Istanbul Food Guide

Food is an important part of experiencing Istanbul, and you do not have to look for expensive restaurants to eat well.

A traditional Turkish breakfast is a good place to start. Expect a table filled with different cheeses, olives, tomatoes, cucumber, eggs, bread, jams and other small dishes. It is usually a relaxed meal rather than something you finish in ten minutes.

For lunch or dinner, try some of Türkiye's best-known dishes, including kebabs, köfte, pide, lahmacun and meze. Seafood is also worth trying, particularly around the Bosphorus and neighbourhoods close to the water.

Street food is another part of Istanbul's food culture. Simit, grilled corn, roasted chestnuts, döner and the famous fish sandwiches around Eminönü are easy to find and make a good option when you want something quick.

Do not leave Istanbul without trying some Turkish sweets. Baklava, lokum and künefe are among the favourites, while Turkish tea and coffee are part of everyday life rather than simply something for tourists.

If you want to experience Istanbul beyond the standard tourist restaurants, explore local markets and neighbourhoods such as Kadıköy, Karaköy, Beşiktaş and Üsküdar. You will find everything from small family-run restaurants to modern cafés and traditional bakeries.

One of the best ways to understand Istanbul's food culture is simply to eat where local people eat. Sometimes a small restaurant on an ordinary side street can become one of the most memorable meals of the trip.