Ankara
Tuck into some of the fattest, juiciest gözleme (stuffed flatbreads) in town or a filling bowl of mantı (Turkish ravioli) at this super-friendly little…
Must-see restaurants in Turkey
The Bosphorus Suburbs
The Bosphorus branch of this popular chain has a leafy, sun-dappled terrace overlooking the water. It's known for all-day breakfasts and its huge range of…
Eastern Mediterranean
Antakya's premier spot for affordable tasty meals, this bustling place is just the ticket to dive into Hatay's fusion of Middle Eastern and Turkish…
Beyoğlu
Serdar-ı Ekrem Caddesi is one of the most attractive streets in Galata, full of ornate 19th-century apartment blocks and avant-garde boutiques. Mavra was…
Ankara
Ankara finally gets a decent Indian restaurant and yes, they can turn up the spice level for you. Arabic and Chinese dishes are also offered but stick to…
Beyoğlu
A Beyoğlu institution, İnci was forced out of its historic İstiklal Caddesi premises in 2012, but reopened on a side street and continues to delight…
Çanakkale
A display of old radios, cameras and photographs adorns the walls of this small and extremely friendly cafe, which serves Turkish and espresso coffee, hot…
Beyoğlu
As well as being one of the best delicatessens in the city, Namlı offers a tempting sit-down or takeaway selection of breakfast dishes, sandwiches, salad…
Western Anatolia
To a soundtrack of sunshine soul, Coffee Shot's cool team serves tosts (toasted sandwiches), burgers, pasta, grills, breakfasts and myriad coffees. It's…
Tarıhı Balık Pazarı Unlu Mamülleri
Antalya
This excellent little bakery churns out a mind-boggling array of sweet and savoury baked goods. Great kiymalı (meat) and sosis (sausage) börek pastry…
Southeastern Anatolia
If you need a kebap break, this popular, relaxed, contemporary cafe dishes up sandwich wraps, salads, steaks, Turkish-style quesadillas and gözleme …
İzmir & the North Aegean
Homestyle cooking combines with sunset views at the friendly 'Blue Door Cafe'. Tables on the upper terrace are very popular, but the downstairs garden is…
Black Sea Coast
Serving quality fresh fish (canlı balık) since 1945, 'Uncle Mustafa's Place' has a distinctively characterful pebble-and-timber 'chalet' facade which…
Ayvalık
Named after its English-speaking owner Pinar (Pino to her friends), this friendly cafe in an old stone house opened in 2016 and is a good choice for a…
Kalkan
Atmospheric Iso's serves fine mezes (a platter for two is ₺65), grills, seafood, great fish kebaps and house specials such as spicy köfte (meatballs) on a…
Beyoğlu
This laid-back lounge cafe located in the expat enclave of Cihangir offers a menu of Mediterranean comfort foods including sandwiches, soups and pastas…
Sultanahmet
Cooked on a horizontal spit, the Erzurum-style lamb kebap that this joint is known for is tender, very slightly charred and very tasty. Served on lavaş…
Beyoğlu
We're not surprised this vegetarian cafe has a loyal following. Its interior is comfortable and stylish, with a glassed courtyard and bright colour scheme…
Gaziantep
A beacon for travelling vegetarians and vegans with plenty of grain- and pulse-based non-meat options to choose from, this lokanta (eatery serving ready…
Beyoğlu
In the fashionable Soho House complex, this branch of the international chain has a romantic courtyard that is a particularly lovely dining spot on summer…
South Aegean
This breezy restaurant-cafe on a terrace that almost embraces the surf serves a potpourri of dishes – from pizzas and hamburgers to Thai red curries and…
Western Anatolia
This contemporary muhallebici (milk pudding shop) with its airy, bright interior and comfy pastel-coloured seating on the glassed-in terrace overlooking…
Göcek
Set back from the shorefront, this humble little place is just the ticket if you want to get away from all those yachties in their overlarge sunglasses. A…
Western Anatolia
The cafe of this restored Ottoman mansion is a great place to put your feet up after exploring Kütahya. It does typical Turkish favourites of yaprak sarma…
Beyoğlu
Its name and menu reflect the fact that this garden cafe in the interior courtyard of the French consulate is as Gallic as İstanbul gets. Start the day…
Kadıköy
Tucked in behind one of the market’s best fish stalls and sharing the same owners, this much-loved restaurant is a good place to enjoy the daily catch…
Turquoise Coast
This 400-year-old stone building houses a stunning wine house and restaurant, with a cellar containing hundreds of bottles of Turkey's finest. Expect a…
Göreme
The dining room is as bland as they come but for very decent versions of classic Indian cuisine, you can't go wrong. For vegetarians, this is the biggest…
İzmir & the North Aegean
This popular meyhane (tavern) and şarap evi (wine house) is hidden behind a stone wall in the old town, but the giveaway is the loud music and the clink…
Cappadocia
On the pedestrian alleyway that radiates off the back of the main square (at the end of the row of pilgrimage stalls) you'll find this small, family-run…
Gaziantep
A major stop on every Turkish tourist's Gaziantep itinerary, the Çağdaş family's restaurant is known for its pistachio baklava, delivered daily to…
Ankara
This carnivore heaven pumps out mountains of meze and kebaps – along with plenty of rakı (aniseed brandy) to wash it all down – to the masses. Try the…
Thrace & Marmara
Right on the main square of the Greek village of Tepeköy, this cafe is one of the most welcoming spots on the island. Villagers alternate leisurely chats…
Cappadocia
The cave wine cellar could tempt you into a few lost hours, but if you make it upstairs, the terrace is the place for atmospheric Avanos dining. Typical…
Central Anatolia
This cafe hums with students and young professionals who come here to slouch on the comfy sofas and gossip over umpteen glasses of çay or grab a cheap…
Van
Upstairs from the bustle of Cumhuriyet Caddesi, Kervansaray is Van's go-to spot for a more elegant and refined dining experience. Dive into a few shared…
Beyoğlu
İstanbul has many businesses that have attained iconic status and Savoy is undoubtedly one of them. Down the hill from Taksim Meydanı, it was established…
Ankara
In business since 1963, this is the original outlet of Ankara's most famous name in pide (Turkish-style pizza) and kebap. It's renowned for its sarımsaklı…
Antalya
Antalya's most famous eatery is a couple of kilometres west of the centre, with its spacious indoor and stylish outdoor dining areas occupying a hill…
Black Sea Coast
Easily missed as it's upstairs with no sign, this excellent ocakbaşı grill house serves assorted meaty morsels on two wooden balconies set with cushioned…
