4 Best Restaurants in Çanakkale, The Sea of Marmara and the North Aegean

At this Çanakkale institution established in 1940, take in views across the Dardanelles from the rooftop terrace as you enjoy such seafood mezes as grilled octopus in vinegar or sardines wrapped in vine leaves. Non-seafood mezes like fried eggplant with cheese are equally tasty. Fish prices are per kilogram and are not listed on the menu, so be sure to ask before ordering. The same goes for dishes that might show up on the table without you having asked for them. Service can be hit or miss.

Cheery and bright, this casual, two-floor eatery near the ferry dock serves delicious pide (Turkish pizza), topped with minced meat, sausage, cheese, or any combination of them. There's also a wide variety of kebabs, döner, and other grilled meats, as well as the thin flatbread lahmacun, topped with minced meat, and a couple of traditional desserts.

On the corner of Hamdibey and Değirmenlik streets, Sardalye is the place to go for fish if you are looking for quality food in a dramatically less fancy—and expensive—atmosphere than Canakkele's waterfront meyhanes. The simple menu consists of a rotation of fish options that are fried, grilled, or served in a sandwich. A seat at the bar is the perfect place to enjoy a meal and watch the action on the street, though if you're coming for lunch, be prepared to wait for a bit.

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.