This is a lovely restaurant in the Sultanhamet neighborhood. The food was delicious -- some of the…read morebest authentic Turkish food we had the entire time we were in Istanbul. I can highly recommend the Yaprak Sarma (stuffed grape leaves) as a starter. Follow that with the Lamb Stew or the perfectly cooked Sea Bass. The service was friendly, professional and discreet. Put this restaurant on your MUST DO list for your trip.

I love diner kebap. I've had 3 at different places and this was best. I asked to not salt it it…read more Plenty for two

I LOVE this spot. The views, the food, the service, the music .. I love it!…read more This is where I was first introduced to adjika, a tasty pepper sauce that is served with their table bread, which is also delicious. I had to grab some at a local market. I highly recommend the chicken kabobs, juicy and well seasoned. Also enjoyed the margaritas, stiff and not overly sweet. Staff is pleasant and attentive. The views are unmatched in the evening. Make your reservation in advance to secure your sunset table. The inside is nice and classy but I simply adore the open air views from the roof. The birds really set off the skyline and you can see several of the mosques around. Not SUPER expensive but it is in the higher end price wise compared to their surrounding competition -- 100% worth it in my book. I will definitely go again on my next visit. Glad I could introduce it to a friend this go round. The only thing I disliked about this place is the "dining dome" as I called it. A portion of the roof now offers seating in a large plastic dome. The dome is scratched up and obstructs the view of the city but does protect diners from the wind. I was not a fan of this dome. I'm sure it's something someone saw on the internet and implemented .. I hope they get rid of it, it's super unnecessary. Otherwise -- LOVE!

Excellent Turkish breakfast and had a great dinner here too. Nice views of the Bospherous River…read more The evening DJ was good. The servers are attentive and gracious.

We stumbled upon this place, it looked like a well loved place so we decided to stay for lunch. We…read moreeach ordered a durum doner, for which you can choose the amount of meat. I believe the sizes go from 80g of meat to 250g of meat. I ordered the 100g and it was plenty to fill me up. The bread is thin and flavorful, and the filling includes pickles, tomatoes and fries. The larger option comes served with a side of fries and pickles too. Delicious pita bread is complimentary, and it is served with yet another delicious menu item, a tangy and sweet tomato and herbs salsa. The prices are very fair (2 of us ate for ~ 15USD), the staff is very friendly, definitely would recommend.

Everything I ate here was utterly delicious and unique. The staff was lovely and so helpful. Their…read morerecommendation of what to order was spot on. I'm already craving a second visit.

Galata Kitchen is not a doner grill and it doesn't open onto a busy street with a big outdoor…read morepatio. After two days having some great meals in Istanbul of that type, we looked for something different. Not far from Galata Tower, GK is on a side street with little foot traffic. It has a big modern sign back off the street and one of the operators saw us hesitating where to enter and waved us in from the front entrance. Inside it has whimsical and funny decorations and serious books mounted on the wall, but is not atmospheric, more like a diner. BUT the food is displayed in a case, hot and cold entrees separated, so you can see what you are ordering. You pick what you want and they assemble your choices on a plate and bring it to the table. Hot entrees included chicken bites in a tomato sauce and chicken with onions, lamb stew and beef and plenty of salad and vegetable choices in the cold display case. The group of men running the place that night were low key but personable, answering our questions about food items and Turkish literature. Service was prompt but understated and helpful. Our group of four had a great time and the menu is diverse enough that everyone found choices that pleased them. But remember, we came in expecting something very good other than doner kebap and were not disappointed!

This restaurant is in the beautiful and posh neighborhood of Karaköy. The moment you walk in, you…read moreunderstand why they are Michelin recognized. The decor is simple, modern, sleek, and very clean, and I love the light blues and the greys, which are very calming. We were immediately seated and made to feel very welcome. The menu looks like it changes very often. The prices were very reasonable, and so much better than the prices for just mediocre, average food in the tourist area of Sultanahmet, so this was a nice break for us. I ordered the meat stew, which was beef and vegetables that were absolutely delicious. The food was very fresh. I had the mantı as well, a traditional dish. It was very delicate and flavorful. What I loved was that the flavors were very balanced, nothing was too overly salty or too sweet. And the wine selection, they have a really nice selection of Turkish wines. It was very delicious, and I would absolutely go back.

A must-try for tourists!…read more The food is absolutely delicious, with a menu offering traditional Turkish dishes. The ambiance is modern yet maintains a relaxed, upscale vibe, making it perfect for both casual outings and special occasions. They are famous for their mezes, and I highly recommend the levrek marin and fava. For mains, the hunkar begendi is amazing! The service is fast, friendly, and attentive, adding to the overall great experience. It's a classic if you're in Istanbul. Also, it's in of the best area to hang, tons to see around. Highly recommended!

My name is Eddie from Kentucky (USA)This is my spot for my time in Istanbul! I went to a few other…read moreShisha places and was not happy. Two different location give you the flavor you want on top after a minutes you get something else. This place is amazing. I like the love 66 and the blend of love &lady killer. Recommend it. Shahin is the man! Great guy and very friendly! Stop here for sure!!!!

Welcome bread was nice and soft with a nice taste and texture. The service was fine, and the food…read morewas okay... The pepperoni pizza was nice and greasy if you're into that kinda thing. The atmosphere/ambiance was nice and chill.

Fantastic restaurant to eat in Istanbul. The doner is amazing and reasonably priced. Staff is…read morefriendly and service is quick. Must visit while in Istanbul and great views of Yeni Mosque and the water.

Awesome views and delicious food. I tried the lahmacun and the muhammara and baklava and all were…read moredelicious. Service was quick and friendly. Great place for a family dinner or hangout with friends.

Ate upstairs and had an incredible view of the city. Service was very good. The mezze were all…read morevery good with the puffed bread. Entrees were good but the meats were a little dry. Loved the raki.

My favorite restaurant in Istanbul, waiters are fast, and food is really delicious, my family…read moreenjoyed the atmosphere.

First review of 2026 let's goooooo!…read more This is a great rec if you are staying near this area with Galata Tower. The food we ordered ranged from alright to really tasty - noteworthy dishes are the Adana Kebab and the Cubed Meat Pita. Their menu is quite expansive - for instance, they have desserts like the famous San Sebastian Cheesecake, as well as a full bar of booze. Speaking of which, they have Limoncello, so I got a Limoncello Spritz (albeit it wasn't as strong). On its menu, Guney also has non-Turkish/Western Europe dishes like Belgian Mussels. Excellent ambience with indoor and covered outdoor seating, but just a heads up that we were sitting in the covered outdoor seating and people around me were ALL smoking (!) So, if you're sensitive to cigarette smoke, then I recommend getting seating inside. And as a bonus this place opens quite late. Check it out whenever you are in Istanbul! IG: @datglobetrotterlife

Such a great find in Sirkeci! I brought my friend and guests visiting from the US and Dubai, and we…read moreall absolutely loved it. The Cağ Kebabı was fantastic -- incredibly fresh, tender, juicy, and perfectly grilled. The meat was so good that we ordered another serving! The Çoban Salatası and creamy Manda Yoğurdu were delicious, and the watermelon juice was so refreshing. My guests were genuinely impressed, and it was great to introduce them to such an authentic Turkish food experience. Simple, fresh, flavorful, and really well done. If you're in Sirkeci and love kebab, definitely give Şehzade a try.

You know a restaurant is good when their menu is simple and they only specialize in one thing- cag…read morekebab. We came on a weekday evening for dinner and found a line already forming around 6PM. Despite the crowd, there was a quick turnaround, and we were able to get seated quickly after only 10 minutes of waiting. We ordered the cag kebab wrap, soup of the day (lentil soup), and a side of salad. The kebab was nicely seasoned, with each bite delivering a rich, savory flavor. I also loved all the Turkish lentil soups and this one was no exception- it's tangy, savory and extremely comforting to drink on a cold night.