İstanbul Restaurants
 

Istanbul Restaurants
Istanbul has fostered a truly eclectic culture of food. Skewered lamb kebabs are the town's ubiquitous mainstay, served in pita pockets alongside a garden salad.

A more elaborate local meal begins with mezes (reminiscent of Spanish tapas) before moving on to main courses showcasing fresh, local seafood. Despite the city's tenor of Islam, alcoholic beverages are still readily available. The anise-flavoured raki liqueur is the ideal complement to an authentic dinner in Istanbul.

For the finest dining experience Istanbul has to offer, head to the row of waterfront eateries situated along the Bosphorus Strait. Restaurants here provide upscale dining, much of which features the best of local cuisine (though you will also find a few international establishments) backed by outstanding views of the strait and the historic cityscape.

Aside from the upscale core of restaurants along the Bosphorus, you will also find several quaint neighbourhoods in the periphery, home to local restaurants serving seafood. The Beyoglu district is particularly well known in Istanbul for this, and its dining establishments and similar eateries are scattered across a network of small alleyways and side streets where culinary aficionados will discover a tantalising blend of fine dining and hole-in-the-wall restaurants. Excellent food is available on both sides of this divide.

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All of the reputable hotels operate their own restaurants and guests of these establishments may want to make a reservation for at least one dinner. While international cuisine is more common at hotels, these dining venues also serve some high-quality Turkish cuisine prepared by locally-renowned chefs.

On the other hand, authentic cuisine can be found in a variety of environs. In fact, many of the city's highest-prized restaurants are quite modest, specialising in one or two dishes (often kebabs), which are served in an unpretentious atmosphere. The old quarter of Istanbul is full of these local finds, and visitors will discover that eating in these small, family-owned restaurants is extremely economical.forumsinsi.net

Outdoor dining is especially popular in Istanbul during the summer months. Restaurants large and small often move their tables to outdoor terraces for some refreshing al fresco dining. In most cases, these tables are reserved ahead of time, so it pays to call in advance.

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Safran
Ceylan Inter-Continental Istanbul, Asker Ocagi Cad1, Taksim 80200, Istanbul
Tel: +90 212 231 2121 Fax: +90 212 231 2180

Spasso Italian Restaurant
Hyatt Regency Istanbul, Taskisla Caddesi, Taksim 80090, Istanbul
Tel: +90 212 225 7000 Fax: +90 212 225 7007

Citronelle
Ceylan Inter-Continental Istanbul, Asker Ocagi Cad1, Taksim 80200, Istanbul
Tel: +90 212 231 2121 Fax: +90 212 231 2180

Californian Brasserie
Ceylan Inter-Continental Istanbul, Asker Ocagi Cad1, Taksim 80200, Istanbul
Tel: +90 212 231 2121 Fax: +90 212 231 2180

Agora Café Restaurant
Hyatt Regency Istanbul, Taskisla Caddesi, Taksim 80090, Istanbul
Tel: +90 212 225 7000 Fax: +90 212 225 7007

Tugra
Ciragan Caddesi 84, Besiktas, Istanbul
Tel: +90 212 258 3377

Korfez
Korfez Caddesi 78, Kanlica, Istanbul
Tel: +90 216 413 4314

Borsa Lokantasi
Yalkoku Caddesi, Yalkoku Han 60-62, Eminonu, Istanbul
Tel: +90 212 522 4173

Hacibaba
Istiklal Caddesi 49, Taksim, Istanbul
Tel: +90 212 244 1886

Le Select
Manolya Sokak 21, Levent, Istanbul
Tel: +90 212 268 2120

Develi Restaurant
Balkpazar, Gumuyuzuk Sokak 7, Samataya, Istanbul
Tel: +90 212 585 11

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