Istanbul Restaurant Tips by Erkmen

Restaurant Name: Cibalikapi Balikcisi..

An old antique building, with old wooden tables and chairs. But clean as well as a luxury restaurant. And delicious wonderful seafood.

If you would like to taste a real choice of seafood, and breathe in an old Istanbul atmosphere Cibalikapi Fishery is a right choice.

A fishery for local citizens is also a good address for tourists. Without being disturbed or hassled, enjoy the harmony of old Istanbul living, with some greek episodes.

The seafood restaurant is open daily from 17:00 to 24:00 and weekends from 14:00 to 24:00.

To reach the restaurant you can take a taxi from Eminonu. Or could be reached by a good! walking.. When you are at Eminonu you will see the Galata bridge and take a taxi on the same coast.. After passing by the Galata bridge, you will see a second bridge and the restaurant is just after 300 meters from the second bridge, near the traffic lights.

The prices are relatively cheap. Salads and starters are around 2-3 USd in a small plate and fish prices are changing according to the season..

The restaturant was accepting Credit cards before, but they do not accept credit card anymore, due to high commision of the banks. So Please carry your cash with you..

Favorite Dish: All kind of seasonal fishes.. Fener shish is a good choice..

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Theme: Seafood
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Address: Avdillezel Paa Cad. No:7 Eski Tekel Fabrikasi yani
Directions: On the shores of golden Horn, just 300 meters after the Unkapani bridge, in front of the Traffic lights.

Restaurant Name: Tarihi Sultanahmet Köftecisi

While you are in Istanbul, you will spent quite along time at Sultanahmet Square. And when you get hungry you should try "Köfte", Turkish meatball in this historical restaurant.. This little, quality dive on the main street has been around longer than Turkey has been a Republic, and after one bite from Köfte, it's easy to guess why..

There are two "Sultanahmet Köftecisi in the same location, the famou one is the one working since1920....

No reservation required, just walk in and let the waiter finds a table for you in one of the Three floors. Credit cards are not acepted.. However a normal lunch will cost less than 5 USD..

Favorite Dish: Köfte, the meatball is the favourite dish, however you can also have lamb sish, if you are not fond of Köfte.. Side dishes are limited, you can have bean salad and shepherds salad..

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Theme: Local
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: +90 212 513 14 38
Address: Divanyolu Cad. No:12/ A
Directions: Just at the Sultanahmet square, near the Tram station..

Restaurant Name: Neyzen, Green, Evren, Kalamar...

If you would like to eat fish, Kumkapi is the right place to go.. Even if you dont eat there, just have a visit there at night. it is a real authentic place, where you should see..

There are many fish restaurants in the area and you can choose between more than twenty of them.. Since now I have been to 4 of them and I can only comment for them..

Neyzen: is probably the most famous, the most luxurious and the expensive one.. If you do not have a "budget limitation" you can try this one..

Evren: is next to neyzen, they have a good service and fish is good.. Prices are better than Neyzen.. But needs to be negotiated..

Green: We ate there once for a company dinner.. As a group we received a good price, but I wont choose there without a group..

Kalamar: The best fish probably we ate was in Kalamar.. Again we went there with our friends.. Group price was good, but dont know for single visits..

Favorite Dish: Seasonal fish is a must try.. Also Calamary and Lobster has to be tried..

The last time we have paid 18- USD per person as a group. Including a mezze plate, starters (Calamary, etc.. ), One portion of fish and 4 beers (per person)... The mezzes are small starters, but could make the price varies a lot..

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Theme: Other
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Address: Kumkapi- Restaurants..
Directions: Taxi will cost a few dollars from the Touristy area. You can also walk to kumkapi from touristy area. The last and least adviced is to take a suburban train from Eminonu and after two stops get off.

Restaurant Name: Hai Sushi

I have eaten Sushi in many places and in Istanbul the best sushi Restaurant is the Hai Sushi at kalamis for me..

The restaturant is located inside the Kalamis marina at the asian side of Istanbul. It is operating for the last two years and restaurant is open after 19:00 week days and 12:00 at weekends.. There is one more Hai sushi restaurant in Elmadag, on the European side of Istanbul, near Taksim..

You can choose the Sushi plates which are passing, with all their tastes, in front of you. The plates are grouped in to their colors and prices.. While yellow plate is the cheapest one followed by Blue, Gray, green and most expensive is the red one.. The prices at first seems funny however you should mind that you will eat a lot and all those small plates will make a lot at the end. :). The cheapest plate is around 2,USD while the expensive is 5,-USD..

Favorite Dish: All of the small plates...

Happy hour from 19:00 - 20:00

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Theme: Japanese/Sushi
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Address: Hai Sushi - Kalamis Marina, Kadikoy- Istanbul
Directions: Inside the kalamis marina at the asian side..

Restaurant Name: Fishing Boats in eminonu..

When you find yourself in Eminonu pier, the first spot you will catch is the small fish boats where they sell grilled fishes..

Dare to try or not.. It is your choice but one real authentic thing in Istanbul is to try these fishes which they serve inside a part of Bread..

All those fresh fishes, the smell of the cooking, tomatoes and peppers.. And your lunch or dinner is ready in a couple of minutes...


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Theme: Seafood
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: Eminonu pier

Restaurant Name: Cozy Restaurant

Sultanahmet is the center of touristy area in Istanbul and as you are going to spend quiet a lot time in Sultanahmet, you will need places to have some food..

Cosy restaturants is a new elegant restaurant in the center.. it is just near the tramway and on the main pedestrian street..

When you enter the restaurant, you first see a big nice bar.. a good place to drop and have some beer.. If you get hot, you can just have a beer and go.. But if you are hungry also get yourself ready for the delicate dishes.. The food quality and serving is very high.. you can have various dishes from all around the world..

The ambiance of the restaurant is quiet comfortable.. The prices are high compared with other nearby restaurants, but still food is not expensive in Turkey..

Favorite Dish: Cold starters, (Olive oiled, Turkish ones).. Steak..

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Theme: Local
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: +90 212 520 09 90
Address: Divanyolu Cad. No: 66/68, Sultanahmet

Restaurant Name: Sultan Pub in Sultanahmet

Sultan pub is in the center of Sultanahmet.. you shall not pass without seeing the pub.. it is a nice cafe and restaurant and serving for more than 25 years..

The restaurant has various courses and specialized in Ottoman and Turkish kitchen.. There is a terrace in fronf of the restaurant and in summer it is nice to stay there and spent some time..

However the Sultan pub for me is special for its nice filter coffees.. They have also a nice Turkish coffee but to find filter cafee is not easy in Sultanahmet and Sultan pub has a very good one..

Favorite Dish: Filter coffee :) but you can also enjoy the food...

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Theme: Pub/Brewery
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Address: Divanyolu Caddesi no:2 Sultanahmet
Directions: Just the beginning of the street near Hagia sophia..

Restaurant Name: Reina..

Reina is at the coast of the bosphorus hosting a group of elegant restaurants and bars..

One of the best known and hip place of Istanbul.. If you wanna spent a delicate night, Reina should be your adress..

The place hosts restaturants from French to Greek and Turkish to italian.. With a variety of food alternatives.. Also after your dinner you can spent the night at Reina in their wonderful bars.. Reina is open from 19:00 hrs to 03:00 am..

Favorite Dish: The new Greek restaurant of "TA NHCIA" (Ta Nisia) is very favourite these days.. But you can still choose between Reina Restaurant, Dragon Restaurant (Chinese), Samdan, Kosebasi (Turkish), Mirror, Safran and Starbucks..

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Theme: Other
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$31-40  » Currency Converter
Phone: +90212 259 59 19
Address: Muallim Naci Cad. No:44 Ortaköy
Website: www.reina.com.tr

Restaurant Name: Starbucks coffee

Starbuck cofee chains are increasing their investments in Turkey also.. I have first seen a Starbucks in Dubai and was wondering how people were staying there all day long. This American coffee giant has opened 4 shops in Istanbul in the first phase and now there is almost no corner, no mall without a Starbucks ..


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Theme: Coffeehouse
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Directions: Bagdat caddesi, Erenkoy - Istanbul

Ortakoy is a pleasant district on the edge of the Bosphorus.. And is active all day long and at nights..

One favourite thing in Ortakoy, is to have Breakfast or Brunch on sunday mornings. There are many cafes you can choose and you will have one of yr nicest breakfast with the Bosphorus view..

You can have the breakfast plate or ask for an omlette or if you have a special choice you can try.. After the breakfast you can tour around the Flea market..


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Theme: Breakfast
Comparison: about average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter