Istanbul
Dating from 1901, this restaurant has three salons that are encrusted with stunning turquoise-coloured İznik tiles and also feature painted ceilings and…
Must-see restaurants in Turkey
Alaçatı
There are some who say the ‘Cheers Tavern’ serves the best meze in town – there's certainly many types to choose from. Fresh fish (priced by weight) is…
Beyoğlu
Decorated in art deco style (as befits its location in a building that originally housed the swish Bristol Hotel), this ground-floor cafe in the Pera…
Pamukkale
Long-established Mehmet's has a back terrace with excellent travertine views and some of the friendliest service in town. The Turkish fare – köfte …
Istanbul
This perennially busy place is located just inside the Grand Bazaar's Kılıççılar Gate, near where the currency dealers ply their bustling trade. Patrons…
Cappadocia
The atmospheric hall of this 250-year-old Greek Mansion, with its ceiling draped in vines, is Mustafapaşa's main venue to dig into Turkish flavours. The…
Sultanahmet
Popular with tourists from the Gulf States, many of whom stay at the nearby Sura Hotel, this ocakbaşı (grill house) specialises in mezes and classic…
Fethiye
Buying fresh fish (per kg ₺18 to ₺55) from the market and taking it to one of the restaurants opposite to have them cook it is one of Fethiye's most…
Beyoğlu
The quality of the food served here is adequate rather than inspired, but this tends to be forgiven by those who manage to snaffle a table on the summer…
Şanlıurfa
Swerve into this simple canteen and climb up two flights of stairs to the terrace where locals slurp down ayran (yoghurt drink) while digging into urfa…
Istanbul
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…
Beyoğlu
Established in 1888, this local institution serves a good, albeit pricey, range of hazır yemek (ready-made food). There's no alcohol, but the range of…
Sultanahmet
Palatium is built atop part of the Great Palace of Byzantium, which you can see through its glass floor, between the rugs, beanbag seats at low tables and…
Bursa
Occupying a dining room above Bursa's flower market for more than 50 years, Çiçek İzgara ('Flower Grill') serves meaty plates of köfte (meatballs) and…
Erzurum
Hushed, high ceilinged and quaintly anachronistic with its bow-tied waiters and curtained windows, this place has been in business since 1928 and is…
Western Anatolia
'Black Sea' dishes up lahmacun (Arabic-style pizza; ₺5 to ₺6) and pide (Turkish-style pizza). If you've already explored Turkey's world of pide and are…
Ürgüp
Ürgüp's new-wave lokanta (eatery serving ready-made food) drags the traditional canteen into the 21st century with smart-attired waiters and a…
Princes’ Islands
Set one street back from the waterfront promenade, this simple place serves the daily seafood catch, with yesterday's leftovers used in the tasty fish…
İzmir & the North Aegean
On game days, the queue in front of this stand selling dondurma (Turkish ice cream) is of formidable proportions, and summer evenings are nearly as busy…
Istanbul
There's inevitably an afternoon queue in front of this tiny dondurma (Turkish ice cream) shop in the courtyard of the Atik Ali Paşa Camii. Though the…
İzmir & the North Aegean
Serving mantı (Turkish ravioli), avcı boreğı (‘hunter’s börek’; pastry filled with meat or cheese) and a good range of meze, this restaurant has a lovely…
The Bosphorus Suburbs
Enjoying brunch in Rumeli Hisarı is a popular local pastime, so this place has no problems filling its 300-odd seats on weekends. The huge terrace …
Uzungöl
With a suave cafe below and the best lake views from its roof terrace, Migron is Uzungöl's top dining choice, as the prices reflect. The menu covers most…
South Aegean
This casual family-run eatery does international dishes like fish and chips but mamma's specials are the best options, including Ottoman steak – rolled…
Kuşadası
The enormous 'Palace' in the Kaleiçi serves mixed international fare – from Chinese to Mexican – and decent Turkish grub as well as a few vegetarian…
Princes’ Islands
Operated by local character Fıstık Ahmet, this long-standing meyhane near the port is known for its lavish pourings of alcohol (it's not the type of place…
Sultanahmet
Part of a small local chain, this is a convenient place to grab a pide or kebap en route between the Blue Mosque and Grand Bazaar. The open kitchen and…
İzmir & the North Aegean
The ‘Long House’ is the pick of the seafront restaurants and garners the most lively crowd, especially on weekends in high season. Blue wooden chairs line…
Eastern Mediterranean
Döner kebap places may be a dime a dozen on Hürriyet Caddesi, but Çağlayan's dürüm (a wrap made of flatbread and filled with typical döner kebab…
Northeastern Anatolia
Food is likely to be a Hobson's choice – probably menemen (scrambled egg and tomato) and a simple salad – but Barhal's little cafe is a loveably rustic…
Göreme
Orient's meaty menu romps from traditional Turkish to more continental-style options. Most people come for a steak fix (₺85) but the steaks' vegetable…
Beyoğlu
This neighbourhood meyhane (tavern) has a friendly feel and simple but stylish decor. It serves stock-standard, good-quality mezes and grills…
Turquoise Coast
This waterfront hangout has a dozen mezes in the fridge, overlooked by Janis Joplin and the rock icons on its awnings. The exotically translated menu…
Marmaris
As close as you'll get to the marina without falling in. Pineapple is a somewhat pricey two-storey restaurant with an enormous upstairs balcony and…
Selçuk
Touristy Tat's food won't set the world on fire – although the güveç (stew) and other fiercely sizzling dishes could start a blaze. But it is a pleasant…
Lake District
Super-friendly Günaylar is where you come for basic pide (Turkish-style pizza) and şiş kebap (roast skewered meat) plates. We weren't fussed with its…
Istanbul
In the midst of the Eminönü action, this branch of a popular local sweets chain has a small upstairs cafe where you can enjoy baklava or cakes with a tea…
Black Sea Coast
Upstairs in a large pavilion style building, right on Büyük Liman, Mavi & Yeşil offers the local fish, imported calamari and köfte dishes in a reverberant…
Central Anatolia
A very typical tourist-orientated restaurant that gets most of its business from tour bus groups. The food here is good value, service is fast, the…
İzmir & the North Aegean
With an elevated terrace and streetside tables overlooking the Büyük Deniz, Fokai has the best location in town. Sadly, every stray cat in Foça agrees,…
