Eat & Drink Like a Local Istanbulite
Favorite Traditional Drinks
"Vefa Bozacısı" is in the local and historical Fatih district of Istanbul. Guests can enjoy the area after drinking a glass of traditional "Boza" drink.
"Boza" is a fermented, traditional winter beverage made of millet semolina, water and sugar. Make sure to buy some roasted chickpeas from the store just across the street, as it goes very well with the Boza drink.
Put some of the chickpeas on your boza drink and enjoy! The texture of the drink is thick, hence many people prefer to "drink" the beverage with a spoon :)
32 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Vefa Bozacisi
66 Vefa Cd."Vefa Bozacısı" is in the local and historical Fatih district of Istanbul. Guests can enjoy the area after drinking a glass of traditional "Boza" drink.
"Boza" is a fermented, traditional winter beverage made of millet semolina, water and sugar. Make sure to buy some roasted chickpeas from the store just across the street, as it goes very well with the Boza drink.
Put some of the chickpeas on your boza drink and enjoy! The texture of the drink is thick, hence many people prefer to "drink" the beverage with a spoon :)
This place is across the street from the Boza place, it offers a different traditional drink called "Sahlep".
Sahlep is a traditional winter drink in the cafés and restaurants of Turkey, salep is made from the tuberous roots of orchids—specifically, terrestrial orchids in the genus Orchis.
This specific place makes it rather nice and I would recommend it as a local!
Tarihi Vefa Salepçisi
69a Vefa CaddesiThis place is across the street from the Boza place, it offers a different traditional drink called "Sahlep".
Sahlep is a traditional winter drink in the cafés and restaurants of Turkey, salep is made from the tuberous roots of orchids—specifically, terrestrial orchids in the genus Orchis.
This specific place makes it rather nice and I would recommend it as a local!
Traditional pickle shop in Beşiktaş. All of their pickles are insanely delicious and you can also taste their pickle juice.
Soydan Turşucu
9 Şair Leyla SokakTraditional pickle shop in Beşiktaş. All of their pickles are insanely delicious and you can also taste their pickle juice.
Food scene
Enjoy a traditional Turkish breakfast with great views under huge plane trees.
Make sure you order "bal-kaymak" which is traditional Turkish breakfast cream with honey.
Also order, the traditional Turkish bagel: simit, the cheese platter, vegetable plate (=söğüş tabağı) eggs with traditional Turkish pepperoni (=sucuklu yumurta) and/or traditional Turkish style scrambled eggs with chopped onions, tomatoes and sliced green peppers (=menemen). Other than that, almost all of their breakfast options on the menu are delicious, so enjoy!
32 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Emirgan Sütiş
No:46 Sakıp Sabancı Cd.Enjoy a traditional Turkish breakfast with great views under huge plane trees.
Make sure you order "bal-kaymak" which is traditional Turkish breakfast cream with honey.
Also order, the traditional Turkish bagel: simit, the cheese platter, vegetable plate (=söğüş tabağı) eggs with traditional Turkish pepperoni (=sucuklu yumurta) and/or traditional Turkish style scrambled eggs with chopped onions, tomatoes and sliced green peppers (=menemen). Other than that, almost all of their breakfast options on the menu are delicious, so enjoy!
Traditional Turkish fish restaurant with great mezze dishes, fish tapas and different types of cooked local fish. Enjoy the dishes with the traditional Turkish spirit: Rakı, to make those tastebuds go wild!
It has great views! Just by the sea, but make sure you make a reservation before if you want the table by the sea.
YalıEr 1 Balık Restaurant
145 Köybaşı Cd.Traditional Turkish fish restaurant with great mezze dishes, fish tapas and different types of cooked local fish. Enjoy the dishes with the traditional Turkish spirit: Rakı, to make those tastebuds go wild!
It has great views! Just by the sea, but make sure you make a reservation before if you want the table by the sea.
Delicious and juicy burgers. These guys make the best smash burgers in town!
39 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Zula istanbul
101a Harbiye Çayırı Sk.Delicious and juicy burgers. These guys make the best smash burgers in town!
Forget about Saltbae, try the By Ulus Burger here for a mouthwatering full-burger satisfaction! These guys make sure you are happy!
By Ulus Steakhouse
No:23/A Ahmet Adnan Saygun CaddesiForget about Saltbae, try the By Ulus Burger here for a mouthwatering full-burger satisfaction! These guys make sure you are happy!
Fancy traditional Turkish food restaurant.
Must try their Turkish pizza (=lahmacun), Adana Kebap, hummus with veal bacon (=pastırmalı humus) and many other traditional Turkish kebabs, mezzes and deserts.
12 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Develi Nişantaşı
No:61A Abdi İpekçi Cd.Fancy traditional Turkish food restaurant.
Must try their Turkish pizza (=lahmacun), Adana Kebap, hummus with veal bacon (=pastırmalı humus) and many other traditional Turkish kebabs, mezzes and deserts.
Traditional Turkish food and kebabs in the Kadıköy district. Must try all of their dishes if you visit Kadıköy region.
187 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Çiya Sofrası
Güneşli Bahçe SokağıTraditional Turkish food and kebabs in the Kadıköy district. Must try all of their dishes if you visit Kadıköy region.
A special kebap specific to the Eastern region of Turkey. This place makes it the best in Istanbul and its a must try if you are in the Eminönü/Sirkeci/Sultanahmet region.
26 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Şehzade Cağ Kebap
No:6 Hoca Paşa Sk.A special kebap specific to the Eastern region of Turkey. This place makes it the best in Istanbul and its a must try if you are in the Eminönü/Sirkeci/Sultanahmet region.
Best place to buy Turkish simit and other pastries. You can also try filled breakfast pastries (=poğaça) and small simit pastries (=kandil simidi).
Make sure its not too late when you go, because their pastries are generally finished in the late afternoon.
Galata Simitçi
47/A Mumhane Cd.Best place to buy Turkish simit and other pastries. You can also try filled breakfast pastries (=poğaça) and small simit pastries (=kandil simidi).
Make sure its not too late when you go, because their pastries are generally finished in the late afternoon.
Very authentic kebap place with its own style. Come here for the food only, the tase is great, the place is not fancy.
Kaburgacı Cabbar Istanbul
33. SokakVery authentic kebap place with its own style. Come here for the food only, the tase is great, the place is not fancy.
High end restaurant just by the bosphorus. Nice food but mainly great views.
10 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Feriye Lokantasi
No:44 Çırağan Cd.High end restaurant just by the bosphorus. Nice food but mainly great views.
Desert
Delicious profiterole desert made freshly everyday. There are many places in Istanbul that make profiteroles, however this place is by far the best.
There seating is rather limited but you can order from Yemeksepeti/Getir food apps or visit their store in Kurtuluş! Enjoy it with some Turkish tea or filter coffee.
Nazar Pastanesi Profiterol
no:56 Fahrettin Kerim Gökay CaddesiDelicious profiterole desert made freshly everyday. There are many places in Istanbul that make profiteroles, however this place is by far the best.
There seating is rather limited but you can order from Yemeksepeti/Getir food apps or visit their store in Kurtuluş! Enjoy it with some Turkish tea or filter coffee.
Delicious chocolate deserts. Order "oh la la Beatrice" with some Turkish tea & enjoy!
31 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
J'adore Chocolatier
22 Emir Nevruz Sk.Delicious chocolate deserts. Order "oh la la Beatrice" with some Turkish tea & enjoy!
B.BLOK Bakery
35A Şair Nedim Cd.Great San-Sebastian cheesecakes.
Great Turkish food and one of the best baklavas/Turkish delights in town
12 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Köşkeroğlu Baklava
No:46 Gümrük Sk.Great Turkish food and one of the best baklavas/Turkish delights in town
Delicious pastries. Must try their "Acıbadem" cookies which is bitter-sweet soft almond cookies.
9 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
7-8 Hasanpaşa Fırını
No:8 Şht. Asım Cd.Delicious pastries. Must try their "Acıbadem" cookies which is bitter-sweet soft almond cookies.
Coffee
Coffee Public
No:77/D Süleyman Seba CaddesiGreat coffee and delicious pastries. Cozy cafe on vibrant street.
Great ambiance! Nice place with very nice coffee and occasional art exhibits on the second floor. Beautiful views from the roof.
ARTLOCALIST
No:12 Vodina CaddesiGreat ambiance! Nice place with very nice coffee and occasional art exhibits on the second floor. Beautiful views from the roof.
Nice place to visit for brunch/coffee on a lazy day. Can get crowded after 10 am on weekends.
14 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Petra Roasting Co.
Hoşsohbet SokağiNice place to visit for brunch/coffee on a lazy day. Can get crowded after 10 am on weekends.