16 best restaurants in Istanbul

Istanbul is a city for food lovers. From hole-in-the-wall lokantas dishing up hearty bean stews by the bowlful to sharply executed tasting menus that riff on Anatolian terroir, this is a place where food is very much a staple of daily life. Yet with thousands of dining options sprawled across the Turkish capital’s two halves, choosing the best restaurants in Istanbul can be bewildering.

You could follow your nose through the bazaars and backstreets and stumble on something wonderful. But when faced with such variety, it’s well worth having a handful of stalwarts in your address book to fall back on for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Here are our top picks of the best restaurants in Istanbul — whether you’re after a plate of hamsi pilavi in one of the city’s heavyweights, a long lunch on a leafy terrace, or a modern Turkish tasting menu with a sparkling view over the Bosphorus.

View of upscale neighbourhood “Bebek” by Bosphorus in Istanbultheendup

Divan Brasserie Bebek

Divan is one of Turkey’s best-known hotel groups with a reputation for good food and this brasserie, right on one of the most scenic stretches of the Bosphorus, exudes the leisurely atmosphere that waterside Bebek, a wealthy neighbourhood of luxury yachts and esplanade joggers, is known for. As you descend the polished wooden steps and step onto the chic black and white herringbone tiles, the smell of manti bubbling in tomato sauce and burnt butter and yoghurt kebab wafts by. The menu is huge and has classic Turkish dishes, from kebabs to sütlaç (rice pudding) as well as Italian offerings, from pizza and lasagne to risotto and tiramisu (the latter is highly recommended). The on-site shop sells beautifully wrapped boxes of lokum (Turkish delight) and other treats but it’s worth crossing the road and paying a visit to Mesur Bebek Badem Ezmesi which is famous for selling the best marzipan in the city, as it has done since 1904.

Address: Bebek, Cevdet Paşa Caddesi No. 28/A
Website: divan.com.tr

Aheste

Since opening, Aheste has grown hugely in popularity. Once you could walk in and get a table, but now you almost certainly have to book. This is firstly testament to their chefs but also because it sits on a busy road lined with bars and cafes, and in shouting distance of two of the city’s most popular hotels, Soho House and the Pera Palace. The menu is inventive but inviting and with a good spread of meat, fish and vegetarian options. Depending on the season, expect dishes such as grilled octopus, fish cakes, stuffed vine leaves, and lamb with figs. There are usually vegan options (beetroot with fennel and basil, miso-glazed pumpkin), too, and the wine list showcases many of Turkey’s best vineyards. While it’s fun to sit where the front of house is with all of its buzz, the tavern-style area at the back is quieter and more intimate.

Address: Meşrutiyet Caddesi No. 107-F, Beyoğlu
Website: ahesterestaurant.com