Best Restaurants in Istanbul
From fine dining to local tables, explore our restaurant selection for Istanbul. Compare cuisine, atmosphere and practical details before booking.
Quick Comparison
Sorted by Michelin status, then rating
| Venue | Neighborhood | Cuisine | Price Range | Michelin | Chef | Dress Code | Reservation | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mikla | Beyoğlu | turkish modern, anatolian | ₺₺₺₺ | ★ one star | Mehmet Gurs | Smart Casual | Essential | Celebration, Date Night |
| Araf Istanbul | Kozyatagi | turkish modern | ₺₺₺₺ | ★ one star | Kenan & Pinar Korgan Cetinkaya | Smart Casual | Essential | Celebration, Date Night |
| Neolokal | Karaköy | turkish modern, anatolian | ₺₺₺₺ | ★ one star | Maksut Askar | Smart Casual | Essential | Celebration, Date Night |
| Nicole | Beyoğlu | french, turkish modern | ₺₺₺₺ | ★ one star | Serkan Aksoy | Smart Casual | Essential | Date Night, Celebration |
| Sankai by Nagaya | Bebek | japanese, japanese fine dining | ₺₺₺₺ | ★ one star | Chef Nagaya | Smart Casual | Essential | Date Night, Celebration |
| Casa Lavanda | Şile | turkish modern, mediterranean | ₺₺₺₺ | ★ one star | , | Casual | Essential | Celebration, Date Night |
| Araka | Yeniköy | turkish modern, mediterranean | ₺₺₺₺ | ★ one star | Zeynep Pinar Tasdemir | Smart Casual | Essential | Date Night, Celebration |
| Arkestra | Etiler | french, turkish modern | ₺₺₺₺ | ★ one star | Cenk Debensason | Smart Casual | Essential | Celebration, Date Night |
| Fauna | Ataşehir | italian, turkish | ₺₺₺ | B bib gourmand | Ibrahim Tuna | Smart Casual | Essential | Celebration, Date Night |
| Inari Omakase | Kuruçeşme | japanese, japanese fine dining | ₺₺₺₺ | B bib gourmand | , | Smart Casual | Essential | Date Night, Celebration |
| The Red Balloon | Beyoğlu | mediterranean, aegean | ₺₺₺ | B bib gourmand | Ulas Durmaz | Smart Casual | Recommended | Date Night, Celebration |
| Aida Vino e Cucina | Kadıköy | italian, italian fine dining | ₺₺₺ | B bib gourmand | , | Casual | Recommended | Date Night, Friends |
| TURK Fatih Tutak | Bomonti | turkish modern, anatolian | ₺₺₺₺ | ★★ two star | Fatih Tutak | Upscale | Essential | Celebration, Date Night |
| Ciya Sofrasi | Kadıköy | anatolian, turkish modern | ₺₺ | – | Musa Dagdeviren | Casual | Walk-in OK | Date Night, Celebration |
| Gallada | Karaköy | turkish modern, asian fusion | ₺₺₺₺ | – | Fatih Tutak | Smart Casual | Essential | Celebration, Date Night |
Michelin Starred Restaurants
Istanbul's most prestigious dining experiences
Araf Istanbul
Kozyatagi
12-seat counter dining with open fire - Michelin Star 2026
The Red Balloon
Beyoğlu
Michelin-recommended casual fine dining with North Aegean soul
Basta Neo Bistro
Bağdat Caddesi
Michelin Guide bistro with European-Turkish fusion
Ulus 29
Ulus
Legendary Istanbul institution with panoramic Bosphorus views since 1983
Aseka Karaköy
Karaköy
Michelin-recognized chef kitchen and cocktail bar with rotating art
Gun Lokantasi
Beyoğlu
Michelin-listed modern lokanta with fire-focused open kitchen
Herise Istanbul
Sarıyer
Michelin-listed culinary archaeology reviving forgotten Anatolian dishes
Apartiman Yeniköy
Yeniköy
Michelin-noted bistro where even the inspectors mentioned the young hip crowd
Fine Dining Restaurants
Perfect choices for special occasions
Lokanta 1741
Sultanahmet
Michelin-recognized Turkish classics in a 300-year-old hammam with romantic rooftop terrace
Vogue Restaurant & Bar
Akaretler
Iconic 13th-floor rooftop dining with panoramic city views
Feriye Lokantasi
Ortaköy
Fine dining in an 1871 Ottoman palace on the Bosphorus waterfront
Chilai
Bebek
Three-story culinary destination with Bosphorus views and art gallery
The Sarnic Restaurant
Sultanahmet
Fine dining in a 1,500-year-old Byzantine cistern by candlelight
Casual Dining
Delicious food in relaxed settings
Ciya Sofrasi
Kadıköy
Legendary Anatolian home cooking from a culinary anthropologist
Nobu Istanbul
Nişantaşı
Michelin-listed Japanese-Peruvian fusion at the Ritz-Carlton
Cipriani Istanbul
Nişantaşı
Four-generation Italian legacy at Park Hyatt Macka Palas
Gunaydin Et Suadiye
Bağdat Caddesi
Pioneer steakhouse with garden setting on the Asian side
Mabou
Beyoğlu
Five-table tasting menu by a German chef with Turkish ingredients and French soul
Saca Ocakbasi Ataşehir
Ataşehir
Perfect-rated traditional grill in boutique setting
Ruya Istanbul
Beşiktaş
Contemporary Anatolian cuisine in the legendary Ciragan Palace
Kendime Istanbul
Fenerbahçe
Chef Ali Isik's refined seafood from acclaimed Manzara Sogut
Octo Restaurant
Karaköy
Elevated seafood in a restored 180-year-old han with panoramic Bosphorus views
Circle by Vertical
Caddebostan
Michelin Green Star restaurant pioneering sustainability with vertical farming
Murver
Karaköy
Istanbul's first live-fire restaurant with Historic Peninsula views
Brasserie Noir
Bağdat Caddesi
Elegant French brasserie with retractable roof and live music
Novikov Istanbul
Kuruçeşme
Global fusion dining on the Bosphorus at Mandarin Oriental
Artois Cadde
Bağdat Caddesi
Chef with Ramsay & Robuchon pedigree meets Istanbul wine cellar
Olden 1772
Sirkeci
Fine dining in a 250-year-old Ottoman han with modern Anatolian cuisine
Okra Istanbul
Taksim
20th-floor contemporary Turkish with panoramic Bosphorus views
Mahir Lokantasi
Osmanbey
Beloved lokanta serving exceptional Eastern Turkish cuisine since generations
Rumelihisari Iskele
Rumelihisarı
Three consecutive years in the Michelin Guide, Bosphorus waterfront pavilion
Akira Back Istanbul
Bakırköy
Michelin recommended, Gault & Millau: Japanese-Korean fusion at the highest level
Kalimera Istanbul
Nişantaşı
Salt Bae's authentic Greek cuisine at Park Hyatt Macka Palas
Nello's Italian Restaurant
Bağdat Caddesi
Naples chef's hidden gem - the first proper Italian in Istanbul
Firuze
Beyoğlu
Antakya flavors with Golden Horn sunsets in a 1920s Art Nouveau gem
Chef Meyhane
Arnavutköy
Modern Cretan tavern with Bosphorus views by the Chef Mezze pioneer
Giritli
Sultanahmet
Cretan family restaurant with 20-meze fixed menu and unlimited drinks
1924 Istanbul
Beyoğlu
Historic Russian restaurant where Ataturk and Agatha Christie dined
Sans Restaurant
Levent
Elegant Mediterranean villa dining with 30+ years of excellence
Tershane
Karaköy
Michelin Bib Gourmand rooftop with Golden Horn and historic skyline views
Matmazel Eleni
Bağdat Caddesi
Modern meyhane reviving classic tavern culture with stone oven mezes
La Plage No.14
Bağdat Caddesi
60s-70s beach glamour meets Mediterranean fine dining
COTTO Gastro
Bağdat Caddesi
New Italian with stunning winter garden and wood-fired oven
Ferida Cadde
Bağdat Caddesi
Only Balkan cuisine on Bağdat Caddesi - Chef Murat Bozok menu
Eftalya Balik
Arnavutköy
Renowned Bosphorus seafood with 5 experienced chef-partners
O Maestros
Arnavutköy
Authentic Greek taverna with Bosphorus views and Thessaloniki flavors
Musaade Kadıköy
Kadıköy
Old Style New Generation Meyhane with chef-driven seasonal menus
Deraliye
Sultanahmet
Ottoman palace cuisine with 425 ancient recipes in opulent Sultanahmet setting
Seraf Vadi
Sarıyer
Turkish fine dining with Anatolian recipes and extensive wine cellar
Liman Istanbul
Karaköy
Historic 1950s port restaurant revived at Galataport with Bosphorus terrace
Ahmet Ustam Ocakbasi
Sarıyer
Industrial-chic grill house with Bib Gourmand recognition
St. Regis Brasserie
Nişantaşı
Art Deco elegance with global flavors in luxury Nişantaşı setting
Agapia Mezze & Meyhane
Kadıköy
50 varieties of mezze in a 120-year-old building facing Sureyya Opera
4th-generation Neapolitan pizza with 24-hour leavened dough
Sale Pepe
Yeldeğirmeni
Istanbul's first Tokyo-style Neapolitan pizza on a five-stool counter
Divan Fenerbahce
Fenerbahçe
Panoramic Kalamis Bay views from the refined Divan brand
STOA Caddebostan
Caddebostan
The original STOA: sustainable cooking meets creative cocktails
A'jia Restaurant
Beykoz
1800s Rasim Pasa Yali turned boutique hotel with Five Star Diamond award
Vakko L'Atelier
Nişantaşı
Haute couture-inspired French bistro at Turkey's premier fashion house hotel
Mukellef Karaköy
Karaköy
TV chef Arda Turkmen's rooftop meyhane with Golden Horn views
Folks Kitchen & Cocktail
Bağdat Caddesi
Reservation-only contemporary dining with cocktail focus
The One Brasserie
Bağdat Caddesi
Global fusion brasserie by Happy Group on Bağdat Caddesi
Ristorante Umberto
Bağdat Caddesi
Murano chandelier and wood-fired pizzas across from Göztepe Park
Korto Istanbul
Kuruçeşme
Sushi, Mediterranean and cocktails transitioning to legendary nightlife on the Bosphorus
Dokuz Ondokuz
Bağdat Caddesi
Mediterranean brasserie with garden setting and original flair
Yakup 2 Ataşehir
Ataşehir
Heritage meyhane family since 1977, Asian-side branch since 2018
Lokanta Limu
Sarıyer
Chef-driven lokanta by day, modern meyhane by night on the Bosphorus
Perihan Meyhane
Bağdat Caddesi
Bağdat Caddesi's flagship yeni nesil meyhane with 80s/90s nostalgia
Barboon by Atlas Balik
Arnavutköy
Gourmet seafood delicacies with spectacular Bosphorus views
Pandeli
Eminönü
Historic 1901 restaurant with iconic blue tile interior above the Spice Bazaar
SADE Bes Denizler Mutfagi
Nişantaşı
Bib Gourmand Anatolian cuisine celebrating Five Seas regional traditions
Aman da Bravo
Sarıyer
Hidden neighborhood gem with modern Turkish cuisine by Chef Inanc Celengil
Yanyali Fehmi Lokantasi
Kadıköy
Historic 1919 family lokanta in Kadıköy with timeless Turkish classics
Casius Antioch Kitchen
Cihangir
Authentic Antioch heritage cuisine in atmospheric Cihangir setting
Parvus Kalamis
Kalamış
Intimate Kadıköy gem with simple, delicious Turkish-Mediterranean fusion
Monteverdi Ristorante
Beşiktaş
Authentic Lombardy cuisine in an elegant Conrad Istanbul setting
Çengelköy İskele Restaurant
Çengelköy
Historic ferry pier dining with unobstructed Bosphorus Bridge views
Del Mare
Çengelköy
Shellfish-forward seafood in a 200-year-old Ottoman elephant warehouse
Kandilli Suna'nın Yeri
Beykoz
35+ years of pier-side fish, buckets in front of diners
İnciraltı Meyhanesi
Beylerbeyi
A hidden meyhane under a 70-year fig tree, Vedat Milor's pick
Divan Pub Erenköy
Bağdat Caddesi
Fifty-plus years on Bağdat, the Anatolian side's classic pub
Il Padrino Ristorante
Bağdat Caddesi
The Asian side's oldest real Italian, since 1990
Orōro Sushi Bar Erenköy
Bağdat Caddesi
The Moda sushi favourite on a quiet Erenköy side-street
Ustam Ocakbaşı Erenköy
Bağdat Caddesi
Adana street-kebap heat on an Erenköy side-street
Il Sud Giardino
Caddebostan
Chef Utku's southern Italian in a Caddebostan villa garden
Ranchero
Suadiye
Istanbul's most authentic Mexican, Tanyeri-González family since 2005
Zevk Lokanta Noter Sokak
Bağdat Caddesi
Bahariye's beloved meyhane in a French-bistro-style room
Madam Despina Meyhanesi
Bomonti
Turkey's first female-run meyhane, Tatavla's living memory since 1946
Bardot
Beşiktaş
Beymen's new fine-dining icon, Roman & Williams design, Michelin-starred consulting chef
Kaicy
Tarabya
BigChefs founder's ambitious Levantine project, Aziz Doğrucu (ex-L'Atelier Robuchon London)
Dafni Ateşbaşı
Kuzguncuk
Turkey's first female-chef-led ocakbaşı, Bosphorus-facing terrace, 8m fire
Natolia
Fatih
Chef Ömür Akkor's MoI flagship, Gault & Millau 2026 Best Anatolian Cuisine
Akali
Maçka
Gile chef's tribute to Marmaris roots, Gault & Millau 2026 Best Street Food
La Mia Luce
Bağdat Caddesi
Italian fine dining honored by the Italian government since 2012
Cantinery İstinye Park
İstinye
Cem Mirap (Lucca) brasserie at İstinye Park, designed by Roman & Williams
Da Mario İstinye Park
İstinye
Istanbul's first true Italian since 1993, on imported flour and stone-oven pizza
Mezzaluna İstinye Park
İstinye
D-ream's accessible-quality Italian since 1995, wood-oven pizza and signature pasta
Fish Var Balıkçı
İstinye
İstinye Bay fish lokantası in the old Süreyya Restaurant building since 2004
Yada Sushi İstinye
İstinye
Wabi-sabi sushi room with chef Rodel Javier off the İstinye coast road
Ritmo at Arkestra
Etiler
An intimate bistro at Arkestra in Etiler, with small plates, wine and cocktails.
Neni Brasserie
Bağdat Caddesi
All-day brasserie with exceptional brunch and garden setting
Cesme Bazlama Kahvaltı
Nişantaşı
Unlimited Turkish breakfast with legendary bazlama bread
Develi Kalamis
Bağdat Caddesi
Legendary kebab institution with 1200-seat marina views since 1997
Sipster
Etiler
Alacati's beloved neo-bistro brings Aegean flavors and craft cocktails to Etiler
Ahali Teşvikiye
Nişantaşı
The neighborhood's modern meze bar with creative interpretations
Lokanta Stambouli
Beyoğlu
Turkish-Greek meze heritage in a historic 1896 Pera landmark
Karaköy Gumruk
Karaköy
Modern twist on traditional Turkish cuisine with daily-changing market menu
Mahkeme Lokantasi
Karaköy
Historic 200-year-old han with lokanta lunch and meyhane evenings
Beso Rooftop
Fatih
Panoramic rooftop dining between Laleli and Sultanahmet with Bosphorus views
Ali Ocakbasi Karaköy
Karaköy
Michelin-listed ocakbasi with Bosphorus views and premium grilled meats
Muutto Anatolian Tapas Bar
Karaköy
Spanish tapas reimagined with Anatolian flavors at Galataport
Tavaci Recep Usta Bostancı
Bostancı
Bib Gourmand traditional Turkish grill with sea views on Asian side
Kadi Nimet Balikcilik
Kadıköy
The anchor restaurant inside Kadıköy's historic fish market
Casa Mamma
Caddebostan
Three sisters' intimate Italian with 72-hour fermented Roman pizza
Piraye Meyhane
Kadıköy
Dead-end alley meyhane with vinyl records and cinema nostalgia
Divan Brasserie Kalamis
Kalamış
Harbor-side brasserie with marina views and weekend live music
Hodan
Beyoğlu
Michelin-recommended chef reinterpreting Turkish gastronomy in a garden oasis
Ken Sushi & More
Bağdat Caddesi
Best sushi rice in Istanbul - Far Eastern excellence in Suadiye
Civarda
Kuruçeşme
Modern Bosphorus meyhane with nostalgic 90s-2000s Turkish pop and live entertainment
La Terrasse Karaköy
Karaköy
Rooftop dining with stunning Bosphorus views near Galataport
Catch Caddebostan
Caddebostan
Asian side's new see-and-be-seen venue with Miami-Dubai design
Todos Los Dias
Beyoğlu
Three-chef collaboration: egg hummus to gochujang bucatini, all day
Maromi
Harbiye
Japanese chefs at counter: kaiseki and omakase praised as Istanbul's best
Scalla Beykoz
Beykoz
2025 opening: 120-seat luxury Mediterranean with bespoke design on Beykoz waterfront
Cikmaz Meyhane
Kadıköy
Vanishing-genre offal meyhane: heart skewer, tongue fries, liver
Biz Istanbul
Beyoğlu
Michelin Guide 2026 new entry inside the Ataturk Cultural Center
Cok Cok Thai Tunel
Beyoğlu
The original: Chef Khun Nuch, ex-Thai royal family chef, since 2006
Morini Istanbul
Beşiktaş
Michelin-starred chef Michael White's handmade pasta since 2013
Smelt & Co.
Balat
Chef-driven Aegean gastro in a pastel townhouse: Balat's serious dining address
Grand Tarabya Brasserie
Tarabya
Open-buffet breakfast with Bosphorus, Tarabya and marina views
Gumus Yali
Beykoz
Historic waterfront yali next to Anadoluhisari fortress with fresh daily catch
Kai Çengelköy
Çengelköy
Historic Refi Pasa Yali turned upscale breakfast with Bosphorus-front setting
Borden
Yeldeğirmeni
Chef-driven fine-casual seafood with daily catch and creative small plates
Restaurant Modern
Beyoğlu
Refined seasonal menus championing small Anatolian wine producers
Naif
Karaköy
Exclusively Turkish-sourced: octopus orzo and lamb shank on farmers' pasta
Lokma
Rumelihisarı
Bosphorus-front institution: elaborate breakfast plus fresh-catch seafood
Agata Istanbul
Akaretler
World cuisines meets Antakya aromatic culture in Akaretler row house
Kiva Bomontiada
Bomonti
Modern meyhane in historic brewery walls with lentil 'ice cream' signature
Teras Emirgan
Emirgan
Reservation-only secret terrace with Bosphorus views and weekend brunch
Moda Kayikhane
Moda
Converted historic boathouse: Moda coast's most scenic all-day venue
Cruda Kitchen
Moda
French-inflected kitchen with seasonal local producers capturing Moda's bohemian spirit
Tarantella Pizza
Kadıköy
Proper Napoli-style with San Marzano, fermented dough, and standout tiramisu
Hidiv Kasri
Beykoz
Art Nouveau Ottoman pavilion in Cubuklu forest with Bosphorus views and garden dining
Nha Ginza
Ortaköy
Turkey's first authentic Vietnamese restaurant with genuinely excellent pho
Mahide Ocakbasi
Beylerbeyi
Bosphorus-view ocakbasi: organic Kars breakfast mornings, charcoal-grilled evenings
Salacak Restaurant
Üsküdar
Kiz Kulesi views from the terrace: the most iconic Asian-shore panorama
Perran Ocakbasi
Caddebostan
Revived heritage brand with contemporary ambition, expanding to Bodrum
Cunda Balik
Bostancı
20+ years bringing Ayvalik-Cunda flavors: Aegean herbs, olive oil mezes, fresh catch
Bistro 33
Bağdat Caddesi
Chef Marcello Micci's Tuscan kitchen on Bağdat Caddesi with 120-person garden
Dilruba Istanbul
Kuzguncuk
Three-bridge Bosphorus panorama from Fethi Pasa Korusu hilltop garden
Maziden Meyhane
Bostancı
Nostalgic meyhane in Bostancı with honest mezes and late-night raki culture
Barnathan Istanbul
Galata
Garden restaurant and rooftop bar with triple-vista views in Galata
Sini Ethnic Omakase
Beyoğlu
Three-table omakase fusing Pan-Asian technique with Anatolian soul
Tuzz
Karaköy
10-course Anatolian tasting menu with Far Eastern whispers on Karaköy's rooftop
Cozy Istanbul
Etiler
Mediterranean comfort in a 40-year-old Etiler villa with open kitchen
Palegg
Kadıköy
Norwegian-trained chef's Scandinavian smorrebrod with Asian twists in Kadıköy
Moshonis Balıkçısı
Bağdat Caddesi
Chef İsmail's Cunda-Greek fish house at the Kızıltoprak end of the Cadde, the corridor's rakı-balık default.
Maşuk Devr-i Meyhane
Kadıköy
A three-storey mansion off Kadıköy's beaten track, meze-first, with a garden of old Turkish records.
Hatay Restaurant 1967
Bağdat Caddesi
The corridor's literary meyhane, keeping a guest-book tradition since 1967.
Şaşkın Balık Efkan'ın Yeri
Bağdat Caddesi
Efkan Kara's Aegean taverna in a Şaşkınbakkal cul-de-sac, meze-first and unbothered by fashion.
Benusen
Kadıköy
The çarşı's oldest working meyhane, pouring since 1974, topik in the case and fasıl kept upstairs.
Radika
Koşuyolu
Koşuyolu's Aegean meyhane, a proper meze cabinet and a neighborhood that keeps it to itself.
Karaköy Lokantası
Karaköy
The turquoise-tiled Karaköy institution, lokanta by day, meyhane by night, Bib Gourmand 2026.
Tarihi Cumhuriyet Meyhanesi
Beyoğlu
Pouring under the Cumhuriyet name since 1923, a hundred mezes a day in the middle of Balık Pazarı.
Kanaat Lokantası
Üsküdar
A family Üsküdar esnaf lokanta since 1933, Ottoman home cooking read off the steam table
Il Cortile
Galata (Beyoğlu)
A Genoese kitchen in a 19th-century courtyard just under the Galata Tower
Emily's Garden
Cihangir
A tree-shaded inner garden in Cihangir, easy Mediterranean plates under string light
Marinee Kaburga
Kurtuluş
Chef Mari Esgici's tiny Kurtuluş room and back garden, slow-cooked ribs the whole point
Mezme
Kurtuluş
Sasun Estukyan's old-school Kurtuluş meze meyhane, the dishes he grew up on
Hünkâr
Nişantaşı
A family Ottoman lokanta in Nişantaşı since 1950, hünkarbeğendi read off the counter
Where to Eat in Istanbul?
Istanbul is one of the world's most exciting culinary destinations. In this unique metropolis where Asia meets Europe, thousands of years of culinary traditions merge with modern gastronomic creativity.
From Turkey's only 2 Michelin star restaurant TURK Fatih Tutak, to romantic Bosphorus-view fine dining venues, from historic meyhanes to contemporary world cuisine restaurants, there are options for every palate and budget.
Michelin Starred Restaurants
Istanbul was added to the Michelin Guide in 2022, and the number of starred restaurants has been growing ever since. The city currently has 1 two-star and 5 one-star restaurants.
Reservation Tips
For popular restaurants, especially on weekends, we recommend booking at least 1-2 weeks in advance. For Michelin-starred venues, this can extend to 2-4 weeks.
Explore More
Discover bars, cafes, hotels, and more.