Eat & Drink Like a Local Istanbulite

Orhan
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 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Vefa Bozacisi
66 Vefa Cd.
32 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
"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 Caddesi
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!
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 Sokak
Traditional 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 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Emirgan Sütiş
No:46 Sakıp Sabancı Cd.
32 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
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 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Zula istanbul
101a Harbiye Çayırı Sk.
39 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
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 Caddesi
Forget 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 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Develi Nişantaşı
No:61A Abdi İpekçi Cd.
12 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
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 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Çiya Sofrası
Güneşli Bahçe Sokağı
187 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Traditional 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 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Şehzade Cağ Kebap
No:6 Hoca Paşa Sk.
26 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
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. Sokak
Very 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 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Feriye Lokantasi
No:44 Çırağan Cd.
10 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
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 Caddesi
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.
Delicious chocolate deserts. Order "oh la la Beatrice" with some Turkish tea & enjoy!
31 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
J'adore Chocolatier
22 Emir Nevruz Sk.
31 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Delicious chocolate deserts. Order "oh la la Beatrice" with some Turkish tea & enjoy!
Great San-Sebastian cheesecakes.
10 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
B.BLOK Bakery
35A Şair Nedim Cd.
10 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Great San-Sebastian cheesecakes.
Great Turkish food and one of the best baklavas/Turkish delights in town
12 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Köşkeroğlu Baklava
No:46 Gümrük Sk.
12 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
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 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
7-8 Hasanpaşa Fırını
No:8 Şht. Asım Cd.
9 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Delicious pastries. Must try their "Acıbadem" cookies which is bitter-sweet soft almond cookies.

Coffee

Great coffee and delicious pastries. Cozy cafe on vibrant street.
Coffee Public
No:77/D Süleyman Seba Caddesi
Great 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 Caddesi
Great 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 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Petra Roasting Co.
Hoşsohbet Sokaği
14 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Nice place to visit for brunch/coffee on a lazy day. Can get crowded after 10 am on weekends.