Fethiye
A few small boats moored off Uğur Mumcu Parkı offer balık ekmek (fish sandwiches) and fish and chips (₺15), with seating on their bobbing decks. They…
Must-see restaurants in Turkey
Uğur Alabalık Tesisleri Perili Bahçe
Southeastern Anatolia
For a leisurely al-fresco meal, head to this shady garden by the gushing river. Relish fresh trout, salads from local organic veggies, and içli köfte …
Cappadocia
A couple of doors down from Ortahisar's central mosque, you'll find this unassuming place. Walk straight out back to the balcony for comfy old sofas and a…
Cappadocia
Not going to lie: we're here for the cheapest thing on the menu. The Tafana burger (₺30) may just be the best burger in Turkey. It's by far the best in…
Şanlıurfa
A great choice if you fancy a beer with your meal, the restaurant of the Manici Hotel offers traditional Turkish meze and mains in comfortable…
İzmir & the North Aegean
Our favourite of the fish restaurants by the liman (harbour), blue-and-white Boruzan offers a wide range of mezes made with produce from the restaurant’s…
Kadıköy
Weekend and summer-night saunters down Moda Caddesi wouldn't be the same without a cone of the dondurma (ice cream) produced by the five brothers who…
Osman's Place/Gordon Restaurant
Datça & Bozburun Peninsulas
This amiable Turkish-Scottish–owned place offers espresso coffee, tempting cakes and a range of Turkish and international mains (including fry-up…
Black Sea Coast
In business since 1966, Huzur is big, bright and unpretentious but it delivers top-notch meat dishes, prizewinning pide and plenty more besides from a…
Çanakkale
Cheap and cheerful is the motto at this popular ev yemekleri (eatery serving home-cooked food) close to the clock tower. Choose from bean, vegetable and…
Bodrum Town
This mariners' club cafe attracts locals from çay-drinking sea dogs to young landlubbers nursing bottles of Efes Malt. Burgers, sausage and chips, tost …
Kayseri
Bring on the calories. Skip the diet for the day and ascend the lift to the top-floor dining hall with views over the citadel to order the house…
Central Anatolia
Ask a local where the best tokat kebaps (garlicky lamb, potato and eggplant kebap), and pretty much any other kind of kebap, can be found and there's a…
Kalkan
With its pink theme and wood burner, this casually elegant uphill from the harbour eatery offers good service and dishes including house special moussaka,…
Amasya
Built in 1758 as a caravanserai, and now fully restored and remade as a hotel and restaurant, the beautiful Taşhan is Amasya's top ticket for fine dining…
Datça & Bozburun Peninsulas
This tiny white cottage facing the marina might have some thinking they'd arrived in Macarıstan (Hungary). Not quite… This all-Turkish establishment…
Side
Raising the stakes in Side, this modish, high-end newcomer has a superb ocean-facing terrace and a nice contemporary vibe. Best for Western food,…
Bodrum Town
Though a bit cramped and inland, this distressed-looking place, with whitewashed tables and pastel-coloured walls, is certainly worth investigating …
Antalya
Expect to find the garden at this restaurant and şarap odası (wine room) chock-a-block on the nights when traditional Turkish musicians and folk dancers…
Ankara
Gourmet burgers have hit Ankara and this place is one of the best in town to sink your teeth into one. There are Mexican-style, goat's cheese, and BBQ…
Bodrum Town
The 'Courtyard' is a bistro in an old stone house on a cobbled lane that offers outdoor dining, opt for the intimate dining rooms spread over two minute…
Selçuk
Delightful courtyard restaurant (and bar) perfect for all your rice and noodle fixes; head straight here, the chef is Chinese. But don't limit yourself,…
Kayseri
Walk through the fishmongers by the door to this rather brilliant fish restaurant on the terrace out back. As well as cheap, filling and large balık ekmek…
Bodrum Peninsula
With a prime beachside plot, this Ibiza-style hotel restaurant has elegant tables for dining (seafood is popular, though pricey) and chillout zones for…
Ankara
For chocolate heaven, mooch over to the Hamamönü cafe district and once you've done a sweep of the handicraft stalls beeline here for dessert. Cakes,…
Datça & Bozburun Peninsulas
The pre-prepared and made-to-order dishes in this bright eatery on the main drag allow a great-value sampling of Anatolian home cooking. All sorts of meat…
Bodrum Peninsula
This long-running favourite is run by a fishing family and serves a good range of mezes and mains, marine and otherwise. There's no noise save for the…
İzmir & the North Aegean
Decked out in blue and white, this friendly eatery with ocean views is a good option at the quieter eastern end of Cunda's harbourfront strip. Diligent…
Gaziantep
The best entertainment of your day could be watching the graceful actions of Murat's head pastry chef as he transforms a compact ball of dough into a…
Bodrum Peninsula
An intimate, good-value restaurant, decorated with holidaying children's pictures of cats, serving light meals by day and heartier fare at night. House…
Kars
Pushkin's poem Unknown Country ushers diners into a Russian-era stone building decorated with samovars where the quality meals focus on lamb and goose…
Turquoise Coast
On the road down to Olympos from the highway, recline on rustic Nazar's wooden platforms in traditional Turkish style, enjoying gözleme (stuffed…
Bodrum Town
An upmarket and highly fashionable meat feast of a place with street-side tables and a fine menu that majors in gourmet burgers (in 120g or 180g portions)…
Safranbolu
This is Safranbolu's bona fide contemporary dining option and it delivers with thick steaks and creamy pasta dishes. The Turkish cheese platter is a must…
Ölüdeniz
Facing the big blue, this is one of Ölüdeniz's choicest spots for a meal, with stylish seating and efficient staff. Serves fine pasta like tagliatelle…
İzmir & the North Aegean
Either dine inside the restaurant's heritage dining room or amid the leafy garden. There's no surprises to the menu, but the concise array of kebabs,…
Eastern Mediterranean
In the shadow of Ulu Cami's minaret, the 'King Künefe' is the friendliest place in town to try Antakya's favourite dessert, the eponymous künefe (layers…
Dalyan
The town's most appealing restaurant, serving great Turkish and British breakfasts, snacks like smoked salmon club sandwich (₺30), and mains including…
Ankara
Swamped with local families on the weekends, Mangal is a neighbourhood star that has been churning out mountains of pide (Turkish-style pizza) and kebaps…
Kalkan
Very classy restaurant with a stunning terrace and wonderful old-school dining room (which almost has a colonial vibe thanks to its antiques and polished…
