KEY2 Pick
Anatolian • $$
Ciya Sofrasi
A Kadikoy institution reviving regional Anatolian dishes rarely found elsewhere in the city.
Best for: Local Favourite
Best restaurants in Istanbul
Counters, dining rooms and neighbourhood favourites, chosen for the way they actually eat — not for how loudly they market.
KEY2 Pick
KEY2 Pick
Southeastern Turkish • $$
Antiochia Concept Restaurant
A Karaköy address specialising in Antakya (Hatay) cuisine, known for its künefe and hummus with pastırma.
Best for: Group Dinner
Seafood • $$$
Balikci Sabahattin
A Sultanahmet backstreet fish restaurant in a restored wooden house, running for decades.
Best for: Date Night
Anatolian • $$
Datlı Maya
A small Karaköy dining room specialising in sourdough flatbreads and southeastern Anatolian village recipes.
Best for: Foodies
Latin-Mediterranean • $$$
Fuego Restaurant
A long-running Etiler restaurant blending Latin American and Mediterranean flavours, popular for weekend brunch.
Best for: Brunch
Turkish • $$$
Karakoy Lokantasi
A tiled, brasserie-style lokanta on the Karakoy waterfront serving meze and grilled fish.
Best for: Casual Dinner
Turkish • $$$
Lokanta Maya
Chef Didem Şenol's Karaköy dining room credited with kick-starting Istanbul's modern-Turkish restaurant scene.
Best for: Casual Dinner
Steakhouse • $$$$
Nusr-Et Steakhouse
The Etiler flagship of the Salt Bae steakhouse chain, theatrical tableside carving included.
Best for: Special Occasion
Mediterranean • $$$$
Sunset Grill & Bar
A hillside Ulus dining room with a sweeping Bosphorus view, popular for sunset dinners.
Best for: Date Night
Modern Turkish • $$$
Yeni Lokanta
Chef Civan Er's Asmalımescit restaurant, reinterpreting Anatolian home cooking with market-driven plates.
Best for: Casual Dinner
Turkish Grill • $$
Zübeyir Ocakbaşı
A Beyoğlu charcoal grillhouse packed nightly for lamb chops and kebabs cooked over an open ocakbaşı.
Best for: Group Dinner
Questions, answered
What are the best restaurants in Istanbul?+
The KEY2 editors' top picks for restaurants in Istanbul are Ciya Sofrasi, Mikla, Neolokal. Every listing in this guide is individually vetted, with hours, prices and booking links.
Where can I find good-value restaurants in Istanbul?+
For $$-level restaurants in Istanbul, consider Ciya Sofrasi, Antiochia Concept Restaurant, Datlı Maya, Develi.
What are the best restaurants in Istanbul for a special occasion?+
For a splurge, the KEY2 guide recommends Mikla, Neolokal, Asitane, Balikci Sabahattin. Reserve ahead — the booking link is on each listing.
Do I need to book restaurants in Istanbul in advance?+
The most popular restaurants in Istanbul fill up days or weeks ahead. Every KEY2 listing includes a direct reservation or booking link where one is available.
More Istanbul guides