These are the restaurants in Istanbul that the major lists rate, plus the local institutions the press keeps returning to, on one map. Filter by list, tap a pin for the details, and follow the links on each card to the award or article behind it.
Key takeaways
- Strongest list standing: Neolokal, TURK Fatih Tutak and Mikla.
- 28 places: 9 with MICHELIN stars, 1 on a 50 Best list, 6 Bib Gourmand, 8 from other guides, 5 local institutions.
- Best-covered local institutions: Çiya Sofrası, Karaköy Güllüoğlu and Kızılkayalar.
- Every award and article is linked on its card, so you can check it yourself before booking.
Places are ordered by list standing, then press coverage. This is not a ranking of our own. Last checked October 26, 2026.
Screenshot of turkft.com TURK Fatih Tutak
$$$$Şişli (Bomonti) · Modern Turkish tasting menu
Two Stars · MICHELIN Guide Türkiye 2026Green Star · MICHELIN Guide Türkiye 20264 Toques (18.5/20) · Gault&Millau Türkiye 202693/100 · La Liste 2026Chef Fatih Tutak cooks a tasting menu built on Turkish regional ingredients, which MICHELIN inspectors describe as respectful of tradition. It holds two MICHELIN Stars and a 2026 Green Star, and Gault&Millau Türkiye gives it 4 toques.
Covered by Hürriyet Daily News
Cumhuriyet Hacıahmet Silahşör Caddesi, Yeniyol Sokak No:2, Bomonti, Şişli, Istanbul 34440
Screenshot of neolokal.com Neolokal
$$$$Beyoğlu (Karaköy) · Modern Anatolian
No. 94 · The 50 Best Restaurants 2026 (51-100)One Star · MICHELIN Guide Türkiye 20264 Toques (18/20) · Gault&Millau Türkiye 202684.5/100 · La Liste 2026Chef Maksut Aşkar reworks Turkish heritage produce and classic dishes inside the SALT Galata cultural centre, with views over the Golden Horn. It holds one MICHELIN Star and ranked No. 94 on the 2026 51-100 list.
Covered by Eater, Condé Nast Traveler and Time Out Istanbul
Bankalar Caddesi No:11/1, Arap Camii Mahallesi, Beyoğlu, Istanbul 34420 (SALT Galata)
Screenshot of miklarestaurant.com Mikla
$$$$Beyoğlu (Tepebaşı) · New Anatolian
One Star · MICHELIN Guide Türkiye 20263 Toques (15/20) · Gault&Millau Türkiye 202687.5/100 · La Liste 2026Chef-owner Mehmet Gürs runs this rooftop restaurant on top of The Marmara Pera, cooking what he calls New Anatolian cuisine. It holds one MICHELIN Star.
Covered by Eater, Condé Nast Traveler and Time Out Istanbul
The Marmara Pera, Meşrutiyet Caddesi No:15, 18th floor, Tepebaşı, Beyoğlu, Istanbul 34430
Screenshot of araka.com.tr 
Screenshot of arkestra.com.tr Arkestra
$$$$Beşiktaş (Etiler) · Fusion tasting menu
Chef Cenk Debensason, who trained in France and worked in the United States, cooks a fusion menu shaped by his travels. It has held one MICHELIN Star since the 2024 guide.
Covered by Hürriyet Daily News
Dilhayat Sokak No:28, Etiler, Beşiktaş, Istanbul 34337
Screenshot of nicole.com.tr Nicole
$$$$Beyoğlu · Modern Turkish
Set in a renovated building once home to Franciscan nuns, Nicole serves a modern take on Turkish recipes. It holds one MICHELIN Star, and its service team won the MICHELIN Service Award in 2025.
Covered by Hürriyet Daily News
Tomtom Kaptan Sokak No:18, Beyoğlu, Istanbul 34433
Screenshot of arafistanbul.com Kadıköy · Contemporary Turkish
Kenan and Pınar Çetinkaya run this small, limited-capacity restaurant on the Asian side. It moved from Bib Gourmand in 2025 to one MICHELIN Star in 2026.
19 Mayıs Mahallesi, Sümer Sokak, Sümko N Blok No:1, Kadıköy, Istanbul 34742
Screenshot of casalavanda.com.tr Casa Lavanda
$$$$Şile · Farm-to-table Mediterranean
A family-run hotel restaurant about 40 km from central Istanbul near Şile. It gained one MICHELIN Star and a Green Star in the 2025 guide.
Ulupelit Köyü, Seçilmiş Sokak No:2, Şile, Istanbul 34980
Screenshot of sankai.com.tr Sankai by Nagaya
$$$$Beşiktaş (Bebek) · Contemporary Japanese
The Istanbul outpost of Düsseldorf-based Japanese chef Yoshizumi Nagaya, in Bebek. It has held one MICHELIN Star since the 2024 guide.
Cevdet Paşa Caddesi No:34, Bebek, Beşiktaş, Istanbul 34342Pandeli
$$Fatih (Eminönü) · Classic Istanbul lokanta
Bib Gourmand · MICHELIN Guide Türkiye 20261 Toque (12.5/20), Centenary Enterprise Award · Gault&Millau Türkiye 2026Founded by Pandeli Çobanoğlu over a century ago, this blue-tiled dining room above the Spice Bazaar entrance serves classic Istanbul dishes. It is a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand.
Covered by Eater, Condé Nast Traveler, Hürriyet Daily News and Time Out Istanbul
Mısır Çarşısı İçi No:1, Balık Pazarı Kapısı Sokağı, Rüstempaşa, Eminönü, Fatih, Istanbul 34116
Screenshot of karakoylokantasi.com Beyoğlu (Karaköy) · Lokanta and meyhane
A tradesmen-style lokanta by day and a meyhane by night, popular with office workers, artists and writers. It is a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand.
Covered by Eater and Time Out Istanbul
Kemankeş Caddesi No:57, Kemankeş Mahallesi, Karaköy, Beyoğlu, Istanbul 34425
Screenshot of tatbak.com Tatbak
$$Şişli (Nişantaşı) · Kebab and lahmacun
A Nişantaşı kebab house open since 1960, known for lahmacun that opens every meal. It is a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand.
Covered by Eater and Condé Nast Traveler
Valikonağı Caddesi, Akkavak Sokak No:38/B, Nişantaşı, Şişli, Istanbul 34365
Screenshot of sultanahmetkoftesi.com Fatih (Sultanahmet) · Grilled köfte
A meatball restaurant on Sultanahmet Square that opened in 1920, according to Hürriyet Daily News. Time Out Istanbul calls it a timeless favourite among the city’s historic köfte houses.
Covered by Time Out Istanbul, Time Out Istanbul and Hürriyet Daily News
Divanyolu Caddesi No:12, Sultanahmet, Fatih, Istanbul 34122
Screenshot of cuma.cc Cuma
$$Beyoğlu (Çukurcuma) · Mediterranean café-restaurant
A small restaurant in the Çukurcuma antiques quarter serving Turkish breakfast and seasonal Mediterranean plates, with a front terrace. It is a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand.
Covered by Time Out Istanbul
Çukur Cuma Caddesi No:53/A, Firuzağa Mahallesi, Beyoğlu, Istanbul 34425Kanaat Lokantası
Üsküdar · Ottoman-Turkish lokanta
A lokanta near the Üsküdar ferry docks that has served diners since 1933 from a long hot counter. Gault&Millau Türkiye 2026 awards it 1 toque.
Covered by Condé Nast Traveler and Time Out Istanbul
Selmani Pak Caddesi No:9, Sultantepe, Üsküdar, Istanbul 34674
Screenshot of zubeyirocakbasi.com.tr Beyoğlu (Taksim) · Ocakbaşı grill
A kebab house near Taksim where the grill master works lamb skewers under a large copper hood. Gault&Millau Türkiye 2026 awards it 1 toque.
Covered by Condé Nast Traveler and Time Out Istanbul
Bekar Sokak No:28, Şehit Muhtar Mahallesi, Beyoğlu, Istanbul 34435
Screenshot of yanyalifehmi.com Kadıköy · Ottoman-Turkish lokanta
A Kadıköy lokanta serving dishes such as slow-cooked aubergine with minced lamb and pistachio kadayıf at moderate prices. It is a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand.
Yağlıkçı İsmail Sokak No:1, Osmanağa Mahallesi, Kadıköy, Istanbul 34714
Screenshot of hamdi.com.tr Fatih (Eminönü) · Southeastern Turkish kebab
A large Eminönü restaurant serving dishes from southeastern Türkiye, founded by Hamdi Arpacı. Gault&Millau Türkiye 2026 awards it 1 toque.
Covered by Time Out Istanbul
Tahmis Caddesi, Kalçın Sokak No:11, Rüstem Paşa, Fatih, Istanbul 34116Hayvore
Beyoğlu · Black Sea Turkish
Chef Hızır Keskin serves Black Sea regional dishes from Artvin to Samsun in Beyoğlu, with a second branch at Galataport. Gault&Millau Türkiye 2026 awards it 1 toque.
Covered by Hürriyet Daily News
Turnacıbaşı Caddesi No:4, Kuloğlu Mahallesi, Beyoğlu, Istanbul 34421Zeytinburnu · Balkan cuisine and pizza
A Bosnian and Balkan restaurant in the Büyükyalı complex in Zeytinburnu that also serves Neapolitan-inspired pizza with local toppings. It appears in the 50 Top Pizza Europa 2026 guide.
Büyükyalı İstanbul, Kazlıçeşme Kennedy Caddesi, Zeytinburnu, Istanbul 34020
Screenshot of filodolio.com.tr Sarıyer (Ayazağa) · Contemporary pizza
Chef Danilo Zanna’s pizzeria brand tops its pizzas with ingredients ranging from local seafood to Kayseri pastırma. The Ayazağa address ranked No. 36 in 50 Top Pizza Europa 2026.
Azerbaycan Caddesi No:3/C, Ayazağa, Sarıyer, IstanbulHacı Abdullah Lokantası
Beyoğlu · Hünkar beğendi
TasteAtlas ranks it among the world's most legendary restaurants, known for its Hünkar beğendi. It opened in 1888.
Hüseyinağa, Atıf Yılmaz Cd. No:9/A, 34435 Beyoğlu/İstanbul, Türkiye
Screenshot of aliocakbasi.com Beyoğlu (Karaköy) · Ocakbaşı grill
A waterside grill house on a side street in Karaköy, where the charcoal grill and tandır oven are the focus. It became a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand in the 2025 guide.
Tersane Caddesi, Kardeşim Sokak No:45, 4th floor, Arap Camii Mahallesi, Beyoğlu, Istanbul 34421
Screenshot of ciya.com.tr Kadıköy · Anatolian home cooking
Local institutionChef-owner Musa Dağdeviren serves rarely seen Anatolian dishes, seasonal stews and kebabs on Kadıköy’s market street. Eater calls it a memorial kitchen for what he terms peasant food.
Covered by Eater, Eater, Condé Nast Traveler and Time Out Istanbul
Güneşli Bahçe Sokak No:43, Caferağa Mahallesi, Kadıköy, IstanbulKaraköy Güllüoğlu
Beyoğlu (Karaköy) · Baklava and börek
Local institutionA Karaköy baklava shop run by the sixth generation of the same family, which Eater recommends for trying many kinds of baklava. Condé Nast Traveler also notes its börek.
Covered by Eater, Condé Nast Traveler and Hürriyet Daily News
Kemankeş Caddesi, Katlı Otopark Altı No:3-4, Kemankeş Karamustafa Paşa, Beyoğlu, Istanbul 34425
Screenshot of kizilkayalar.com.tr Beyoğlu (Taksim) · Wet burgers, street food
Local institutionA Taksim snack shop known for ıslak (wet) burgers, buns soaked in a tomato sauce and steamed in glass cases. Eater notes that demand peaks when the bars close.
Covered by Eater, Time Out Istanbul and Time Out Istanbul
Sıraselviler Caddesi, Taksim, Beyoğlu, Istanbul
Screenshot of bambicafe.com.tr Beyoğlu (Taksim) · Wet burgers, döner, tost
Local institutionA round-the-clock snack spot on Taksim Square that Eater and Time Out Istanbul list for wet burgers, tost and dürüm.
Covered by Eater and Time Out Istanbul
Sıraselviler Caddesi No:2, Beyoğlu, Istanbul
Screenshot of vefa.com.tr Fatih (Vefa) · Boza (fermented millet drink)
Local institutionA family-run boza shop near the Süleymaniye Mosque, opened in 1876 and still in its original wooden building. Eater notes it sells boza from October to about April.
Covered by Eater and Hürriyet Daily News
Katip Çelebi Caddesi No:104/1, Vefa, Fatih, Istanbul
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Get the Turkey eSIMHow we chose these restaurants
A place gets in one of two ways. It holds an award in a 2024, 2025 or 2026 edition of a recognised list, or it is a local institution that at least two established outlets have covered. We do not rank, and nothing here is paid for. The order on the page follows list standing first, then press coverage. The full method is in the note at the end.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best restaurant in Istanbul?+
How many MICHELIN-starred restaurants does this guide list in Istanbul?+
Which Istanbul restaurants are on a 50 Best list?+
Where can I eat well in Istanbul without paying for a tasting menu?+
What are the most famous local restaurants in Istanbul?+
Is this a ranking?+
Methodology
How we did this comparison
This guide aggregates; it does not rank. A restaurant in Istanbul is included if it holds a place on a recognised list in a 2024, 2025 or 2026 edition (MICHELIN Guide Türkiye 2026, The 50 Best Restaurants 2026 (51-100), 50 Top Pizza Europa 2026, Gault&Millau Türkiye 2026, TasteAtlas Awards 24/25: 100 Most Legendary Restaurants and La Liste 2026), linked to the list publisher's own page, or if it is a local institution covered by at least two established outlets, each linked on its card. A single blog post or a review-site rating is not enough.
Places are ordered by list standing (MICHELIN stars, 50 Best, Tabelog Gold and Black Pearl three diamonds first, then other awards and Bib Gourmand), then by how much press they have. Summaries paraphrase the cited sources. Map positions come from OpenStreetMap. Price bands run from $ (casual) to $$$$ (tasting-menu fine dining) and are our reading of each place's menus and sources; places without one had no price source.
Every entry was checked against its sources on 26 October 2026. Lists change every year and restaurants close, so check opening days and book directly before you travel.
Sources & references
We verify carrier and regulator pricing directly from primary sources before publishing. Pricing is current as of the article's last update — always confirm rates on the carrier's site before you travel.
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About the author
Lotsotravel Team
The Lotsotravel editorial team writes hands-on guides for international travelers. We test eSIMs on real devices in real destinations, monitor Canadian and U.S. carrier pricing weekly, and compare coverage across local network partners before we recommend a plan. Every comparison post is updated when carriers change their rates so the numbers you read here match what you would pay today.
Last updated: October 26, 2026