Top 7 Restaurants in Istanbul

Best Restaurants in Istanbul

Most tourists find themselves looking for good Istanbul restaurants while sightseeing this city. In here, you can see top 7 restaurants in Istanbul that offer great food but not necessarily for budget conscious people.  Many of Turkey’s modern restaurants can be found in Istanbul. From high quality dishes to Turkish favorites with a modern touch, these are the best restaurants in Istanbul.

1. Asitane in Fatih Discrict

Asitane is one of few Istanbul restaurants with old interior resembling the previous kingdom. This restaurants offer the traditional Ottoman palace kitchens food. Asitane brought back over 200 classical recipes since year 1991. You really need to give this unique restaurant is a try for tastes of true traditional Turkish cuisine. You can find Asitane restaurant nearby Kariye Cami Sk which is just near the Chora Church.

2. Alancha in Beşiktaş

Alancha is one of most unique restaurants in Istanbul. Also, their dining room is minimal in nature and the menu has the Anatolian history touch. If you like delicious international food, you can  definitely find it here. Tourist are able to find this restaurant in Vişnezade nearby Şht. Mehmet Sk.

Update: This restaurant is no longer open.

3. Bebek Balıkçısı Seafood Restaurant in Beşiktaş

You will find this seafood restaurant on the Bosphorus, in Bebek neighborhood. Further, you’ll enjoy tasty grilled fish & mezes as well as local rakı drink. Bebek Balıkçısı offers some of the best seafood amongst other Istanbul restaurants. The exact location of this place is at Bebek near Cevdet Paşa Cd.

4. Nicole Restaurant on Top Floor of Tomtom Suites Hotel

Nicole should really get Turkey’s first Michelin star. Moreover, they deliver food with French cooking style as well as premium local ingredients. Also, you can grab a drink from their local wines. This place offers an amazing Istanbul view from the its sophisticated terrace floor. This place is located at Tomtom Kaptan Sk.

5. Karaköy Lokantası in Beyoğlu

Karaköy Lokantası is one of top restaurants in Istanbul for perfecting the traditional cuisine of the country. Also, it is famous for its vintage dark blue tiles and rotating artworks in the window. Moreover, during the day you’ll find traditional Turkish dishes, while in the afternoon the menu transforms to seafood and a lot of rakı. Tourists can visit here at Kemankeş Karamustafa Paşa.

6. Borsa Restaurant in Üsküdar Neighborhood

A true Istanbul icon, Borsa Restaurant is one of more classy places amongst other restaurants in Istanbul. In fact, here you can try everything from roasted lamb shank to stuffed vine leaves. You can find this place at Sakıp Sabanc Kandilli Education and Culture Center.

7. Hünkar in Nişantası Neighborhood

Hünkar serves sophisticated poor man’s dishes in the up scale Nişantası neighborhood. Also, you can get your freshly made dishes from its cafeteria-style display. This is one of more affordable Istanbul restaurants in the neighborhood of Nişantası. Opened in 1950, what make this eatery an interesting place is that when you enter this restaurant, there is an open buffet of food in front of you where you can try all kinds of home made style food.

Make sure to give them a try and choose according to your taste among them. One of the popular dishes of this restaurant is “lamb shank”, which is prepared using lamb meat slowly with eggplant and other dishes. The other popular dish of this restaurant is ” Kadinbudu Kofte”, in which meatballs are fried with eggs and flour and eaten with rice, which is also very delicious.

Also, if you want more information on what to eat while visiting here, check out 7 authentic Turkish food to eat in Istanbul. These simple yet delicious food give you energy to roam the city. Also, you will know what they are made of and if you can actually eat them.