Tarihi Sultanahmet Köftecisi Selim Usta ★ 4.2
Tarihi Sultanahmet Köftecisi Selim Usta on Divanyolu, the 1920 original now run by the fourth generation, still grilling its flat charcoal köfte beside piyaz.
SignatureKöfte, Piyaz, Lentil soup
Bistros, trattorias, taverns and neighbourhood rooms: the mid-tier places where Istanbul actually eats.
Where to eat well, no fuss
Tarihi Hocapaşa Pidecisi ★ 4.3
Tarihi Hocapaşa Pidecisi off the Sirkeci side-streets, pulling kıymalı and kuşbaşılı pide from a wood oven since the 1960s for the lunchtime suit crowd.
SignatureKıymalı pide, Kuşbaşılı pide, Lahmacun
Borsam Taşfırın ★ 4.2
Borsam Taşfırın in Kadıköy, a stone-oven lahmacun and pide salon running since 1968 with a counter line that turns over every five minutes at lunch.
SignatureLahmacun, Kıymalı pide, Yumurta pide
Bahar Restaurant ★ 4.1
Bahar Restaurant tucked inside a Grand Bazaar han off the Nuruosmaniye gate, an esnaf lokanta serving stews and pilav to the bazaar's working merchants.
SignatureDaily kuru fasulye, Hünkar beğendi, Stewed lamb
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.
SignatureIzgara köfte, Piyaz, Ayran
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.
SignatureFıstıklı baklava, Şöbiyet, Kadayıf
Hafız Mustafa 1864 ★ 4.2
Hafız Mustafa 1864 on Hamidiye Caddesi, the original Sultan Abdülaziz-era candy shop at the Eminönü viaduct, now a multi-floor stop for baklava.
SignaturePistachio baklava, Turkish delight, Sütlaç
Pandeli Lokantası ★ 3.9
Pandeli above the Spice Bazaar gates, the 1901 blue-tiled Bib Gourmand lunch room still cooking Ottoman dolma and courgette-flower fritters into the Eminönü.
SignatureDolma, Stuffed courgette flowers, Hünkar beğendi
Book food experiences in Istanbul
Guided tour · 3 hours
Istanbul: Kadikoy Food Tour with 12+ Delicacies Tastings
Savor authentic Turkish dishes in vibrant Kadıköy. From lahmacun to menemen, coffee, and wine, discover the flavors, history, and traditions that make Istanbul a true ...
from$108 Check dates
Guided tour · 6 hours
Istanbul: Guided Old City Tour, Bosphorus Cruise, and Lunch
Explore Istanbul's Old City, enjoy a traditional Turkish lunch, and cruise along the Bosphorus Strait on this guided tour.
from$171 Check dates
Water activity · 5 hours
Istanbul: Bosphorus Strait and Black Sea Lunch Cruise
Escape the hustle and bustle of Istanbul with a half-day lunch cruise. Set sail on the Bosphorus Strait and the Black Sea, soak in views of the city landmarks, and sav...
from$171 Check dates