Fine dining restaurants in Istanbul
18 fine dining restaurants in Istanbul that we tried and liked. We went to every one and paid our own bill — no scores, no advertising.
Hodan
Hodan began its life in Çukurcuma, in Beyoğlu, and earned itself a particular place in İstanbul's food scene along the way. It now sits at a new addre…
7 Mehmet
One of the oldest and most important names in Antalya’s food scene, 7 Mehmet is now in Istanbul too, right on the water at Tersane İstanbul. The story…
Restoran Modern
Restoran Modern, inside İstanbul Modern at Galataport, has built a high-level kitchen. A menu that reinterprets Turkish cooking with small touches, qu…
Alaf
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 …
Aheste
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…
Gallada 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…
Türk 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…
Zoka
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…
Olden 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…
Arkestra
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…
Zaaf
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…
Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro, inside Bomonti Ada, has drawn attention for its delicious and ambitious plates ever since it opened. It welcomes customers with an ambiti…
Lokanta 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…
Efendy
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 …
Aman Da Bravo
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…
Smelt & Co
While Balat's transformation has been talked about for years, the area already offers some very enjoyable options. Smelt & Co is down a side street in…
Hodan
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…
The Steeve İstanbul
A very accomplished fine-dining option at Kanyon. Details on the acıktım.be pages.…
Other cuisines in Istanbul
Our picks: Alaf (Kuruçeşme), Lokanta 1741 (Eminönü / Karaköy), Olden 1772 (Eminönü / Karaköy). 18 places in total — every one tried by us, every bill paid by us.
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