Konya
Rekindling old recipes from the Seljuk and Ottoman age, this restaurant uses the finest ingredients and cooks everything with panache. Dig into more…
Must-see restaurants in Central Anatolia
Amasya
Head up the creaky stairs to the dining room of this old Ottoman house to dig into regional flavours of etli bamya (lady fingers and meat stew), toyga…
Safranbolu
Safranbolu has cute cafes dishing up regional cuisine aplenty, but Atış is our favourite for its solid home-style cooking. Dig into traditional dishes of…
Central Anatolia
This poshed-up pide (Turkish-style pizza) and kebap restaurant, complete with exposed-brick walls and modern chandelier lighting, does food as good as its…
Konya
Konya's king of etli ekmek (the local version of pide), Bolu is tiny, basic and always crammed. There's no menu; just order etli ekmek, with a jug of…
Central Anatolia
With its blue-and-white decor, Chef Un's has a vibe more Turkish Med than Anatolian heartland. And you know the mantı (Turkish ravioli) has got to be good…
Central Anatolia
In a prime position for lunch on the route between Yazılıkaya and Hattuşa, this garden cafe dishes up gözleme (stuffed flatbreads), tost (toasted…
Amasya
Balık ekmek (fish sandwiches), köfte ekmek (meatball sandwiches) and gözleme (stuffed flatbreads) served up on a boat moored on the Yeşilırmak. Skip it…
Ankara
The see-and-be-seen crowd packs out the front terrace on sunny days, tucking into European-style mains of grilled steak with sage risotto and gorgonzola…
Ankara
At this blue-and-white fish restaurant, pluck your creature of the deep off its ice bed, then have it grilled or fried up and doused in olive oil and…
Amasya
Every version of mantı (Turkish ravioli) you know, and plenty that you may have never seen before – from bowls of the little dumplings drenched in walnut…
Ankara
Quirky vintage styling and comfy sofas make Café des Cafés one of our favourite Kavaklıdere pit stops. The menu is bistro-style cooking offering mains…
Ankara
If we're in the mood for urfa kebap (a mild version of the Adana kebap served with onion and black pepper) or İskender kebap (or Bursa kebap; döner kebap…
Konya
Run by the belediye (town council), this restaurant offers up the regional tastes of Konya. It's a great place to sample patlıcan közleme kebabı (roasted…
Ankara
Named after a cult Turkish comic strip – and decorated accordingly – this is the pre-party pick for a substantial feed before hitting the bars. The menu…
Amasya
This riverside restaurant with a deck is a couple of levels up on class than others and offers a menu of meze (with plenty for vegetarians to make a full…
Central Anatolia
Head to this timber-framed house, just off Cumhuriyet Caddesi, to dine on low tables in one of the traditionally decorated salons. The menu is all about…
Ankara
This Ottoman house, smack in the middle of the citadel neighbourhood, serves up a range of typical Turkish dishes from gözleme (stuffed flatbreads) to…
Safranbolu
This little place's cheerful, friendly service sets it apart. Tuck into freshly made etli yaprak sarma (stuffed vine leaves with meat) or try the Black…
Central Anatolia
It's all about the kebap at this large restaurant, which makes its home within the arched interior of Kastamonu's old bedesten (covered market), one block…
Central Anatolia
Tucked inside the Münire Medresesi complex, we like this place for its local specialities such as banduma (chicken and filo pastry drenched in butter and…
Konya
Old-timer on the Konya scene, Şifa has had a rather smart makeover. As well as tasty pide (Turkish-style pizza) and typical kebaps, check out the menu for…
Imren Nostalji Cafe & Lokumları
Safranbolu
We've eaten a lot of börek (filled pastries) in our time but the su böreği (lasagne-like layered pastry laced with white cheese and parsley) we had here…
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…
Central Anatolia
We've eaten a lot of pide (Turkish-style pizza) in our time and we'll stick our neck out to say Plevne dishes up some of the best in Turkey. Order the…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Central Anatolia
The best place for lunch in Divriği is this homely wooden restaurant that does a bustling trade in pide (Turkish-style pizza), grills and sizzling saç…
Ankara
The capital's classiest Italian restaurant covers the pasta (all homemade), seafood and steak bases but trust us, you're here for the pizza. Mezzaluna's…
Safranbolu
With outdoor seating on the square above and in the alleyway, plus cubby-hole dining inside, Çızgi has snagged prime territory. Order the rum mantı …
Central Anatolia
Our favourite place to kick back after rock-scrambling and church viewing in Sille is this place on the main road with its shady terrace festooned with…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
Amasya
Keyif is always busy with locals scoffing breakfast spreads before noon and pide (Turkish-style pizza) and kebap plates through the afternoon and evening…
