61 Best Restaurants in Turkey

Attached to a pansiyon of the same name near the entrance to town, this casual restaurant offers an assortment of grilled meats and home-cooked dishes as well as meze and gözleme (Turkish-style crepes). Meals are served in a pleasantly tree-shaded, plant-filled courtyard decorated with brightly colored hanging lamps, some made out of dried gourds. The entrance and wall are so colorful it is a popular spot for posing for photos by day-trippers.

From its position inside and atop one of Sinop's ancient guard towers, this café and bar benefits from one of the best views in town. Calm during the day with friendly chats over tea and coffee, the bar spirit comes out in the evening with cold beer and live Turkish folk music. Outside seating on the rooftop is definitely romantic, but strong sea breezes can chill the air significantly.

A few minutes' walk from the Acropolis, this casual eatery with stone tables and colorful flowerpots is a welcome stop, especially on a hot day, on the way back from seeing the ruins. The ayran (a salty yogurt drink) is thirst quenching and a great restorative. Try the mantı (Turkish ravioli in garlicky yogurt sauce), the tavuk şiş (chicken kebab), or the gözleme, thin Turkish pastry filled with minced meat, mashed potato, or cheese and cooked on a flat griddle.

Köfte (Turkish-style meatballs) are the mainstay of this popular, no-frills eatery, and you can enjoy them as a sandwich or with a side of piyaz (navy bean salad, with or without onions), homemade bread, and ayran (salted yogurt drink). The only other dish on the menu is çöp şiş, small pieces of skewered grilled lamb. No alcohol is served, and they close early in the evening. 

In business since 1950, Kervan draws hummus lovers to eat its house specialty, served warm with a choice of toppings, including chickpeas and butter, köfte (meatballs), chicken, or cheese—all with spicy peppers and pickles on the side. The only thing on the menu other than hummus at this simple eatery is the equally delicious fındık lahmacun—miniature flatbreads topped with ground meat cooked in tomatoes and spices.

An oasis of well-brewed third wave coffee in the middle of traditional Sultanahmet, Khaldi is trendy without being ostentatious. There is a selection of pastries and both indoor and outdoor seating.

This homey lokanta is a good-value place to grab a quick bite after visiting the nearby castle. Choose from the daily array of traditional Turkish stewed or sautéed meat and vegetable dishes displayed at the counter, or order a grilled kebab or spit-roasted döner. It’s in the maze of streets below the citadel on the inland side, next to Eski İbrahim Ağa Cami.

Turkish grilled meatballs and home-style cuisine with or without meat, served at just a few tables in a no-frills setting, have been a hit for more than half a century. Their soups are a great way to start or end the day. Dishes are accompanied with homemade plain yogurt and rice. Alcohol is not served. 

Turks love their köfte (meatballs), and almost every city in the country makes a claim to fame based on its own way of preparing them, including İznik. Locals fill the large, canteen-type tables of this casual bilevel eatery with both indoor and deck seating at almost all times of the day to enjoy İzmir köfte, served with tomatoes, peppers, onions, and a mildly spicy red pepper sauce. Other grilled meats are also available, with yogurt and salads as optional sides. This is not a place for vegetarians.

A popular neighborhood spot to sip lattes, this hip café offers an extensive coffee menu and light pastries to refuel.

Ilıca is known for kumru—Turkish-style panini prepared with special sesame-seed rolls and stuffed with salami, sucuk (beef spicy sausage), cheese, tomatoes, and pickles—and this place serves the best in town. Pair your sandwich with a glass of ayran, a refreshing yogurt drink. There are multiple locations in Ilıca and branches of this popular local chain in Alaçatı and Çeşme as well. It's open 24 hours.

An Ölüdeniz institution, this casual restaurant set back from the seafront at the eastern edge of town serves up hearty fare at reasonable prices. In addition to its crisp, thin-crust pide with a wide variety of toppings—including vegetarian options such as spinach or mushrooms—Kumsal’s large menu encompasses kebabs, pizza, fish, and international dishes. The service is friendly, and there’s an open-air terrace upstairs, away from the heat of the pide oven.

This cafe serves delicious, sourdough gluten-free toasts, breakfasts, omelettes, focaccia, vegan breakfast, cold homemade limonata, and reyhanli (purple basil syrup) limonata. Its modern decor stands out amongst the traditional tea houses and döner shops in the small square under the ancient plane tree. Their good choice of coffee rounds off a start for the day, after a good breakfast or brunch.

A well-chosen selection of high-quality coffees, pleasant baristas, and cool jazz on the stereo make up for this little spot’s odd location in a small shopping mall. It's one of the rare places in town making a wide range of proper espresso drinks. Dal doesn’t stay open late (only till 8 pm), but it’s a mellow alternative to the often noisy tourist hang-outs lining Maraş Cad.

With long lines snaking out the door in the summertime, Ali Usta Dondurma is Kadıköy’s most popular ice cream spot, with flavors that draw on local tastes like chestnut, pistachio, and Turkish coffee.

Located just a short walk from the Bomontiada culture complex, Montag Bomonti pays attention to the details, with beans roasted in-house and impeccably pulled espresso.

After paying your respects to St. Nick, retire to this bakery-café, the local branch of a popular Turkish chain, to enjoy icy air-conditioning and a cold drink or tea accompanied by fresh baklava. Until early afternoon, Nur also serves su böreği, a salty pastry flavored with crumbly cheese.

The location, in the covered market by Ulu Cami, is charming, and köfte (meatballs) is the thing to order, served with grilled peppers and tomatoes. Among the salad options, piyaz (bean salad with vinegar) accompanies köfte best. The soups are delicious, and there are also grilled meat options. The restaurant has the same architectural features as the hans, with brick and stone walls and two domes in the ceilings painted in floral patterns. The place closes at 8 pm.

Tucked away on a quieter street in the rowdy cluster of Karaköy cafes, Parsa has an elegant study hall vibe, complete with batch brew coffee. The cafe offers a selection of cakes and tarts as well as a menu of non-caffeinated beverages to complement its extensive coffee menu.

Located in the heart of Kadıköy, this welcoming patisserie has windows full of colorful cakes and traditional sweets. It's the perfect place to have a cup of tea and a sweet or savory Turkish pastry.

Set in the heart of Balat, this relaxed, two-story café has a small balcony overlooking the lively streets and a long coffee menu, along with a selection of local teas.

Since 1945, the Rumeli bakery has been the place in Çeşme for treats like sakızlı dondurma (thick, chewy Turkish-style mastic ice cream) in flavors such as karadut (black mulberry) and tarçın (cinnamon), as well as jams, sweet mastic paste, and other traditional goodies, such as Kazandibi pudding. It's on the main shopping street, not far from Ayios Haralambos church.

Blissfully lacking the touts trying to lure tourists into the restaurants around Cengiz Topel Caddesi, this tiny, friendly pide shop is conveniently located near the Selçuk Museum. In addition to the crisp, tasty pide offerings, there is also a selection of güveç (casserole) dishes on the menu.

Like pizza for New Yorkers, humble köfte (grilled meatballs) inspire countless arguments among Istanbullus about who makes the best. Tarihi Sultanahmet Köftecisi wins with a simple menu—meatballs, lamb kebab, lentil soup, piyaz (boiled white beans in olive oil), rice, and salad—that has remained virtually unchanged since 1920. Service is somewhat perfunctory, and this bustling place is not somewhere to linger, but the location just steps from the Blue Mosque and Ayasofya makes it ideal for a quick lunch.

This popular bakery on Bodrum's main pedestrian shopping street is known for classic puddings, cheesecakes, pastries, luxurious fruit-and-cream parfaits, and more sweets than you can name. Tea and coffee are also available, which you can drink at the side bench. It's open long hours, making it ideal for night revelers or early starters from 6:30 am to 3:00 am

This no-frills spot is a good place to grab a quick bite en route to the travertines and it attracts more of a Turkish clientele than most Pamukkale eateries. Wind chimes, strands of dried peppers, and a couple of chatty pet birds liven up the simple patio seating.

This attractive garden café is a relaxing place to take an afternoon break over a cappuccino and dessert, or to nibble on a sandwich or other light fare, accompanied by a glass of Lamin Cabernet Sauvignon, Üzüm's own house wine. It's a bit on the pricey side, but very pleasant.

On a hot, hectic day in the Kemeraltı bazaar, you’ll be happy to stumble on this little şerbet (sherbet) stall that’s been selling ice-cold and very delicious fruit juices and nectars since 1971. They sell jars of their own fruit jams, too.

On a small side street in Kuşadası's main bazaar area, "My Nest/Home" truly lives up to its name, offering the kind of food you'd find in a Turkish home. It's open only at lunch, and items can sell out quickly, so get there early to enjoy daily specials such as meatballs in sour sauce, baked chicken with rice, or bamya (okra) in a tomato-olive oil sauce. Alcohol is not served.