Eat&Drink Like a Local
Local&Traditional Food - For longer dinners
Places where you would enjoy a lovely dinner at, featuring some of the best local food cooked in the area. As always, my recommendations involve places that are more local and harder to come by yourself; all of which I enjoy going to myself.
This is my personal favorite restaurant to eat some great kebap at. Us Turks, we tend to eat lots of "mezes" in such restaurant (a local variant of appetizers) while drinking "rakı" (the Turkish equivalent of the Greek ouzo) before progressing to the main course. They cook all sorts of meat amazingly so feel free to go by your heart's choice, it's guaranteed to have a lovely taste.
48 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Zübeyir Ocakbaşı/Taksim
This is my personal favorite restaurant to eat some great kebap at. Us Turks, we tend to eat lots of "mezes" in such restaurant (a local variant of appetizers) while drinking "rakı" (the Turkish equivalent of the Greek ouzo) before progressing to the main course. They cook all sorts of meat amazingly so feel free to go by your heart's choice, it's guaranteed to have a lovely taste.
A rather local and traditional restaurant, Yakup 2 is one of the few remaining "meyhane"s (places where you tend to eat lots of appetizers while drinking rakı) that is tourist friendly while not being too touristy itself. This is where I go to myself when I want to spend a few hours dining and chatting with friends or family. I would recommend ordering a few "meze"s and a "raki" of your choice to get a taste of how an authentic Turkish dinner feels like!
12 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Yakup 2 Restaurant
No:21/B Asmalı Mescit Cd.A rather local and traditional restaurant, Yakup 2 is one of the few remaining "meyhane"s (places where you tend to eat lots of appetizers while drinking rakı) that is tourist friendly while not being too touristy itself. This is where I go to myself when I want to spend a few hours dining and chatting with friends or family. I would recommend ordering a few "meze"s and a "raki" of your choice to get a taste of how an authentic Turkish dinner feels like!
This is another "meyhane" much like Yakup 2, my other suggestion. This time around though it is somewhat less traditional and more fancier so to speak however they got an amazing chef who cooks and prepares quite probably the best "meze"s (appetizers). An amazing place to have a long dinner at while trying lots of different tastes. Definitely try out "somon pastırması" which is somewhat like bacon but is made with salmon!
8 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Beyoğlu Şehir Meyhanesi
No:3/A Kartal Sk.This is another "meyhane" much like Yakup 2, my other suggestion. This time around though it is somewhat less traditional and more fancier so to speak however they got an amazing chef who cooks and prepares quite probably the best "meze"s (appetizers). An amazing place to have a long dinner at while trying lots of different tastes. Definitely try out "somon pastırması" which is somewhat like bacon but is made with salmon!
Ottoman cuisine at its best! A somewhat old school restaurant that cooks top notch food from the Ottoman cuisine. I can not make any specific recommendations regarding what to eat in this place simply because literally everything they cook tastes great. Feel free to experiment and decide for yourself!
52 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Hacı Abdullah Lokantası
No:9/A Atıf Yılmaz Cd.Ottoman cuisine at its best! A somewhat old school restaurant that cooks top notch food from the Ottoman cuisine. I can not make any specific recommendations regarding what to eat in this place simply because literally everything they cook tastes great. Feel free to experiment and decide for yourself!
If you ever find yourself in the Kadikoy area (a bustling region on the Asian side) you should drop by this place to eat some amazing Ottoman/Old-school Turkish food. The kind of stuff that was cooked by our mothers&grandmothers back in the days!
19 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Yanyalı Fehmi Lokantası
1 Güneşli Bahçe SokIf you ever find yourself in the Kadikoy area (a bustling region on the Asian side) you should drop by this place to eat some amazing Ottoman/Old-school Turkish food. The kind of stuff that was cooked by our mothers&grandmothers back in the days!
Not necessarily a traditional restaurant at first glance, they actually cook some amazing local food. Their menu consists of food from different regions of Turkey and I enjoy every single item on the menu here. Their interior design is also cozy and relaxing, making it an ideal location to have spend your evening enjoying food with friends&family.
49 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Karaköy Gümrük
no: 4 Gümrük Sk.Not necessarily a traditional restaurant at first glance, they actually cook some amazing local food. Their menu consists of food from different regions of Turkey and I enjoy every single item on the menu here. Their interior design is also cozy and relaxing, making it an ideal location to have spend your evening enjoying food with friends&family.
Local&Traditional Food - Quicker bites!
Don't have the whole evening to spend? Want to eat some great food and carry on with the day? You've come to the right place. Now involving street food as well - new country means "adventure time" for your belly!
As always, my recommendations involve places that are more local and harder to come by yourself; all of which I enjoy going to myself.
Soups! I mean literally, I've never been to a place that features more soup types than this one. They cook almost 18 different soups, all of them being local. Turkey has a lot to offer when it comes to soup and this place has it all. What's more is that they're open 24/7! Ideal for a late night hunger strike.
8 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Karaköy Çorba Evi
No:35 Mumhane Cd.Soups! I mean literally, I've never been to a place that features more soup types than this one. They cook almost 18 different soups, all of them being local. Turkey has a lot to offer when it comes to soup and this place has it all. What's more is that they're open 24/7! Ideal for a late night hunger strike.
The name of the game here is "Kokorec", an all-time favorite street food of mine. Do not let this description scare you off: it's made from sheep intestines. Yep! If you're still reading, I suggest you go for the "Izmir style" version of it which has no tomato and more peppers in it. Just try it out!
IZMIR ISI
No:49 Mumhane Cd.The name of the game here is "Kokorec", an all-time favorite street food of mine. Do not let this description scare you off: it's made from sheep intestines. Yep! If you're still reading, I suggest you go for the "Izmir style" version of it which has no tomato and more peppers in it. Just try it out!
Simply the best "dürüm" you can eat. Not much explanation needed! They also serve some neat appetizers. The thing with Turkish cuisine is that different regions tend to cook the same food in quite different ways. These guys are from the Antioch region themselves and so cook their food accordingly. If you end up visiting here, be sure to try your "dürüm" with "begendi" in it (roasted aubergine).
21 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Asmalı Dürümcü
2 A Nergis Sk.Simply the best "dürüm" you can eat. Not much explanation needed! They also serve some neat appetizers. The thing with Turkish cuisine is that different regions tend to cook the same food in quite different ways. These guys are from the Antioch region themselves and so cook their food accordingly. If you end up visiting here, be sure to try your "dürüm" with "begendi" in it (roasted aubergine).
5 floors to climb. No elevator. Still reading? Good! An old-school restaurant with a lovely wooden interior design that cooks the best "içli köfte" (minced meat covered with fried semolina). Their "mantı"s are also pretty good (mantı is something like a Turkish version of ravioli with minced meat inside it) as well as great "cig borek" (a pastry with a thin and fluffy fried dough). If you don't fancy climbing all the way up, they sometimes sell "icli köfte" and "çiğ börek"s downstairs on the street by their entrance.
Sabırtaşı Restoran
No: 112 İstiklal Cd.5 floors to climb. No elevator. Still reading? Good! An old-school restaurant with a lovely wooden interior design that cooks the best "içli köfte" (minced meat covered with fried semolina). Their "mantı"s are also pretty good (mantı is something like a Turkish version of ravioli with minced meat inside it) as well as great "cig borek" (a pastry with a thin and fluffy fried dough). If you don't fancy climbing all the way up, they sometimes sell "icli köfte" and "çiğ börek"s downstairs on the street by their entrance.
Around this corner is a small place called "Kufette". I eat here on an almost daily basis, the stuff they cook is what we would be cooking for ourselves at home. They cook various appetizers and main dishes, all done daily. Their "mantı" is hand made and quite tasty as well!
General Yazgan Sk. No:12
12 General Yazgan SokakAround this corner is a small place called "Kufette". I eat here on an almost daily basis, the stuff they cook is what we would be cooking for ourselves at home. They cook various appetizers and main dishes, all done daily. Their "mantı" is hand made and quite tasty as well!
This is a cozy little cafe that probably does not fit all too much in this list, however; they make some amazing "un helvası"! It a dessert made from roasted flour. I'm not much of a dessert guy myself however even I enjoy this one. Just try it out and I'll wager you ten times its cost you'll love it! It's also a lovely place to enjoy a cup of coffee and relax at.
14 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Velvet Cafe, Galata
Büyük Hendek CaddesiThis is a cozy little cafe that probably does not fit all too much in this list, however; they make some amazing "un helvası"! It a dessert made from roasted flour. I'm not much of a dessert guy myself however even I enjoy this one. Just try it out and I'll wager you ten times its cost you'll love it! It's also a lovely place to enjoy a cup of coffee and relax at.
Local&Traditional Food - Breakfast!
Nothing better than to kick-start your day with some amazing Turkish breakfast! Everything involving the combinations of "belly" and "starting the day". As always, my recommendations involve places that are more local and harder to come by yourself; all of which I enjoy going to myself.
The best "kaymak" (a creamy dairy product made from skimmed milk that is eaten together with honey during breakfasts) in town! Not to be consumed with the more famous chain called "Özsüt", this is a small dairy shop where everything is made from buffalo milk including all sorts of great cheese. They've also got olives, honey, eggs etc. all locally produced and top quality; making this my first choice to have breakfasts at. Definitely try out "bal kaymak" (bal means honey) and eggs with braised buffalo meat!
karakoy muhallebicisi
The best "kaymak" (a creamy dairy product made from skimmed milk that is eaten together with honey during breakfasts) in town! Not to be consumed with the more famous chain called "Özsüt", this is a small dairy shop where everything is made from buffalo milk including all sorts of great cheese. They've also got olives, honey, eggs etc. all locally produced and top quality; making this my first choice to have breakfasts at. Definitely try out "bal kaymak" (bal means honey) and eggs with braised buffalo meat!
Oh my...This is what I call a "full on" breakfast. This is what a true Turkish breakfast looks like. The owners are from a town called "Safranbolu" located in the Black Sea region and so most of what they serve come from that area. As traditional as a breakfast gets. Be sure to try "gözleme" here, a thin layered pastry type that is filled with many different combinations - choose to your heart's desire!
8 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Yiğit Sofram Gözleme ve Kahvaltı
31 A Yeni Yuva Sk.Oh my...This is what I call a "full on" breakfast. This is what a true Turkish breakfast looks like. The owners are from a town called "Safranbolu" located in the Black Sea region and so most of what they serve come from that area. As traditional as a breakfast gets. Be sure to try "gözleme" here, a thin layered pastry type that is filled with many different combinations - choose to your heart's desire!
Full on breakfast, Turkish way! Another great little breakfast place where you can get a feel of how important having a good breakfast is in Turkey. Be sure to try their amazingly filled "gozleme"s!
7 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Bi Kahvalti
No:21-23/B Çelebi Oğlu Sk.Full on breakfast, Turkish way! Another great little breakfast place where you can get a feel of how important having a good breakfast is in Turkey. Be sure to try their amazingly filled "gozleme"s!
A little bakery run by an experienced and passionate baker who bakes everything herself every day. Always fresh, always tasty. From sourdough bread to croissants and brownies. What I love doing is to buy something from here prior to boarding the ferry to Kadikoy, then getting myself some tea on the ferry and enjoying my pastry alongside the lovely Bosphorus view as the ferry slowly floats.
Yaya Fırın
No:23/B Dibek Sk.A little bakery run by an experienced and passionate baker who bakes everything herself every day. Always fresh, always tasty. From sourdough bread to croissants and brownies. What I love doing is to buy something from here prior to boarding the ferry to Kadikoy, then getting myself some tea on the ferry and enjoying my pastry alongside the lovely Bosphorus view as the ferry slowly floats.
A cool little bakery/cafe to have breakfast at with some good "borek", or to simply try some muffins and cakes.
6 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Şirin Fırın | Bakery
No:16/A Büyük Hendek Cd.A cool little bakery/cafe to have breakfast at with some good "borek", or to simply try some muffins and cakes.
Pubs, Wineries and more
I never can decide which I would not be able to live without: Beer or wine? Either way, I've got you covered.
As always, my recommendations involve places that are more local and harder to come by yourself; all of which I enjoy going to myself.
Tap Guiness! These two magical words are enough to convince me for the most part. This is a cozy pub featuring lots of different beer brands from all over the world as well as some pretty okay cocktails. They've got two different locations on the same street, I'd recommend the one that is closer to the Istiklal St. as it has a terrace that is especially enjoyable during summer times.
42 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Varuna Gezgin Cafe - İstanbul
No:79 Kumbaracı Ykş.Tap Guiness! These two magical words are enough to convince me for the most part. This is a cozy pub featuring lots of different beer brands from all over the world as well as some pretty okay cocktails. They've got two different locations on the same street, I'd recommend the one that is closer to the Istiklal St. as it has a terrace that is especially enjoyable during summer times.
If you are into wine, you have to visit this Winery. They produce their own wines using grapes from the Manisa region of Turkey. The soil on which they farm their grapes is volcanic, resulting in their wines to have an earthy and deep taste. Shiraz is especially a great choice for such a characteristic in my opinion.
80 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Sensus Wine Boutique Galata
No:5 Büyük Hendek Cd.If you are into wine, you have to visit this Winery. They produce their own wines using grapes from the Manisa region of Turkey. The soil on which they farm their grapes is volcanic, resulting in their wines to have an earthy and deep taste. Shiraz is especially a great choice for such a characteristic in my opinion.
This is our local neighbourhood bar for when we don't want to walk too far away to drink. I find myself either starting or ending my rather long nights here most of the time. The food they serve is quite decent as well and their kitchen stays open till 2am which is much later than many other places so it's also an option for when you're struck by a late night hunger. A great place to mingle with people living in the Galata area. We're a colorful bunch!
15 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Ritim Galata
No:3 Galata Kulesi Sk.This is our local neighbourhood bar for when we don't want to walk too far away to drink. I find myself either starting or ending my rather long nights here most of the time. The food they serve is quite decent as well and their kitchen stays open till 2am which is much later than many other places so it's also an option for when you're struck by a late night hunger. A great place to mingle with people living in the Galata area. We're a colorful bunch!
They serve draught Kilkenny, need I say more? With lots of beer choices and a cool interior, this is your typical pub to knock down a few beers at. They're also open till very late in the night, mostly even after a lot of other pubs&bars have closed.
19 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Corner Irish Pub
Meşrutiyet Cd. No:11/A GalatasarayThey serve draught Kilkenny, need I say more? With lots of beer choices and a cool interior, this is your typical pub to knock down a few beers at. They're also open till very late in the night, mostly even after a lot of other pubs&bars have closed.
A good bar that stays open till later than most other bars in the Galata area. They also host different events on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, usually inviting DJs as well, making it an ideal place to spend an energetic night at.
7 (рекомендации местных жителей)
NaN Şişhane
No:102a Meşrutiyet Cd.A good bar that stays open till later than most other bars in the Galata area. They also host different events on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, usually inviting DJs as well, making it an ideal place to spend an energetic night at.
A rather small place that should be checked out if you're into jazz music. They've got a live performance almost every night, sometimes featuring unknown local talents and sometimes world class quartets. Look up their schedule on their website and see for yourself!
135 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Nardis Jazz Club
8 Galata Kulesi Sk.A rather small place that should be checked out if you're into jazz music. They've got a live performance almost every night, sometimes featuring unknown local talents and sometimes world class quartets. Look up their schedule on their website and see for yourself!
A somewhat hidden-from-the-street cafe that I quite like. It is essentially a laid back garden with tables tossed around. Lovely to have a cup of coffee or tea, or to knock down a few beers at when you're in the Kadikoy region.
Piraye Kafe
No:7 Ali Suavi Sk.A somewhat hidden-from-the-street cafe that I quite like. It is essentially a laid back garden with tables tossed around. Lovely to have a cup of coffee or tea, or to knock down a few beers at when you're in the Kadikoy region.