Places in Istanbul

Sea-view rooftop meyhane reworking Greek, Sephardic and Turkish meze with a real bar.

Microphone-free fasıl ensemble in a restored 20-year house, the real version of what Sultanahmet sells tourists

Spanish tapas and curated DJ nights in the old Rua room

Bosphorus-mouth fish-house where the strait opens to the Black Sea.

1890 Greek-captain meyhane on the Golden Horn shore

Over-water fish-meyhane on the Baltalimanı seam.

Square-side Ortaköy classic since 1988, meze, rakı and a renovated upper terrace under the bridge

Watergarden havuz katında meyhane-pub melezi; küratörlü şarap, ekspert kokteyl.

Sarıyer Çarşı fish-meyhane known for kalkan and meze depth.

Cretan family restaurant with 20-meze fixed menu and unlimited drinks

Late-night Kireçburnu fish-meyhane open until 02:00.

Old-guard yalı seafood and rakı bar, salt-baked levrek, Bosphorus directly underfoot

Kireçburnu waterline fish house, rakı nights the neighborhood still uses.

Spanish tapas reimagined with Anatolian flavors at Galataport

New-generation Teşvikiye meyhane – contemporary meze, raki, serious pours.

White-tablecloth modern meyhane on a Kurtuluş back street, run by veteran Bülent Bey

The Tarabya fish crescent local without the tourist markup.

Modern Anatolian meyhane with a strong drinks program

Bib Gourmand traditional Turkish grill with sea views on Asian side

Gault & Millau-listed yalı for marinated lüfer and rakı

Chef Kaan Kayhan's waterfront meyhane on the Yeniköy pier.

Candle-lit meyhane in a stone building beside the Armenian church.

Bosphorus-pier classic since 1949 under century-old plane trees.

33 years of rakı-sunset at the mouth of the Bosphorus

Tarabya marina fish-house with a working bar program.

New-gen meyhane inside 110-year-old Ragıp Paşa Mansion

Michelin-listed ocakbasi with Bosphorus views and premium grilled meats