Looking for the best restaurants in Istanbul? The right choice depends on the experience you want: a sunset dinner above the Bosphorus, Ottoman palace recipes near Hagia Sophia, a relaxed table of Cretan meze, or dinner that continues into a late-night club.
This guide compares 10 of Istanbul's best-known restaurants by location, cuisine, atmosphere, price level and practical booking information. We have kept the selection varied so that you can quickly find the right restaurant for a romantic evening, a special celebration, an Old City lunch or a night out.
Before you book: Restaurant hours, menus, terrace availability and prices can change with the season or for private events. Check the final details on the booking page. Some links on this page are partner links; current offers and inclusions are displayed before checkout.
Best Istanbul Restaurants at a Glance
| Restaurant | Area | Cuisine | Best For | Price Level | Current Service Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunset Grill & Bar | Ulus | International, Mediterranean, Turkish and Japanese | Luxury dinner and sunset views | €€€€ | Mon–Sat 12:00–00:00; Sun 17:00–00:00 |
| 360 Istanbul | Beyoğlu | World and modern Turkish cuisine, sushi | Rooftop dinner and nightlife | €€€ | Restaurant daily 12:00–00:00; club from 23:00 |
| Lokanta Feriye | Ortaköy | Modern Istanbul and Mediterranean cuisine | Bosphorus-side dining and special occasions | €€–€€€ | Mon–Fri 12:00–00:00; Sat–Sun 10:00–00:00 |
| Matbah Restaurant | Sultanahmet | Ottoman palace cuisine | Historic recipes near Hagia Sophia | €€€ | Daily service; confirm the current time when booking |
| Giritli Restaurant | Ahırkapı | Cretan, Aegean and Mediterranean cuisine | Meze, seafood and a quiet terrace | €€ | Daily 13:00–00:00 |
| Ruby | Ortaköy | Mediterranean and Turkish-inspired dishes | Dinner followed by nightlife | €€€ | Venue daily 18:00–04:00; kitchen closes earlier |
| Ali Ocakbaşı Karaköy | Karaköy | Turkish grills, kebabs and meze | Traditional ocakbaşı and strong value | €€ | Daily 12:00–23:00 |
| TERE | Gümüşsuyu | Contemporary ocakbaşı | Charcoal grills with a city view | €€€ | Daily from 16:00; confirm closing time |
| Nobu Istanbul | Elmadağ | Japanese-Peruvian | Luxury dining and signature Nobu dishes | €€€€ | Sun–Wed 17:00–23:00; Thu–Sat 17:00–23:30 |
| Armada Terrace | Sultanahmet | Istanbul and Turkish cuisine | Old City views and weekend breakfast | €€–€€€ | Seasonal terrace service; confirm when booking |
Price guide: €€ = moderate for this list, €€€ = expensive, €€€€ = luxury dining. These symbols compare the restaurants with one another; they are not fixed menu prices.
Quick Picks: Which Restaurant Should You Choose?
| Best For | Restaurant |
|---|---|
| Best for a luxury Bosphorus dinner | Sunset Grill & Bar |
| Best rooftop restaurant with nightlife | 360 Istanbul |
| Best Bosphorus-side modern Turkish restaurant | Lokanta Feriye |
| Best Ottoman dining experience near Hagia Sophia | Matbah Restaurant |
| Best for Cretan meze and seafood | Giritli Restaurant |
| Best dinner-to-club experience | Ruby |
| Best-value MICHELIN-recognised ocakbaşı | Ali Ocakbaşı Karaköy |
| Best contemporary ocakbaşı with a view | TERE |
| Best Japanese-Peruvian restaurant | Nobu Istanbul |
| Best restaurant for Sultanahmet views | Armada Terrace |
1. Sunset Grill & Bar — Luxury Dining Above the Bosphorus
Set high above the Bosphorus in Ulus Park, Sunset Grill & Bar is one of Istanbul's established special-occasion restaurants. Its large terrace, polished service, extensive wine list and wide-ranging menu make it a strong choice when the view is as important as the meal.
The kitchen combines Mediterranean, Turkish and Japanese influences, with sushi and barbecue specialities among the best-known parts of the menu. Sunset is included in the MICHELIN Guide and received the 2023 MICHELIN Service Award.
Why choose Sunset Grill & Bar?
Good to know
What should you order?
Choose one of the barbecue specialities or a steak, add a selection from the sushi bar, and ask the sommelier about a Turkish wine pairing. The menu changes, so check the current 2026 selection before deciding on a particular dish.
✅ Insider tip
Request a Bosphorus-facing terrace or window table when you reserve, but remember that specific tables cannot always be guaranteed. Aim to arrive before sunset if the view is your priority.
2. 360 Istanbul — Rooftop Dinner and Late-Night Entertainment
Located on the top floor of the historic Mısır Apartment on İstiklal Avenue, 360 Istanbul combines a restaurant, rooftop view, bar and late-night entertainment in one venue. It works best for visitors who want dinner to become part of a full evening out in Beyoğlu.
The restaurant describes its menu as a mix of world cuisine and modern Turkish flavours, with separate dinner, sushi, dessert and drinks selections. From 23:00, the atmosphere becomes more club-focused, with entertainment varying by night.
Why choose 360 Istanbul?
Good to know
What should you order?
The menu changes, but current examples include modern main courses, sushi and creative desserts. If you are staying for the club, start with dinner and move to cocktails later rather than booking a very late dining time.
✅ Insider tip
Check the current event programme before booking. A quiet sunset dinner and a weekend club night can feel like two completely different experiences.
3. Lokanta Feriye — Modern Istanbul Cuisine by the Bosphorus
Set within the restored Feriye Palace complex in Ortaköy, Lokanta Feriye pairs a historic waterfront setting with a modern interpretation of Istanbul and Turkish cuisine.
The outdoor area looks across the Bosphorus towards Ortaköy Mosque and the bridge, making this one of the most atmospheric choices on the list.
Feriye's menu is seasonal and ingredient-led rather than a literal recreation of Ottoman palace food. It is included in the MICHELIN Guide as a selected restaurant.
Why choose Lokanta Feriye?
Good to know
What should you order?
Choose from the seasonal menu rather than arriving with one fixed dish in mind. The cooking is particularly strong when it allows vegetables, grilled meats and local ingredients to remain the focus.
✅ Insider tip
Ask for an outdoor table facing the water and book well ahead for weekends. The palace complex also hosts events, which can affect availability.
4. Matbah Restaurant — Ottoman Palace Cuisine Near Hagia Sophia
For visitors who want to connect a meal with the history of the Old City, Matbah Restaurant is one of the most distinctive options in Sultanahmet.
It is located inside the Ottoman Hotel Imperial, between Hagia Sophia, Topkapı Palace and Caferağa Medrese.
Matbah specialises in Ottoman palace cuisine. Its menu is based on research into historical written sources and palace archives, with recipes adapted for a modern restaurant. This makes it a better choice for a food-history experience than for a standard kebab meal.
Why choose Matbah Restaurant?
Good to know
What should you order?
Look for Ballı Gemici Böreği, saffron rice dishes and seasonal meat recipes inspired by historical menus. The restaurant changes parts of the menu according to the season, so the tasting menu can be the easiest way to explore several flavours.
✅ Insider tip
Plan Matbah for lunch after Topkapı Palace or for an early dinner after Hagia Sophia. Ask the team to explain the date and historical background of the dishes you choose.
5. Giritli Restaurant — Cretan Meze in Historic Ahırkapı
Housed in a restored historic building in Ahırkapı, Giritli Restaurant offers a quieter alternative to the busiest streets of Sultanahmet.
Its Cretan and Aegean-inspired cooking centres on meze, seasonal herbs, olive oil, vegetables and seafood.
Giritli is included in the MICHELIN Guide as a selected restaurant. The guide highlights its generous meze experience, outdoor dining and Mediterranean character.
Why choose Giritli Restaurant?
Good to know
What should you order?
Start with a varied meze selection, then ask about the fresh fish and seasonal specials. Giritli may offer a set-menu format; confirm exactly what the current menu and any included drinks cover when you reserve.
✅ Insider tip
Plan Matbah for lunch after Topkapı Palace or for an early dinner after Hagia Sophia. Ask the team to explain the date and historical background of the dishes you choose.
6. Ruby — Bosphorus Dinner That Continues into Nightlife
Ruby is designed for a complete night out rather than a quiet restaurant-only experience. Its waterfront garden, Bosphorus-facing spaces, restaurant, bars and club areas make it popular with diners who want to stay in the same venue after dinner.
The MICHELIN Guide describes the food as Mediterranean, with sharing dishes, Turkish flavours, pasta and risotto. Ruby is included in the MICHELIN selection.
Why choose Ruby?
Good to know
What should you order?
Choose several dishes to share, followed by a grilled fish, pasta or another main course from the current menu. If you plan to stay late, leave time between dinner and the busier club period.
✅ Insider tip
Clarify whether your reservation is for the restaurant, garden, balcony or club area. A reservation at the venue does not always guarantee the exact table or section shown in photographs.
7. Ali Ocakbaşı Karaköy — Traditional Grills with MICHELIN Bib Gourmand Value
Ali Ocakbaşı Karaköy offers a more traditional ocakbaşı experience centred on charcoal-grilled meat, kebabs, vegetables, meze and bread from the fire.
It is the most practical current branch to feature in this article because it appears on the brand's active reservation list and in the current MICHELIN Guide.
The Karaköy branch has a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand, which recognises good cooking at a strong value for its category.
Why choose Ali Ocakbaşı Karaköy?
Good to know
What should you order?
Build the meal around meze and fire-grilled vegetables, then add a lamb or beef kebab with lavash. Ask the staff which cuts and charcoal-grilled dishes are best that day.
✅ Insider tip
Order several dishes for the table rather than one main course per person. This gives you a better introduction to the ocakbaşı format and makes it easier to try both meze and grilled specialities.
8. TERE — A Contemporary Ocakbaşı with an Istanbul View
The current TERE concept is not simply a Mediterranean fine-dining restaurant. TERE is a contemporary ocakbaşı in Gümüşsuyu, created around open-fire cooking, kebabs and modern interpretations of the traditional grill-house table.
It occupies the former Topaz location and combines a city-and-Bosphorus view with a menu led by the fire. This makes it a good option for visitors who want Turkish grill flavours in a more design-focused setting.
Why choose TERE?
Good to know
What should you order?
The official menu highlights küşleme, Adana kebab, lahmacun, crispy kokoreç pide, TERE salad and vegan kebab. Choose a few cold starters first, then share dishes from the grill.
✅ Insider tip
Ask for a table with a view, but keep the food at the centre of the visit: the strongest way to experience TERE is to share several meze and grill plates.
9. Nobu Istanbul — Japanese-Peruvian Dining at The Ritz-Carlton
Located at The Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul, Nobu Istanbul brings the brand's Japanese-Peruvian cooking to a dining room and terrace overlooking the Bosphorus.
It is one of the most international and expensive choices on the list, best suited to a luxury dinner or special celebration.
Nobu Istanbul is included in the MICHELIN Guide as a selected restaurant.
Why choose Nobu Istanbul?
Good to know
What should you order?
First-time visitors often begin with Yellowtail Jalapeño and finish with Black Cod Miso, adding sushi or another seasonal dish in between. Ask about local additions and the current tasting options before ordering.
✅ Insider tip
Restaurant and bar closing times are different. Book an earlier table if you want a relaxed multi-course meal, and confirm terrace availability separately.
10. Armada Terrace — Old City Views and Istanbul Cuisine
On top of Armada Hotel in Ahırkapı, Armada Terrace looks towards the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia on one side and the Marmara Sea on the other.
It is a particularly convenient choice for travellers staying in Sultanahmet who want a view without crossing the city for dinner.
The restaurant's identity is built around Istanbul and Turkish cuisine, local products and the historic character of the hotel. The outdoor terrace operates in warmer weather, while an enclosed terrace provides a winter-garden setting when temperatures fall.
Why choose Armada Terrace?
Good to know
What should you order?
Choose a selection of Istanbul-style meze, then add a seasonal main course. For a daytime visit, the weekend breakfast is a good alternative to dinner and includes classic Turkish breakfast flavours.
✅ Insider tip
Ask whether your reservation is for the open or enclosed terrace. The open terrace is seasonal, and private events can affect restaurant availability.
How to Choose the Right Istanbul Restaurant
| What Are You Looking For? | Our Recommendations |
|---|---|
| For a romantic dinner | Choose Sunset Grill & Bar, Lokanta Feriye or Nobu Istanbul. All three combine a polished atmosphere with Bosphorus views, but Sunset and Nobu sit at the highest price level. |
| For an Old City meal | Choose Matbah for Ottoman palace recipes, Giritli for Cretan meze or Armada Terrace for views of Sultanahmet. These restaurants are easier to combine with Hagia Sophia, Topkapı Palace and the Blue Mosque. |
| For dinner and nightlife | Choose 360 Istanbul for a Beyoğlu rooftop or Ruby for a waterfront night in Ortaköy. Check the event schedule and dress policy before booking. |
| For Turkish grills | Choose Ali Ocakbaşı Karaköy for a traditional, good-value ocakbaşı or TERE for a more contemporary and design-focused version of the experience. |
Restaurant Booking Tips for Istanbul
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no single best choice for everyone. Sunset Grill & Bar is a strong luxury option with a Bosphorus view; Matbah offers an Old City and Ottoman food experience; Ali Ocakbaşı Karaköy is better for traditional grilled food at a lower price level.
At the time of the August 2026 check, Sunset Grill & Bar, Lokanta Feriye, Giritli, Ruby and Nobu Istanbul appeared as MICHELIN-selected restaurants. Ali Ocakbaşı Karaköy held a Bib Gourmand.
Sunset Grill & Bar, Lokanta Feriye, Ruby and Nobu Istanbul are among the strongest choices for Bosphorus views. The best one depends on whether you prefer a hilltop panorama, a waterfront table or a luxury hotel terrace.
