Turkish restaurants in Istanbul
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Havuzlu Restaurant
After a morning spent in the Grand Bazaar, many visitors choose to park their shopping bags at this well-known lokanta. A lovely space with a vaulted ceiling, Havuzlu (named after the small fountain at its entrance) serves up simple but tasty fare to hungry hordes of tourists and shopkeepers – go early when the food is freshest.
The restaurant also has a clean toilet, something quite rare in the bazaar. No alcohol, though.
reviewed
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Sefa Restaurant
Locals rate this place near the bazaar highly. It describes its cuisine as Ottoman, but what's really on offer here are hazır yemek (ready-made) dishes and kebaps at extremely reasonable prices. You can order from an English menu or choose daily specials from the bain marie. Try to arrive early-ish for lunch because many of the dishes run out by 1.30pm. No alcohol.
reviewed
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Sofyalı 9
Tables at this meyhane are hot property on a Friday or Saturday night, and no wonder. The food is fresh and tasty, and the atmosphere convivial. Stick to mezes rather than ordering mains – choose cold dishes from the waiter's tray and order hot ones from the menu – the kalamar (calamari) and Anavut ciğeri (Albanian fried liver) are delicious.
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Borsa
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Heyamola Ada Lokantası
Until recently, there were few decent places to eat on the islands. Fortunately, Basir Seving remedied that situation by opening this restaurant opposite the İDO dock. Heyamola wows customers with a huge array of mezes (try the baked saganaki cheese), delicious fish mains (order mezgit if it's on offer) and an interesting and affordable wine list featuring plenty of boutique labels.
reviewed
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Meshur Kuru Fasülyeci
This popular local lokanta in the former medrese of the Süleymaniye Camii serves its famous spicy fasülyeci (broad beans) and rice to hordes of hungry locals from the theological college and nearby commercial areas.
reviewed
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Kanaat Lokantası
This barn-like place near the iskele has been serving up competent hazır yemek (ready-made food) since 1933, and is particularly fancied for its desserts, including a house-made ice-cream made from sheep's milk and sahlep (ground orchid root). Its understated but pleasing decor features framed photographs of old street scenes.
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Helvetia Lokanta
This tiny lokanta is popular with locals (particularly of the vegetarian and vegan variety), who pop in here for inexpensive soups, salads and stews that are cooked fresh each day. No alcohol, and cash only.
reviewed
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Körfez Restaurant
Famous for its sea bass baked in salt, Körfez is the perfect place for a special meal in İstanbul. To make it even more special, organise for the restaurant's own motor launch to pick you up from Rumeli Hisarı across the strait and drop you back after your meal. Book ahead.
reviewed
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Hafiz Mustafa Şekerlemeleri
Choosing between the delicious baklava, tasty börek or indulgent meshur tekirdağ peynir helvası (a cheese-based sweet prepared with sesame oil, cereals and honey or syrup) is the challenge that confronts customers at this popular place. You can enjoy your choice with a glass of tea in the upstairs cafe.
reviewed
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Caferağa Medresesi Lokanta & Çay Bahçesi
In Sultanahmet, it’s rare to eat in stylish surrounds without being lavishly charged for the privilege. That’s why the small lokanta in the gorgeous courtyard of this Sinan-designed medrese near Topkapı Palace is such a find. The food isn’t anything to write home about, but it’s fresh and inexpensive. You can enjoy a tea break here, but it's an alcohol-free zone.
reviewed
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Cankurtaran Sosyal Tesisleri
Literally built into Theodosius' walls, with views over busy Sahil Yolu to the Sea of Marmara, this terrace restaurant and çay bahçesi near the Cankurtaran train station is very popular with families. It's set in a landscaped garden and has a small playground. Simple dishes such as soup, salads and kebaps feature.
reviewed
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Mangerie
Effortlessly chic, Mangerie is the prototype for the rapidly proliferating number of glam cafes in Bebek. The interior is light and white, and there’s a terrace with terrific Bosphorus views. The food looks away from Turkey for its inspiration, and is simple but refined. To find it, go up the steep stairs next to the florist.
reviewed
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House Of Medusa
Medusa's charming shaded courtyard beckons guests off Yerebatan Caddesi. It's a lovely spot to relax after a morning spent sightseeing, which is why we've included it here. The food's nothing special - acceptable executions of Turkish dishes such as kebaps and stews - but if you order a mixed meze plate and an ice-cold beer you'll be happy.
reviewed
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Çamlica Restaurant Off
Should you take the time to visit Üsküdar, this charming kiosk on the hill is a great spot to savour a coffee or a snack. Marble floors are covered by rugs, and seating is on small stools clustered around brass tray tables. In winter there's a log fire, and in summer the windows looking out over the park provide an attractively airy feel.
reviewed
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Krependeki İmroz Restaurant
The minute you see the waiters heaving around their enormous meze-laden trays in this popular meyhane you'll know you've made the right dinner choice. With outdoor tables on both sides of the street, you'll also have a slightly better chance of scoring a spot in the middle of the action - book ahead. The food is typical of Gökceada (İmroz) and is top-class; be sure to include the octopus salad and pickled anchovies in your meze choices.
reviewed
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Konyalı Lokantası
The bustle of the Eminönü docks is replicated inside this popular lokanta every lunchtime, when crowds of shoppers, workers and commuters pop in here to choose from the huge range of soups, böreks, kebaps and stews on offer. This isn't a place where lingering over one's meal is encouraged (it's far too busy for that), but you can move on to the next-door pastanesi for a glass of tea and a delicious pastry if you so choose.
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Demeti
This modern meyhane has a friendly feel and simple but stylish decor. Reservations are a must if you want one of the four tables on the terrace, which have an unimpeded Bosphorus view. There's occasional live music.
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Karaköyüm Café & Restaurant
The elegant lady owners will greet you personally when you enter this popular rooftop restaurant. Everyone in town knows the secret of the success here - put simply, the women in the kitchen are wonderful home-style cooks. Try Anatolian favourites such as the utterly delicious dürüm köfte (köfte wrapped in pastry and served with yogurt and tomato sauce) and we're confident that you'll become an instant devotee.
There's a terrace with views of Topkapı Palace, and a wine list that is well priced.
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Karaköy Lokantası
Known for its gorgeous tiled interior, genial owner and bustling vibe, Karaköy Lokantası serves tasty and well-priced food to its loyal local clientele. It functions as a lokanta during the day, but at night it morphs into a meyhane, with slightly higher prices. Bookings are essential for dinner.
reviewed
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Rami
The favoured spot for dinner here is the rooftop terrace, which has a full view of the Blue Mosque. Make sure you request a table there when you book. Ottoman specialities such as kağıt kebap (lamb and vegetables cooked in a paper pouch) dominate the menu and although the food is nothing to get excited about, the view and the decent wine list certainly compensate. No credit cards.
This restored Ottoman house also has several quaint dining rooms that are decorated with impressionist-style paintings by Turkish painter Rami Uluer (1913-88).
reviewed
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Teras Restaurant
The terrace restaurant at this upmarket hotel offers good food, a killer view of the Blue Mosque, Aya Sofya and Sea of Marmara, an excellent (and affordable) wine list and very comfortable seating – a compelling combination indeed. Added extras come courtesy of a kids' menu (TL12–14) and decent coffee. We recommend starting with a meze tray to share (TL26–29).
reviewed
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Yücetepe Kır Gazinosu Restaurant
At the very top of the hill where the Monastery of St George is located, this simple place has benches and chairs on a terrace overlooking the sea and İstanbul. Dishes are simple but good – the köfte is particularly tasty. You can also enjoy a beer or glass of tea here.
reviewed
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İmren Lokantası
Well and truly off the tourist trail, İmren is a tiny neighbourhood lokanta with extremely friendly staff. It serves decent, dirt-cheap dishes such as peppery lamb guveç (stew) and musakka (baked aubergine and mincemeat). Go for lunch rather than dinner. No alcohol.
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Güney Restaurant
You'll be lucky if you can fight your way through the crowds of hungry locals to claim a lunchtime table at this bustling eatery directly opposite Galata Tower. Friendly waiters will set you up with a basket of fresh bread and point you towards the array of meze and hot dishes on display.
reviewed