115 Best Restaurants in Turkey

This excellent, straightforward Turkish restaurant is on the western edge of the bazaar and favored by locals for its kebabs, pide, and traditional casseroles. It's open all day, morphing from a breakfast joint in the morning to a family restaurant in the afternoon to the perfect place for a late-night snack at 3 am. The same owners also operate the somewhat more upscale Meğri Restaurant in the center of the bazaar.

This brasserie-in-a-bookstore is a cozy place to enjoy a coffee surrounded by an extensive collection of Turkish and English-language books. The menu has a wide range of breakfast and lunch options.

Despite the rustic name (there's a small campground on the premises), this large space with an outdoor terrace on a hillside just below the İshak Paşa Sarayı, is Doğubeyazıt's only option for a big night out. You'll find the usual selection of mezes and kebabs, as well as live Turkish music on weekends along with wine, beer, and rakı. There are also a few very basic rooms that can be rented.

In business for three decades on Ortaköy's waterfront square, unpretentious Çınaraltı ("under the sycamore") has a massive sycamore tree growing up through its center and shading its upstairs terrace. The balık böreği (a spring roll-esque fish pastry) is a highlight of the wide though fairly standard meze selection, and the fish is mainly served grilled or fried (make sure the price quoted is per fish or serving, not per kilo).

Bright aqua sailcloth shades one of the long-established spots along the Bitez seafront where breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner are served to guests who may be there for a swim, all-day sunbathing, or dinner and drinks. A full Turkish breakfast on the sunny Bitez beach is a delight, particularly in the low seasons. It's not the cheapest but an extensive international and Turkish menu meets most tastes of families and diners, all year around. 

Set in a tree-shaded garden just back from the harbor, Oburus Momus specializes in vegetarian and vegan dishes—think international favorites from across Asia like nasi goreng (Indonesian fried rice), pad thai (Thai noodles), and falafel bowls. It’s a chilled-out place not just for dinner but for cocktails or refreshing ice teas during the day.

The kebabs here are simple and tasty, and embroidered curtains, rust-color tablecloths, and waiters in shiny vests add a bit of atmosphere to the cave-like space. Try the ali nazik kebab (grilled meat served on a cheesy eggplant puree) or the ejder kebab, pieces of grilled meat, cheese, parsley, sesame, and egg yolk in a calzone-like wrapping.

In the sleepy village of Mustafapaşa, about 5 km (3 miles) from Ürgüp, the charming Old Greek House serves delicious home-cooked specialties and decadent desserts. Portions are generous, and the set menus are a genuine feast. Seating is on floor cushions around low, round tables or at regular-height ones in the atmospheric, vine-covered central courtyard. The 250-year-old building—still with original frescoes on the stone walls and original paint on the wooden ceilings—doubles as a simple but comfortable inn.

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.

Prokopi offers a local take on both regional and international cuisine. The setting is simple but elegant, with tables in a long rectangular stone room that has a fireplace or on an enclosed terrace with sweeping views of Ürgüp. The presentation may be somewhat elaborate, but it is not intended to make up for any shortcomings—the food is excellent.

This calm cafe-restaurant on a quiet street in Arnavutkoy doubles as a shop for locally produced food products, including jams and olives. The food is healthy gourmet, and there is also a large selection of beautifully presented and freshly made pastries.

Follow the narrow stairs up Saklı Konak Hotel and you'll find its restaurant—a small and long room with a terrace overlooking Üçhisar Castle. The rotating menu consists of exceptionally rich and well prepared local dishes, Turkish classics, and modern takes on the two, all prepared by none other than a former resident of the stone house the hotel now occupies. Food is sourced locally and cooked over a wood fire. Try the beef sheet pan or the Konak meatballs, but be sure to leave room for dessert.

In a century-old former house on Fetvane Sokak, Sardunya serves home-style Turkish cooking at very reasonable prices. There’s no menu; you simply choose several items from the counter displaying that day’s meat and vegetable dishes, which might include meatballs with potatoes, eggplant in a garlicky yogurt sauce, green beans cooked in olive oil, or saffron rice. The interior rooms are pleasantly decorated, and the tiny back courtyard evokes an Aegean island thanks to its overhead vines, white and turquoise wooden tables and chairs, and whitewashed walls with street-scene murals.

Located next to a 19th-century Ottoman house at the edge of the harbor, Smiley's has been a favorite among Turquoise Coast yachters since 1987. Relax in the fresh air beneath vines, flags, and fishing nets, and enjoy a reasonably priced and generously portioned meal of some of the best kebabs and seafood in Kaş, as well as some of its friendliest service. Head downstairs to see the restored Lycian cistern.

These wooden gazebos set on the edge of a small river are a fine spot to have lunch or dinner after visiting Sumela, a 15-minute drive away. There is a wide selection of mezes, along with regional specialties such as tereyağlı alabalık, trout baked in butter, and kaygana, an omelet made with Black Sea anchovies. On the weekends, the place is filled with families from Trabzon on country outings.

Italian-inspired pizzas, pastas, and salads are served alongside traditional Turkish chicken and beef dishes. It's always packed with local families and tourists sitting back at wooden tables filled with the enormous portions. Alcohol is served, and not at a ludicrous markup. There's also a branch in Turgutreis.

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 local favorite, with seating inside and outside of a traditional Greek house, is packed nearly every night. Despite the crowds, the staff is attentive, kind, and happy to provide recommendations for Tik Mustafa’s rather impressive selection of meze and zeytinyağlı—cold appetizers served in olive oil. While the fish is fresh and can be prepared in a number of ways, saving room for a main course may prove challenging considering the exceptionally delicious appetizers.

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.

Continue up the hill beyond Tlos to the nearby village of Yaka Köyü (it's signposted) and you'll reach the vast but peaceful Yakapark, which is on the site of a now-demolished windmill and which has become an attraction in its own right, with accommodation, activities, a restaurant, and more. The enormous space, which seats up to 600 people, has its own trout farm, which guarantees diners the freshest fish. Water is everywhere here, gurgling around traditional Turkish wooden platforms where diners sit—there's even a little channel in the bar where fish can swim around your chilled beer. If you're feeling brave bring a bathing suit—the waters of the wading pool are so icy, owners promise a free drink to anyone who can withstand them for five minutes. If you can manage a full 15 minutes, your drink and entire meal are free.

Housed in a historic building not far from Istiklal Caddesi, Zeytuna serves elegant Middle Eastern dishes that are made for sharing. You can choose to eat in the dining hall or at the adjacent bar, with its low-slung couches and moody lighting, for a more casual experience.