The House Cafe – Corner
A mix of western and middle eastern cuisine, including a wide variety of popular western breakfast items make The House Café, with multiple locations in Istanbul, a popular dining haunt with both locals and visitors to Istanbul. The location in Ortakoy overlooking the Bosporus has a delightful view morning, noon, and night.
Le Cuistrot Bistrot – Istanbul
During your visit to Istanbul you’ll be eating more shish-kebabs than you shake a stick at (pardon the pun). You might just want one morning or evening to escape the culture shock and have a meal that’s anything close to Turkish. No better spot to accomplish that than Le Cuistrot Bistrot. Belgian chef Carlos brings French and Belgian cuisine to this delightful little café cum bistro. Fabulous place for happy hour or an evening cocktail as well.
Güney Restaurant
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.
Nobu – Istanbul
Nobu’s new restaurant in Istanbul continues the chain’s replication of its successful format offering Japanese fusion from renowned chef and restaurateur Nobuyuki Matsuhisa. A bit pricey by local standards but Nobu sets menu prices substantially the same from country to country, continent to continent. The chef’s signature dish, the black cod in miso is priced about the same in Istanbul as it is in Los Angeles (about US$40).
Nusr-et Steakhouse – Sandal Bedestini
Turkish chef, Nusret Gökçe, turned his Turkish-based steakhouse, Nusr-et, into an international restaurant dynasty with locations from Dubai to London. The steaks are pricey, but undoubtedly the best bet for a slab of grilled beef in Istanbul. The décor in all of the locations is upscale. The two locations most accessible to visitors to Istanbul are the location in Fatih's Grand Bazaar and the newly opened location in the prestigious Grand Hyatt Maçka Palas in Nişantaşı.
Nusr-et Steakhouse – Maçka Palas
Turkish chef, Nusret Gökçe, turned his Turkish-based steakhouse, Nusr-et, into an international restaurant dynasty with locations from Dubai to London. The steaks are pricey, but undoubtedly the best bet for a slab of grilled beef in Istanbul. The décor in all of the locations is upscale. The two locations most accessible to visitors to Istanbul are the location in Fatih's Grand Bazaar and the newly opened location in the prestigious Grand Hyatt Maçka Palas in Nişantaşı.
Ali Ocakbaşı – Karakoy
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.
Cağaloğlu Hamam
Cağaloğlu Hamam is a historic Turkish bathhouse located in the Istanbul district of Fatih, renowned for its stunning Ottoman architecture, elaborate marble interiors, and traditional bath rituals that date back centuries, offering a luxurious and authentic experience to its guests. The hammam provides Turkish bath services to both men and women, but in separate sections of the hammam.
Ali Ocakbaşı – Gümüşsuyu
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.
Basilica Cistern
The Basilica Cistern is one of several hundred ancient cisterns lying beneath the city of Istanbul. It was built in the 6th century by Byzantine Emperor Justinian I. After more than years of closure for renovation, the popular tourist attraction reopened in 2022.
Kılıç Ali Paşa Hamamı
Kılıç Ali Paşa Hamamı is located inside a mosque complex, just a few steps from the Tophane tram stop in Beyoglu. Abandoned for years, it was recently renovated and returned to its original glory. It displays classic hammam architecture with a striking lines dominated by a magnificent dome crowning the large göbektaşı below..
