Güney has a menu that’s almost as voluminous as the one at The Cheesecake Factory. About 25 yards from the small plaza at the foot of Galata Tower, Güney delivers a well-executed menu that includes both western and Turkish breakfast items, Turkish classics, salads, and pizzas. Opens early at 7:30 am doesn’t shut down until 12:30 am, seven days a week.
Self-described as a purveryor of fireside cuisine, restaurant Ali Ocakbasi offers a slightly elevated presentation of classic Anatolian cuisine with a modern personality, with an emphasis on grilled meat and fish. All their locations, in Istanbul’s most iconic neighborhoods, are tastefully decorated and boast areas for open air dining with fantastic views of the Bosphorus or Golden Horn.
Self-described as a purveryor of fireside cuisine, restaurant Ali Ocakbasi offers a slightly elevated presentation of classic Anatolian cuisine with a modern personality, with an emphasis on grilled meat and fish. All their locations, in Istanbul’s most iconic neighborhoods, are tastefully decorated and boast areas for open air dining with fantastic views of the Bosphorus or Golden Horn.
Restaurant chain Develi, with a dozen restaurants located throughout Turkey, mostly in affluent suburbs, has built the city’s most successful restaurant dynasty. Develi has made its mark by serving traditional Turkish cuisine in an upscale ambience, albeit one that’s a bit tacky and gaudy by western standards.
MyTerrace has the most “Turkish” personality of all the restaurants we recommend in Istanbul that offer traditional Turkish cuisine. It’s got a raw unpolished feel, but the food, service and view make this restaurant something special. For the best experience arrive early and insist on a table on the terrace.
Located within walking distance of several of the city’s top hotels, Nişantaşı Başköşe offers traditional Turkish cuisine in a contemporary setting with slate gray walls, black leather upholstered benches and chairs, and ceramic tile floor with a diamond inlay. The traditional menu is well-executed, and service is friendly and responsive.