serves home-style dishes during the day, while the evenin…
10Alaf Kuruçeşme
Alaf may be our very favourite restaurant in Istanbul. We think Michelin did it a great injustice by not awarding a star. Alaf presents Yörük culture …
10Aheste
Aheste in Asmalımescit stands out amid Beyoğlu's meze-and-rakı culture with its new reading of Turkish cooking. Since entering the Michelin guide rece…
10Balıkçı Yılmaz
There are plenty of fish restaurants in Rumeli Kavağı, but Balıkçı Yılmaz was a name we'd been hearing a lot lately. We had a faultless meal at Yılmaz…
8Çayırbaşı Pideban
Pide is a sensitive subject for us. Pideban has continued the journey it began in Sarıyer in 1977, now across three branches. The pide is properly cri…
7Tatbak
Tatbak means our childhood and our youth. Very few restaurants in Turkey have run uninterrupted for more than sixty years; Tatbak is one of them. Serv…
10Gallada by Fatih Tutak
Gallada, carrying the signature of our Michelin-starred chef Fatih Tutak, is Istanbul's new favourite. Inside the newly opened Peninsula hotel in Kara…
10TURK FATIH TUTAK
Türk, which Fatih Tutak opened in Bomonti after years of experience in the Far East, is one of the most talked-about restaurants in the country, holdi…
9Önder Ocakbaşı
Önder Ocakbaşı, whose praises we've been hearing a great deal lately, more than deserves them. We ate one of the best Adana kebabs we've had in Istanb…
10Mahir Lokantası
Mahir Lokantası in Osmanbey never falls off the list of Istanbul's best lahmacun. It absolutely deserves the praise on lahmacun, but remembering Mahir…
10Istanbul Airport Turkish Airlines CIP Lounge
Turkish Airlines' CIP lounge at Istanbul Airport is a gourmet paradise. The mantı may be the best in Istanbul, and the pides are properly crisp. Diffe…
İstanbul Turkey
We've gathered the breakfast addresses acıktım.be has tried and liked in this reel.…
10Galatasaray Adası
Galatasaray Adası started serving food again this summer after a long break. Open only to Galatasaray club members and their guests, the island is in …
9Seyhmus Kebap
Şeyhmuz Kebap Salonu in Çemberlitaş has been welcoming guests with a lunchtime service for nearly fifty years, since 1975. A long-standing favourite o…
10Ali Ocakbaşı Kuruçeşme
Ali Ocakbaşı, which we know from Karaköy, has created a very pleasant place in Kuruçeşme, right on the water inside Oligark. First of all, it has a wo…
İstanbul'un En İyi Hamburgercileri
The best burger places in Istanbul, according to acıktım.be. Any you'd add to this list?…
8Betro Burger
Betro Burger deserves its place on our top-ten burger list for Istanbul. The closed burgers, wrapped in flatbread, generally come with a double patty,…
10MSA'nın Restoranı
The Culinary Arts Academy (MSA) has been a lifeline for Turkish cooking through the chefs it has trained over the years. Its restaurant sits inside th…
10Beatrice
Beatrice is on the terrace of the Adahan DeCamondo Pera hotel in Asmalımescit. The terrace of this historic building has a magnificent view of the his…
10Los Altos Istanbul
Los Altos is a Mexican restaurant on the terrace floor of a building right beside Galatasaray Lisesi. With a magnificent view, we drank the best marga…
10Ferida Cadde
Ferida, which began life at Fişekhane with a menu leaning Bosnian, opened its Bağdat Caddesi branch two weeks ago. The new place on Noter Sokak is air…
5Tarihi Kemerburgaz Turşucusu
For anyone who loves pickles, Kemerburgaz is a paradise. Although we chose Tarihi Kemerburgaz Turşucusu, all the shops standing side by side there are…
10Nispetiye
Sıralı Kebap's journey, which began in Antalya and continued in Ankara, has recently reached Etiler in Istanbul. We finally got the chance to try the …
10Tehroon Restaurant
Iranian food is both close to ours and different from it. Among its many rice dishes, saffron rice is the best known. Tehroon in Maslak, with its Iran…
10Cadde Nazende
We finally got the chance to visit Nazende, whose praises we'd been hearing for a long time. With the slogan 'the neighbourhood restaurant that loves …
8Esentepe Kofte
In Tuzla, famous for its köfte, Esentepe Köftecisi was our choice for its quality. With fresh, good ingredients, cheerful and fast service and real fl…
8Zoka
Those who know Zoka know it from Kaş. They've carried similar flavours to the new place they've opened in Nişantaşı, Istanbul. We chose the tasting me…
8Antica Locanda Istanbul
Antica Locanda has been welcoming guests in Arnavutköy since 2011 under the Italian chef Carlo Talerico. Serving good examples of Italian cooking, its…
7Mon Bakehouse
Mon Bakehouse is a lovely bakery down a side street in Ulus that has built a following in the neighbourhood. A warm, friendly, delicious little place.…
10Kulu Büryan
In Istanbul, the first area that comes to mind for büryan kebab is Kadınlar Pazarı in Fatih. But there are good examples in other districts too. Kulu …
6Petra Roasting Co.
Petra's Bebek branch is one of the area's hidden treasures. In a wonderful garden in Küçük Bebek, it's an oasis away from the chaos of the district. L…
10La Charcuteria
La Charcuteria stands out among the many options inside 42 Maslak for its charcuterie. Alongside a wide range of cured meats, the menu includes salads…
10Sanayi313
Sanayi 313 has led the slow transformation of the Maslak auto industrial estate ever since it opened there in 2015. Sanayi 313 is more than a restaura…
5Markus
Markus first showed its mastery of short rib at its shop inside the Maslak auto industrial estate. As its reputation spread, we started to see more of…
10Olden 1772
Olden 1772 is one of Istanbul's new and much-discussed places. Dazzling in its striking decoration, Olden has opened inside the 250-year-old Muhsinoğl…
5Filiz Restaurant,Tarabya
In this season, when bonito and bluefish slowly start to grace our tables, Filiz — one of Tarabya's classic names — is a good option. Holding the line…
8Pasta La Vista Akaretler
Beşiktaş's Akaretler district is one of Istanbul's recent rising stars. Popular with university students in particular, the area offers very good valu…
10Peat and Sherry
Peat and Sherry is a whisky bar that recently opened on Bağdat Caddesi in Erenköy. With leather armchairs, a fireplace and elegant decoration, it's ou…
10Arkestra
Arkestra is probably the most talked-about place in Istanbul at the moment. Opened in Etiler about two months ago, Arkestra has built a magnificent ki…
6Bordel Istanbul
Bordel is a street-food spot in Asmalımescit from the team behind Mabou Pera and Glouton, where you can eat quickly and well. You order at the front, …
5Ysabel Istanbul
Ysabel stands out in the competition on Suadiye's popular Plajyolu Sokak. With a kitchen serving good examples of world cuisine and an ambitious bar, …
10Zaaf İstanbul
Zaaf had been serving quietly at its Ortaköy site for more than a year when it drew attention — first with the place it opened inside Bodrum's Plevnel…
9Karaköy Güllüoğlu
With the demolition of the multi-storey car park in Karaköy, the Istanbul classic Güllüoğlu has moved to a spot closer to Galataport. The new shop — d…
9Efendy İstanbul
Efendy, opened in Levent under the leadership of Soner Sivrioğlu, has a bold menu. The menu is ambitious, creative and delicious. We tried a range of …
10Luna Rossa
Luna Rossa is an Italian restaurant opened three months ago by a team that spent seventeen years in Papermoon's kitchen. At Luna Rossa, right beside t…
9Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro, inside Bomonti Ada, has drawn attention for its delicious and ambitious plates ever since it opened. It welcomes customers with an ambiti…
9Cookshop. Etiler Arka Bahçe Villa
Etiler's Tepecik Yolu has become considerably livelier this summer with the back-to-back openings of Delicatessen and Cookshop Arka Bahçe Villa. With …
9Olea & Bar
Olea opened this summer inside the Mandarin hotel in Kuruçeşme. Right on the water, they serve wonderful examples of Italian cooking. With the experie…
10Lokanta Kru
Lokanta Kru and Kruvasan are the new-generation brands from Hünkar, one of Istanbul's classic names. The day starts with croissants in the morning and…
8Zuma Istanbul
Zuma, one of the successful international names in Japanese food, has been serving Istanbul at İstinye Park since 2016. The sushi and tempura are extr…
10Alaf Kuruçeşme
Alaf2Tek is the meyhane version of our favourite place, Alaf — somewhere to stand and have a couple of drinks. In the same building as Alaf, at tables…
8ThePopulist
On hot Istanbul nights, the open-air Bomontiada and Populist are a very good idea. The menu leans towards street food — burgers, sausages. There's a v…
10Neni Brasserie Istanbul
Neni is a charming brasserie with French echoes in Caddebostan. The menu is accomplished, the food good, the service team experienced and the decorati…
7Watergarden İstanbul
A burger inside pizza dough may not sound wonderful, but the result is magnificent. Since 2018, Mr. Hamza has been serving burgers wrapped in a closed…
5Bebek Hotel by The Stay
There are plenty of breakfast options in Bebek, but lately the Bebek Hotel has been pulling ahead of the competition. The location right on the water …
9Lokanta 1741
It's been a year since we first wrote about Lokanta 1741, but revisiting felt like a good excuse for a reminder. Step inside the Cağaloğlu hamam and a…
6TÜTSÜ by Düvee
Tütsü by Düvee is an important address for meat lovers. Cooking meat from animals raised on its own farm for hours over oak, Tütsü pleased us with eve…
10Barbayani restaurant
Reached by a pleasant 45-minute boat ride, Burgazada is our choice among Istanbul's escapes. Relatively less crowded than the other islands, Burgaz is…
10Souper
Souper in Bomonti is an oasis for soup lovers. Alongside fifteen to twenty soups a day, they serve home-style dishes. Open 24/7, Souper is faultless o…
9Aman Da Bravo Bistronomique
Aman Da Bravo, which began its journey in Reşitpaşa, continues inside Etiler Backyard. The food is as good as ever, the room is airier than before, an…
10Brekkie Breakfast Club
Brekkie had been on our list for a long time, and we'd heard very good things about its croissants. Brekkie, where you have to queue at least an hour …
9Oklava Taze Makarna
Oklava is a pasta place that opened five months ago in Gayrettepe. They serve pasta made fresh daily with fresh sauces. The menu is narrow but changes…
10Zübeyir Ocakbaşı
We're regulars at Zübeyir Ocakbaşı's Beyoğlu shop. We finally got the chance to try the Ataşehir branch we'd heard so much about. The meat quality is …
10Vico
We found the best pizza we've had in Istanbul in a long time slightly by accident. Vico in Moda is actually a sandwich shop. They make pizza in the ov…
6Ken Sushi
Ken, Bağdat Caddesi's favourite sushi place, has opened its new site inside Vertical İstanbul. In Vertical's pleasant garden, with very accomplished a…
10Tribeca Cafe
Although it's only been open three weeks, Beca has quickly become Istanbul's most mysterious address. Opened in the old Tribeca site in Akatlar, it's …
10Alaf Kuruçeşme
Alaf remains one of our very favourite places in Istanbul. Carrying nomadic Yörük cooking into the present, Alaf serves Anatolian flavours in a new re…
6Şehzade Erzurum Cağ Kebabı
Şehzade Cağ Kebap in Sirkeci has carried the flavour of Erzurum to Istanbul. Cooked over a wood fire, cağ kebab of this quality is hard to find even i…
5J Burger
Jumbo Burger is a classic that has been serving in the same spot in Çiftehavuzlar since 1977. With its various burgers, wonderful sausages and distinc…
10MTG - Markus To Go
The back garden of Boyner on Bağdat Caddesi has been turned into an oasis under the name Vertical İstanbul. This pleasant space, holding Markus, Nappo…
7Cross Fingers
The shopping area inside Etiler Alkent has turned into a small gourmet spot over the last three years. Tike, Du Lupo Trattoria and Cross Fingers have …
10Fauna
Fauna may be the hardest restaurant to book in Istanbul. This small shop in Ataşehir serves just five days a week, from 12 to 3. Reservation slots ope…
8MELINA KANTINA
Melina Kantina, with good coffee, delicious food and a pleasant seating area, is one of the good options in Arnavutköy. The rich range of desserts is …
8Çamlik Ocakbasi Etiler
On a cold, snowy day, the neighbourhood ocakbaşı is the right address. At Çamlık Ocakbaşı in Etiler we put ourselves in İzzet Usta's hands. With meze …
7Bebek Hotel by The Stay
The Bebek Hotel, one of Istanbul's classic addresses, has taken on a different face after its transformation. The hotel — which also houses an Istanbu…
9Seasalt
Seasalt, inside Ortaköy Feriye, offers guests a wonderful view from its position right on the water. From a menu not greatly different from the Bospho…
10Franck Bistro
Franck Bistro is one of Istanbul's best-kept secrets. A French chef hosts just one group each evening. Whether you're two or ten, he cooks a menu made…
10Season Artisan Bakery
In an area as competitive as Bebek, Season Artisan Bakery has become a good option. The croissant may be the best in the neighbourhood, the coffee is …
4Ninda
Ninda means 'bread' in ancient Hittite. Newly opened in Bebek, Ninda is ambitious about its bakery. We very much liked the coffee; with its decoration…
7Frontiere İstanbul
Frontière is Bebek's ambitious new arrival. Serving examples of French and Italian cooking, it hasn't even been open a month. With an ambitious menu l…
9Balikci Sabahattin
Balıkçı Sabahattin has built a strong following on the historic peninsula over many years, and is one of Istanbul's best fish restaurants. At its site…
6400 Derece Pizza
Pizza is simple, but making a good one is extremely difficult. Dough, sauce, oven, ingredients and the person making it all determine the quality. 400…
3Ozzie's 1968 Kokoreç Foodtruck
Famous as the kokoreç place you go to by reservation, Ozzie's has never let us down. Continuing a family tradition going back to 1968, it welcomes gue…
10Liman İstanbul
Galataport has brought a breath of fresh air to Istanbul with its magnificent location, if a rather Dubai-like mall concept. Among the many places to …
7Ismet Baba Fish Restaurant
Staying open since 1951 in a district as special as Kuzguncuk is no easy thing. İsmet Baba is the right address for good fish, quickly. Right on the B…
9Rustyfork
Rustyfork is one of Istanbul's representatives of Tex-Mex cooking. From this cuisine, born in the American South with Mexican influences, chicken wing…
9Madam Niça
After Bozcaada, Madam Niça now also serves in Istanbul, on the terrace floor of the Artisan hotel in Gümüşsuyu. With a superb 270-degree view of the B…
6bankoburger
Banko Burger on Ethem Efendi Caddesi scored well with us for its accomplished burgers. Banko has found a good balance of bun, patty and sauce. On a br…
10Günaydın kebap Etiler
You don't often find chain restaurants on acıktım.be. Holding a standard usually means compromising on quality, so they rarely satisfy us. The Etiler …
10Cunda Balık Restaurant
Finding Aegean herbs in Istanbul isn't easy. Cunda Balık stands out above all for its meze. A good option in Istanbul for reaching Aegean greens such …
6Snob
Snob, on Bağdat Caddesi, serves street food. The right address for a fast, tasty and slightly naughty menu.…
4Mangerie Bebek
It simply isn't possible for a place open for seventeen years in an area like Bebek to be bad. Invisible from the street, reached by three flights of …
7Emre Mermer Ocakbaşı
Emre Mermer, one of the first names that come to mind for steak in Turkey, has opened an ocakbaşı in Armutlu, where he started out, and it's become a …
4Caddebostan Necip Uludağ Kebapçısı
Staying open for fifty years in a city like Istanbul is no easy job. Necip Uludağ Kebapçısı has been welcoming guests on Bağdat Caddesi since 1972. Wi…
5Tike Etiler
Founded in 1998 and one of the first brands to spread kebab culture to a wide audience, Tike is renewing itself after a quiet period. We've tried the …
6Yıldız Konyalı
Yıldız Konyalı is a family business on Ortaklar Caddesi in Mecidiyeköy, serving examples of Konya cooking since 1995. We were very pleased with the fl…
3Pinoli Italian Kitchen
Etiler is probably the leader in Turkey for Italian restaurants per square metre. In this intensely competitive area, Pinoli — opened by the All Sport…
7Hebun Çorba Seyrantepe
Open 24 hours in Seyrantepe, Hebun serves customers with dozens of soups every day. We gave full marks to the kış, black cabbage and atom soups we tri…
10Kemer Country Club
Bol Pazar, set up at weekends inside Kemer Country, offers a range of flavours in a street-food format. The brands change from time to time, but on ou…
10Matters
With the weekend approaching, it's the right moment to write about Matters. Just off Bağdat Caddesi, Matters stands apart with good coffee, its own pa…
6Karaköy Lokantası
Karaköy Lokantası has moved from the building it occupied for years to a spot just along, beneath the Novotel. At lunch it serves a different menu eac…
10hodan.istanbul
Hodan is a bold place in Çukurcuma bringing new touches to Turkish cooking. Named after the borage herb — hodan — said to give courage, the name refle…
7Eski Usul Meyhane
A small terrace floor in Moda, seven or eight tables, a meze menu that changes daily and a magnificent view of the sea and the islands — that's Eski U…
9IL Cortile İstanbul
With a thousand years of history, Galata is a district with a different energy in Istanbul. On the ground floor and in the garden of the 17-room École…
4GRÖN Coffee Company
With the weekend approaching, it's worth writing about Grön, which serves good coffee and breakfast. Just off Bağdat Caddesi, the place won us over wi…
5Hide Arnavutkoy
Hide, as its name suggests, is an oasis hidden in the chaos of Arnavutköy. Taking no reservations and with a permanent queue at the door, it's a good …
10Lokanta 1741
We love chefs who bring a new understanding to Turkish cooking. Lokanta 1741 is inside the Cağaloğlu hamam — as you enter through the baths you may pa…
6Birbicercigerataşehir
Ataşehir is an area offering a very wide range of options for eating. Birbiçer Ciğer scored positively with us for its accomplished grill, delicious e…
10Şişko Perihan
Şişko Perihan has been one of Arnavutköy's favourite places for two years. Winning over meyhane regulars with its lovely meze, the tables out on the s…
6Gazianteplahmacun87
Who could say no to a good lahmacun? Gaziantep Lahmacun is one of the classics of the Asian side. The lahmacun is crisp and generously topped; the dön…
4İoki
Having added a Bodrum branch to its three in Istanbul, our favourite İoki is the Etiler one. Still a level above the chain brands on flavour, İoki's s…
8Kanyon Suvla
Suvla, which we know for its wines, has created an oasis for itself on the terrace floor of Levent's Kanyon mall. With a good Italian-leaning menu and…
8Mahkeme Lokantası
Mahkeme Lokantası in Perşembe Pazarı has never let us down, with a menu that changes daily. On the lunch menu you can start with işkembe, paça or anot…
9Galata Kitchen
Galata Kitchen on Tatarbeyi Sokak offers healthy and delicious options with an esnaf lokanta approach. Among the wide range of olive-oil dishes and ma…
Mendel's Chocolatier
Mendel's, which stands out above all for its presentation, is the right address for chocolate lovers. A good option for a sweet coffee break in the li…
2Turkish Airlines Star Alliance Lounge - Istanbul Turkey
One of the finest mantı you can eat in Istanbul awaits you in the Turkish Airlines international lounge. Freshly hand-rolled, it is well above standar…
4Lakerida Deniz Ürünleri
Lakerida in Etiler is a fish market that stands out for both fresh fish and its own meze and lakerda. Offering a cooking service too, it draws attenti…
Istanbul, Turkey
On a weekend spent at home, what did you choose for breakfast? These eggs royale with salmon, say, or menemen?…
2Da Mario Etiler
Da Mario, Istanbul's classic Italian restaurant, has never let us down in the same spot since it opened in 1993.…
4Inari Sushi Omakase
Even at home, we can at least reach good food by delivery. Tonight our Far Eastern choice was Inari Omakase. The sushi was wonderful and the beef tata…
9Koali
Koali is a place in Galata serving Indonesian food; it's been open three years. The staff and owners are Indonesian and the cooking is very good. Some…
2Tunç Balık
Tunç Balık is known to anyone interested in refined seafood meze. In a shop serving a range of their own products, my favourites are the lakerda and t…
9Hayvore Beyoğlu
Hayvore, just off İstiklal Caddesi, has been serving Black Sea food for more than ten years and is a wonderful place. The only difficulty is that you …
5Karadeniz Pide Salonu Vefa
Pide is a sensitive subject for us. With Sezai Usta at the helm since 1981, and butter coming from the same family in Trabzon for forty years, disappo…
2Rustique
Rustique is a candidate to become Arnavutköy's new favourite. With baked goods from its own oven and a wide range of gluten-free options, it's a pleas…
4şeref büryan fatih itfaiye
Without getting into the argument about whether büryan kebab originates in Siirt or Bitlis, you can find several different büryan options at the mostl…
5İoki
Good sushi isn't everywhere. I discovered İoki late; the flavour is superb. The open-air terrace on summer evenings lets you breathe. The sushi is ver…
2The Grungy
It's true that we have a weakness for good burger places.…
6Rustyfork
A Tex-Mex place in Etiler; the food is good and the decoration is accomplished. Prices are at Nispetiye level.…
4Karadeniz sofrası
Karadeniz Sofrası in Bağcılar won our hearts with its sarma.…
2Revma Balık Arnavutköy
Ahead of the fishing ban starting on 15 April, it's peak season for silverside. We caught it at Revma last night and didn't let it pass — we'd recomme…
9Antiochia Concept
We tried the large, airy new home of Antiochia, which has been serving from its small shop since 2008, and gave it full marks. Details on our website.…
NAMLI KEBAP
Time for a good lahmacun.…
6Petra Roasting Co.
Just the moment for a good morning coffee. 🥐🥧☕️…
3İstanbul/Etiler/Levent
If you haven't had breakfast yet, crisp outside and soft inside, cheese böreks are baked fresh and waiting for you piping hot at Bülent Börekçilik, wh…
4Balat Sahil Restoran
For a good meyhane evening at the weekend, Balat Sahil Lokantası is a lovely option. Details on the acıktım.be pages.…
9The Steeve İstanbul
A very accomplished fine-dining option at Kanyon. Details on the acıktım.be pages.…
3Saray Muhallebicisi 1935 Istinye Park Avm Istanbul
When you want something quick, Saray is a good option with its wide network of branches and the quality it has kept for years. The chicken soup, the d…
7Alaf Kuruçeşme
Offal is life, and we have a particular love for places that bring new readings to it. Our new discovery, Alaf, has been open seven or eight days and …
8Miyabi Sushi & Japanese Grill
Friday evening might be the right night for good sushi. If you want to go to our favourite sushi place, Miyabi, we'd suggest hurrying to book.…
Odun Pizza
With a full fixture list tonight, ordering pizza might be the right decision. If you haven't tried Odun Pizza's kokoreç pizza, we'd recommend it.…
İNCİ Pastanesi
If lunch was on the light side, we've got room for dessert, haven't we?…
3Tatar Salim Döner Lokantası
The döner at Tatar Salim in Ataşehir is perfect. The fat ratio is very well judged.…
5Fireroom
Fireroom, the street-food place Hazer Amani opened in Ataşehir, is a must-try.…
Akali
Is Akali the best burger place in Istanbul, in your view?…
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