- Ask a Local
- Locals have answered 183 questions about Istanbul.
- Ask Istanbul Locals
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1. Kanaat Lokanta
- Traditional, lovely Ottoman kitchen... Cooked like at home
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- Fast Food
- Local Traditional
- Cheap
- Asian Bosphorus
- Nile Expert Tip: One of the oldest "bol-kepce" artisan restaurants / diners of Istanbul.
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2. Ciya Sofrasi
- Culinary adventure: samples of Southeastern (Turkish-Kurdish) cuisine.
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- Mediterranean
- Middle Eastern
- Local Traditional
- Affordable
- Kadıköy
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3. Konyali Lokantasi -Sirkeci
- 113 years-old culinary history, now a restaurant chain
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- Local Traditional
- Cheap
- Eminönü
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4. Topaz Restaurant
- Best of Ottoman Cuisine, serious&elegant place, magnificent view
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- Mediterranean
- Local Traditional
- Very Expensive
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5. Asitane Restaurant
- Excellent Ottoman Palace Cuisine for your palate
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- Middle Eastern
- Local Traditional
- Affordable
- Edirnekapı
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6. Sade Kahve
- One of the best places for a traditional Turkish breakfast
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- Breakfast & Brunch
- Local Traditional
- Affordable
- European Bosphorus
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7. Tarihi Selim Usta Sultanahmet Köftecisi
- Turkish style fast-food: Legendary meatballs & white beans
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- Fast Food
- Middle Eastern
- Local Traditional
- Cheap
- Sultanahmet
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8. Asmali Cavit
- One of the best traditions on Asmalı Mescit Street
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- Local Traditional
- Moderately Priced
- Beyoğlu – Galata
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9. Lokanta Maya
- A niche place serving good and healthy food in Karaköy
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- Mediterranean
- Vegetarian
- Local Traditional
- Moderately Priced
- European Bosphorus
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10. Fasuli Kurufasulyecisi
- Elbows in for Turkish "kuru fasulye"
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- Local Traditional
- Affordable
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The Best of NileGuide
- It is not as simple as it may look from the outside to catch the real flavor of Turkish Cuisine. Turkish cuisine has been influenced and influenced many cultures and cuisines over the course of history. As nomadic people many years ago, the Turkish population had been exposed to different cultures and their tastes before settling down in Anatolia. For instance on the south, there is Lebanon, with whom the Turkish kitchen shares so many flavors and meals, such as the yaprak sarma (stuffed vinegrapes) and içli köfte (mini meatballs). Someone travelling around the Agean may mistake the Turkish cuisine with the Greek and Hellenistic. Around the Agean, the grasses and the grassroots and the olive oil stand out as the must of the kitchens. Fish also has an unbeatable role in the Agean. In fact, for many years villages of Agea were known as fishermen's villages. The fish continues to dominate the kitchen in the North of Turkey. Around the Black Sea, fishermen's villages still abound. However, the Black Sea people cook fish in an entirely different way, like embedding the hamsi (anchovy) in and around rice -yummy! Back in south again, meat is very important in Antakia and Southern Anatolia. The very wellknown "kebab" culture is in fact coming from the South of Turkey. Here, heavy spices are used to season the meat. Different regions have different local cuisines. Istanbul is the only city in Turkey that brings together the finest examples of diverse influences. Istanbul also presents finest examples from the world. Restaurants like Zuma, Papermoon and Bice have also founded themselves a place in this big city and they have become iconic for its residents. Loosen your belt and dig in.
- Best Of Istanbul
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Hotels
- Boutique Hotels
- Brand Name Hotels
- Five Star Hotels
- Family Friendly Accommodations
- Luxury Hotels
- Apartments and Condos
- Business Hotels
- Cheap Accommodations
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Things to Do
- Active Things to Do
- Cool Activities
- Historical Things to Do
- New Tourist Attractions
- Unusual Things to Do
- Romantic Things to Do
- Historic Buildings
- Art Museums
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