Eat in Karaköy (karakoy), Istanbul

Karaköy Lokantası ★ 4.5

The teal-tiled Karaköy Lokantası, Bib Gourmand listed in the Michelin Guide, runs an Ottoman-leaning lunch lokanta downstairs and a meyhane upstairs at night.

Signature: Lakerda, Hünkar beğendi, Lamb shank

Tarihi Karaköy Balıkçısı ★ 4.3

Hidden in the hardware-market arcades of Perşembe Pazarı, Tarihi Karaköy Balıkçısı has grilled fish on skewers since 1923 to about a dozen seats inside the old Griffin Han.

Signature: Grilled fish skewer, Bonito tava, Sea bass

Neolokal 1 ★ ★ 4.8

Chef Maksut Aşkar's Michelin-starred kitchen inside SALT Galata, reviving forgotten Anatolian ingredients on a tasting menu that won the 2026 Michelin Sommelier Award.

Karaköy Güllüoğlu ★ 4.7

Karaköy Güllüoğlu has rolled phyllo baklava since 1949 at one Rıhtım Caddesi counter near Galataport, Nadir Güllü's pistachio version the canonical Istanbul reference.

Signature: Fıstıklı baklava, Şöbiyet, Kadayıf

Karabatak Karaköy ★ 4.4

Karabatak in Karaköy, a high-ceilinged ex-metal-workshop cafe pouring Austrian Julius Meinl espresso and salep across two floors below Galata.

Signature drink: Julius Meinl espresso

Karaköy Güllüoğlu ★ 4.8

Karaköy Güllüoğlu, the one-counter Rıhtım Caddesi baklava emporium across from Galataport, the Güllü family's pistachio version since 1949 and Istanbul's reference baklava.

Worth the queue: Pistachio baklava

Karabatak Roastery ★ 4.3

Karabatak in Karaköy, a converted metal-workshop cafe-roastery pouring imported Julius Meinl beans alongside its own house roasts in the old port quarter below Galata.

Sources from: Brazil, Ethiopia, Colombia

How they serve: Espresso, Filter, Whole bean retail

Karaköy Güllüoğlu Counter ★ 4.6

Karaköy Güllüoğlu's takeout counter on Rıhtım, where the Güllü family has cut pistachio baklava by the half kilo since 1949 for a queue that moves fast.

Try: Pistachio baklava

Karaköy Balık Pazarı ★ 4.3

Karaköy Balık Pazarı in the Perşembe Pazarı arcades, a 30-stall daily fish market where Bosphorus boats land at dawn and the better Karaköy lokantas shop the same morning.

Tarihi Karaköy Balıkçısı ★ 4.3

Tarihi Karaköy Balıkçısı in Perşembe Pazarı, the 1923 fish counter inside an old hardware market, grilling sole and bonito on skewers for twelve seats.

Why locals love it: Hidden inside the Perşembe Pazarı hardware-market arcades, with only about a dozen seats inside the original Griffin Han.

Tip: Aim for 12:30 to grab a table; the kitchen closes when the morning catch sells out.

Mükellef Karaköy ★ 4.4

Mükellef in Karaköy under chef Arda Türkmen, a Turkish-cuisine kitchen with a Bosphorus terrace doing a modern weekend brunch with menemen and Karaköy kahvaltı.

Order: Menemen and the Karaköy kahvaltı tabağı

Karaköy Güllüoğlu ★ 4.6

Karaköy Güllüoğlu, the 1949 baklava counter on Rıhtım still cutting pistachio baklava with a scoop of clotted cream until midnight for after-dinner Karaköy walkers.

Try: Pistachio baklava with kaymak