Eat in Beyoğlu, Istanbul

Antiochia ★ 4.5

Antiochia in Asmalımescit cooks the kebabs and mezze of Antakya, Turkey's Levant border city, on a tight Beyoğlu side-street menu of southeastern grills.

Signature: Ciğer kebap, Künefe, Hatay-style hummus

Hayvore ★ 4.4

Hayvore tucked off Istiklal, cooking the corn-bread, anchovies and smoky bean stews of the Black Sea since 2009 in a noisy steam-table lokanta close.

Signature: Hamsi pilav, Muhlama, Karadeniz pidesi

Yakup 2 ★ 4.4

Yakup 2 on Asmalı Mescit Sokak, the Yakup Arslan meyhane founded in 1977 after seventeen years at Refik next door, multi-time winner of best-meyhane awards.

Signature: Topik, Arnavut ciğeri, Kuzu pirzola

Boncuk ★ 4.3

Boncuk on Nevizade Sokak in Beyoğlu's Balık Pazarı, the Armenian-leaning meyhane built around topik with chickpeas and tahini, kısır bulgur cakes.

Signature: Topik, Kısır, Snapper kebabı

Asmalı Cavit ★ 4.3

Asmalı Cavit on Asmalı Mescit Caddesi, a 1990s-opened Beyoğlu meyhane where proprietor Cavit Bey works the room nightly over a mezze list led by smoked.

Signature: Smoked eggplant mezze, Albanian liver, Köfte in tomato sauce

Mikla 1 ★ ★ 4.7

Mehmet Gürs's rooftop room at the Marmara Pera, holding a Michelin star and a Gault Millau ranking on its New Anatolian Kitchen across a Golden Horn skyline.

Yeni Lokanta ★ 4.6

Civan Er's first Istanbul kitchen, off Istiklal in Beyoğlu since 2013, doing wood-oven Anatolian plates and a long-running 50 Best Discovery listing.

Aheste ★ 4.4

Aheste in Beyoğlu, a 40-seat Michelin-listed mezze room running modern Turkish and Levantine small plates from a kitchen on Meşrutiyet Caddesi nightly.

Nicole 1 ★ ★ 4.6

Executive chef Serkan Aksoy's one-Michelin-star tasting room atop Tomtom Suites in Çukurcuma, holding the 2025 Michelin Service Award beside a tight.

Köfteci Hüseyin ★ 4.2

Köfteci Hüseyin on Kurabiye Sokak off Taksim, the Hüseyin Taşsöken counter that started on a 1958 push-cart, salt-bread-onion patties grilled.

Signature: Izgara köfte, Piyaz, Ayran

Mandabatmaz ★ 4.7

Mandabatmaz in Beyoğlu's Olivya Passage, a 1967 single-room Turkish coffee bar whose foamy cup is the standard against which the rest of Istanbul is measured.

Signature drink: Turkish coffee

Privato Cafe ★ 4.2

Privato Cafe on a Galata side-lane, a mismatched-crockery breakfast hall with Galata Tower views, doing one of the city's better all-day Turkish breakfast.

Signature drink: Filter coffee

Saray Muhallebicisi ★ 4.2

Saray Muhallebicisi on Istiklal, the 1935 muhallebici pulling chicken-breast pudding, kazandibi and milk-pudding bowls into the small hours.

Worth the queue: Tavuk göğsü chicken-breast pudding

Mandabatmaz ★ 4.6

Mandabatmaz, the 1967 family-run Beyoğlu coffee bar in Olivya Geçidi, whose copper-cezve Turkish coffee is brewed so thick the cup is said to hold a water.

Sources from: Turkey, Brazil

How they serve: Copper cezve Turkish coffee

Solera Winery ★ 4.3

Solera Winery on Yeni Çarşı, a tight Beyoğlu wine shop-bar 300 feet off Istiklal where general manager Suleyman Er pours by-the-glass discounts to a regular.

Signature pour: Kavaklıdere Yakut by the glass

Wine focus: Local and imported wines, by the glass

Food: Cheese and Turkish mezze

Pano Şarap Evi ★ 4.2

Pano Şarap Evi on Hamalbaşı, the 1898 Greek-founded Beyoğlu wine bar still pouring Bozcaada bottles in a high-ceilinged room with marble counters.

Signature pour: Bozcaada Çavuş

Wine focus: Historic Turkish wines, Bozcaada and Aegean

Food: Cheese, charcuterie and Greek mezze

Nicole ★ 4.6

Nicole atop Tomtom Suites in Çukurcuma, executive chef Serkan Aksoy's Michelin-starred tasting-menu room with a tight Turkish-growers wine list above Beyoğlu.

Signature pour: Bornova Misketi by the glass

Wine focus: Natural Turkish growers, by-the-glass focused

Food: Modern Anatolian tasting menu

Mikla Bar ★ 4.5

Mikla Bar atop the Marmara Pera, Mehmet Gürs's rooftop terrace pouring a 450-label wine list and Anatolian-spirit cocktails over the Golden Horn from 18:00.

Signature drink: Anatolian-spirit cocktails, Turkish wine flights

Food: Bar snacks from the Mikla kitchen

Tarihi Cumhuriyet Meyhanesi ★ 4.2

Tarihi Cumhuriyet Meyhanesi in Beyoğlu's Balık Pazarı, a 130-year-old meyhane spread across three floors with fasıl music upstairs and the rakı table running.

Signature drink: Rakı with mezze

Food: Full meyhane mezze and grill menu

360 Istanbul ★ 4.0

360 Istanbul atop Mısır Apartmanı, an eighth-floor wraparound-window space that flips from a mezze dinner to a club on weekends with city-wide views.

Signature drink: Cosmopolitan with Turkish berries

Food: Modern Turkish-international fusion plates

Kızılkayalar ★ 4.0

Kızılkayalar at Taksim Square, the 1978 originator of the ıslak burger, a beef patty soaked in garlicky tomato sauce and steamed inside a soft white bun.

Try: Islak hamburger (wet burger)

Şampiyon Kokoreç ★ 4.3

Şampiyon Kokoreç on Sahne Sokak, the 1962 Beyoğlu kokoreççi shaving spiced grilled lamb intestine into sandwich bread for the late-night Balık Pazarı crowd.

Try: Kokoreç (grilled lamb intestine)

Bambi Cafe Taksim ★ 3.6

Bambi Cafe at Taksim, an almost-all-night counter doing döner wraps with melted cheese, kumpir baked potatoes and Turkish hamburgers to the post-Beyoğlu.

Try: Late-night döner wrap

Kızılkayalar ★ 3.9

Kızılkayalar at Taksim, the 1978 ıslak hamburger counter still selling under 80 lira for a steamed bun in garlicky tomato sauce, three for a meal.

Try: Islak hamburger (wet burger)

Hayvore ★ 4.3

Hayvore off Istiklal, a Black Sea steam-table cooking hamsi pilav, muhlama and bean stews where a full lunch with pide and ayran lands under 300 lira.

Try: Black Sea steam-table lunch

Hayvore ★ 4.4

Hayvore off Istiklal, the Black Sea steam-table cooking corn-bread anchovies and smoky bean stews for whoever knows the side street. Located in Beyoğlu.

Why locals love it: Locals fill it for the Black Sea menu, tourists walk past for the larger Istiklal places ten metres away.

Tip: Order the hamsi pilav and the muhlama; they only run while supplies last.

Antiochia ★ 4.4

Antiochia on a Beyoğlu side street, an Antakya (Hatay) kitchen plating southeastern grills and Levant mezze from a tight Asmalımescit address.

Why locals love it: Tucked on a tight General Yazgan side-street in Asmalımescit, often walked past on the way to bigger meyhanes.

Tip: Order the cevizli biber, the kunefe and the cag kebab together.

Mandabatmaz ★ 4.6

Mandabatmaz in Olivya Geçidi, a one-table Beyoğlu Turkish coffee bar running since 1967, the cup of foam so dense the buffalo doesn't sink. Family-friendly.

Why locals love it: Tucked inside the Olivya Passage off Istiklal, easy to miss for anyone not looking for the unmarked alley.

Tip: Order an orta-şekerli (medium-sweet) and stay for two; the kahveci will keep refilling water.

Pano Şarap Evi ★ 4.3

Pano Şarap Evi on Hamalbaşı, an 1898 Greek-Turkish wine house with a doorway-deep cellar and a Bozcaada bottle list nobody else pours. Located in Beyoğlu.

Why locals love it: Tiny 1898 wine cellar on a Hamalbaşı side-lane that the Istiklal crowd walks straight past.

Tip: Order the Bozcaada Çavuş with a cheese plate; the room only holds about thirty.

Privato Cafe ★ 4.3

Privato Cafe in Galata, a brick-walled brunch hall with all-day Turkish kahvaltı, mini gözleme and a side terrace that runs out the side of the Galata Tower.

Order: Spinach gözleme and the full serpme breakfast spread

Kızılkayalar ★ 4.1

Kızılkayalar at Taksim Square open until 03:00, the 1978 wet-burger counter that finishes a Beyoğlu rakı table with a steamed bun and garlic tomato sauce.

Try: Islak hamburger (wet burger)

Bambi Cafe Taksim ★ 3.7

Bambi Cafe at the top of Sıraselviler, a 22-hour counter window doing döner wraps with melted cheese and kumpir baked potatoes until 05:00 most nights.

Try: Cheese-melted döner wrap

Şampiyon Kokoreç ★ 4.2

Şampiyon Kokoreç on Sahne Sokak, the 1962 Beyoğlu kokoreççi keeping its charcoal grill burning past midnight for the Balık Pazarı late-rakı crowd.

Try: Kokoreç sandwich

Tarihi Cumhuriyet Meyhanesi ★ 4.2

Tarihi Cumhuriyet Meyhanesi spread across three floors of Sahne Sokak, the rakı table running with fasıl singers and mezze rounds until 02:00.

Try: Rakı table with fasıl music

Saray Muhallebicisi ★ 4.0

Saray Muhallebicisi on Istiklal, the 1935 muhallebici keeping milk puddings, kazandibi and tavuk göğsü flowing for late Beyoğlu walkers until 02:00.

Try: Tavuk göğsü chicken-breast pudding

Klein Garten ★ 4.4

Klein Garten on Meşrutiyet Caddesi in Asmalımescit runs the sixth-floor sky-garden offshoot of the Klein electronic family, programming techno and house.

Tip: Restaurant service runs 18:00-20:00, then the room turns club until late. Summer season only; check the Klein Facebook for the next opening before going.

Salon İKSV ★ 4.6

Salon İKSV on Sadi Konuralp Caddesi in Şişhane is the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts performance venue, a 400-standing room hosting classical, jazz.

Tip: Şişhane Metro L2 is next door. Ticketed concerts only; book through the IKSV site. The room is small, sightlines from the seated rows are best.

Asmalı Cavit ★ 4.6

Asmalı Cavit on Asmalı Mescit Caddesi has run for over two decades as the Beyoğlu meyhane reference, with two floors of jammed tables, a meze tray of 15.

Tip: Book ahead Friday and Saturday; the meze tray arrives before you order. Raki and grilled anchovies are the canonical pair; music starts around 21:00.

Mikla ★ 4.7

Mikla on top of the Marmara Pera on Meşrutiyet Caddesi is the Mehmet Gürs rooftop restaurant and bar, holding a Michelin star since 2023 with cocktails.

Tip: Bar from 18:00-02:00; the restaurant downstairs is the tasting-menu seat. Dinner reservations essential; bar takes walk-ins. Closed November to March.

360 Istanbul ★ 4.4

360 Istanbul on top of the 19th-century Mısır Apartmanı on İstiklal Caddesi runs a glass-walled penthouse with panoramic city views, Turkish meze fused.

Tip: Lunch to late-night kitchen; the bar runs to 04:00 on weekends. Lift to the 8th floor through the apartment lobby. Book a window for the sunset rail.

Leb-i Derya ★ 4.3

Leb-i Derya on Kumbaracı Yokuşu off İstiklal Caddesi opened in 2002 as the original Beyoğlu rooftop concept, a sixth-floor apartment-building terrace looking.

Tip: Lift to the 6th floor; the sign at street level is small. The terrace is the photo seat; book for sunset. Kitchen serves Mediterranean small plates to 22:30.

Şahika ★ 4.3

Şahika on Nevizade Sokak in Beyoğlu runs five floors stacked from a ground-floor pub through casual lounges to a techno-leaning rooftop terrace.

Tip: Climb to the rooftop for fresh air and Beyoğlu views; the techno floor is just below. The room peaks after midnight Thursday through Saturday.

Kiki ★ 4.2

Kiki on Sıraselviler Caddesi in Beyoğlu is the Burcu Denizer gastro pub running since 2009, known for house-vodka cocktails like the mastic and pomegranate.

Tip: Walk in for the bar; the back room turns club after midnight. Taksim Metro is a 5-minute walk. The apple martini is a regular order.

Tekyön Club ★ 4.5

Tekyön Club on Sıraselviler Caddesi in Cihangir has run for over 15 years as Istanbul's reference gay dance club, with drag shows on quieter weekdays.

Tip: Open six nights, closed Monday. Doors after 23:00; Saturday is the peak set. Cash bar and card both accepted. Taksim Metro is three blocks.

Bigudi Club ★ 4.4

Bigudi Club on Bekar Sokak in Şehit Muhtar opened in December 2006 as Turkey's first exclusively lesbian venue, relocating in November 2024 to a fourth-floor.

Tip: Fourth floor and rooftop; ring for the lift. The room is small, doors from 22:00. Taksim Metro is a 5-minute walk. Owner asks the door for queer-only entry.

Stay Club ★ 4.2

Stay Club on Sıraselviler Caddesi in Cihangir opened in 2020 as a two-storey gay club below the Riddim Club building, relocating to this Taksim-walkable.

Tip: Friday and Saturday only, doors 23:00-05:00. Three minutes from Taksim Square; Taksim Metro L2 is the closest stop. Cash bar moves faster than card.

Arsen Lüpen Taksim ★ 4.1

Arsen Lüpen on Mis Sokak off İstiklal Caddesi runs a rooftop late-night bar with live music, karaoke nights and an open-mic strand, a Beyoğlu fixture.

Tip: Open until 05:00 most nights; happy hour 14:00-19:00. Mis Sokak is a left turn off İstiklal from Taksim. Cash bar runs faster than card.

The James Joyce Irish Pub ★ 4.1

The James Joyce on Balo Sokak off İstiklal Caddesi is Istanbul's original Irish pub, with Guinness on tap, live music every night of the week.

Tip: Live music every night; Friday and Saturday run to 04:00. Cash bar moves faster on big-match nights. Şişhane Metro is two blocks.

Munzur Cafe Bar ★ 4.3

Munzur Cafe Bar on Hasnun Galip Sokak off İstiklal Caddesi opened in 1992 as one of Turkey's first türkü bars, with nightly live Turkish folk by saz players.

Tip: Live music starts most nights around 21:00; the room sings along by midnight. Cash bar is fastest. Nearby Galip Dede ramp leads down to Galata.