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.
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 restaurant in closest proximity to major hotels is the restaurant inside the city’s central grand bazaar, the Kapali Çarsi.
Mexican food in Turkey? You bet. And our Texas-born reviewer who is an expert on Tex-Mex cuisine, says Ranchero got it right. This restaurant is dead ringer for any of the hundreds of Tex-Mex restaurants you can find in the Lone Star state.
Just BBQ is the only place in Istanbul we know of to find real American-style smoked. Just BBQ offers an authentic rendering of Texas-style ribs, brisket, and smoked sausage in a small but tastefully decorated restaurant. Order the variety plate for the best sampling of Texas-style BBQ in Turkey.
Il Cortile is flying under the radar. You have to slowly zoom in and out on Google Maps to even see the map marker. But this restaurant, open from early morning until midnight, located in a beautiful boutique hotel a stone’s throw from Galata Tower, offers one of the most pleasant dining experiences in Istanbul. Great place for breakfast. Best place for Italian (including pizza) in the city.
Visitors to Istanbul will want to visit an emblematic restaurant that delivers authentic Turkish cuisine in a traditional setting and there’s no better place to do that than the open-air terrace at Turkish restaurant, MyTerrace. Combine extremely well-executed local dishes with service from a delightful waiter and the best view of the Asian side of Istanbul you can find, and you have the formula for what might be the best tourist destination for dining in Istanbul. Arrive at dusk for a stunning photo opportunity.