Istanbul Travel Guide

Best Restaurants in Istanbul

Istanbul not only bridges the cultural and geographical gap between Europe and Asia, but also blends its culinary offerings. Eating out in Istanbul restaurants gives diners a taste of the splendid fusion that can be created by combining the traditional cuisine of these two vast continents. Dining options abound in Istanbul and if in doubt, head for the Sultanahmet area which has the most restaurants. Traditional Turkish fare such as turbot with saffron and raspberry, or cinnamon flavoured chicken kebabs, can be enjoyed at restaurants in the Edirnekapi and Ortaköy areas, while the best seafood is in Kanlýca. Istanbul restaurants serving a fusion of Turkish, Mediterranean and Asian cuisine are found in Beyoglu and Sisli, while Taksim and Ortaköy are home to some excellent cafés. With so many restaurants in and around the city, diners will find somewhere to eat any time of any day. Menu prices are generally quite fair and essentially you get what you pay for! A tip of at least 10% is customary. At most Istanbul restaurants, reservations are either required or strongly recommended.