Looking for the best restaurants in Beyoglu, Istanbul? Beyoğlu is one of the city’s most diverse food districts, stretching from the busy streets around Taksim and İstiklal Avenue to quieter corners of Tomtom, Asmalımescit and Galata. The area is home to traditional Turkish grills, modern Anatolian cooking and some of Istanbul’s most celebrated rooftop restaurants. For a well-rounded introduction, Mikla, Yeni Lokanta, and Zübeyir Ocakbaşı are three standout choices, each offering a completely different dining experience. For more Istanbul food guides and local recommendations, bestplacefinder is also a useful place to continue exploring.
| Restaurant | Best For | Cuisine / Style | Area | Address |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mikla | Fine dining & panoramic views | New Anatolian / Modern Turkish | Asmalımescit | The Marmara Pera, Meşrutiyet Cd. No:15 |
| Yeni Lokanta | Contemporary Turkish cuisine | Turkish & Creative | Tomtom | Kumbaracı Yokuşu No:66/B |
| Zübeyir Ocakbaşı | Traditional kebabs & charcoal grilling | Turkish Ocakbaşı | Taksim | Bekar Sok. No:28 |
1. Mikla
About Mikla
Mikla is one of the most popular restaurants in Beyoğlu and one of the oldest restaurants in the city that exemplifies the new Turkish high cuisine. The restaurant at The Marmara Pera, on the top levels of the hotel, offers a 360-degree view of the city of Istanbul and what it dubs New Anatolian Kitchen.
The restaurant is established in 2005 and the New Anatolian style was shaped with the combination of carefully selected ingredients from various regions of Türkiye. The philosophy is not the exact reproduction of the traditional dishes as they are traditionally cooked, but reinterpretation of the Anatolian ingredients with new techniques while preserving the originality of the dishes.
The setting is one of Mikla’s best assets. The restaurant and rooftop bar offers a panoramic view instead of a one spot view, with guests able to gaze across the Golden Horn, Bosphorus and Historic Peninsula. During sunset, the old city and the water slowly illuminate the city and the restaurant becomes very attractive.
The food is as significant. The current menu provides a three course prix fixe, a seven course tasting menu and a vegan tasting menu, and the kitchen adjusts its representative menu based on the menu’s product availability. The cuisine is based on seasonal produce and the same menu is not always offered on each trip.
Today the restaurant is a Michelin star restaurant and Michelin points to the restaurant’s cooking as a “cross between Anatolian tradition and modern technique”.
Mikla should be considered as a place to go for a meal, rather than a place to stop for a quick bite. The decor is elegant and modern and the restaurant has a ‘Smart Chic’ dress code. Reservations are highly recommended, especially for a particular evening, or for a table with a great view.
What is a good choice of meals at Mikla?
The 7 course tasting menu is the easiest way to taste the New Anatolian style of the restaurant, on a first visit. For those who would prefer a quicker meal, the three course prix fixe is a better option.
Mikla may have the reputation of a fine-dining restaurant, but the vegan tasting menu proves that it is a more versatile option.
Mikla Information
Address: The Marmara Pera, Meşrutiyet Caddesi No:15, 34430 Beyoğlu, Istanbul, Türkiye
Phone: +90 212 293 56 56
Opening Hours: Monday–Saturday, 18:00–00:00. The last food order is at 21:30. The bar remains open until 02:00. Sunday closed.
Website: miklarestaurant.com
Instagram: @miklarestaurant
2. Yeni Lokanta
About Yeni Lokanta
Yeni Lokanta offers Turkish cuisine that’s taken to a new level. It’s on Kumbaracı Yokuşu in Tomtom, off İstiklal Avenue with a focus on modern Turkish/Anatolian cuisine, not on the iconic restaurant dishes as they are traditionally offered.
The principles of Chef Civan Er’s cooking style are based on local ingredients, regional recipes, vegetables, seafood and meat, with modern methods with a Turkish flavour. Michelin currently rates the restaurant as Turkish and Creative, and notes the highlights of vegetables, local produce and Turkish wines.
The restaurant’s quality lies in the combination of known and new references, as well as in good presentation. Mantı, for instance, is a part of the restaurant’s existing identity, and ingredients like Ezine cheese, dried sour cherries, hazelnuts, herbs, and seasonal vegetables are combined in more unconventional ways.
The restaurant serves a la carte, as well as tasting menus. These are available for smaller groups, larger groups of 5 or more must choose the tasting menu. It is a restaurant as well and has Turkish wines and cocktails.
Very intimate but not too formal. Michelin calls it a bright Mediterranean-style restaurant with a lively, but welcoming, character; the interior is clean and contemporary, with some subtle nods towards Turkish design.
For those with a taste for modern Turkish cuisine without the strictures of an “old fashioned” fine dining restaurant, Yeni Lokanta is an ideal choice in the heart of Beyoğlu.
So, where do you go when you want to eat at Yeni Lokanta?
For a first visit a tasting menu is the most effective way of understanding the restaurant’s philosophy. One of the dishes that are most associated with the restaurant is the mantı, and seasonal vegetable, seafood and meat dishes change with the menu.
If you’re looking for the entire modern-day Anatolian experience, a Turkish wine pairing may be the right choice.
Yeni Lokanta Information
Address: Tomtom Mahallesi, Kumbaracı Yokuşu No:66/B, 34433 Beyoğlu, Istanbul, Türkiye
Phone: +90 212 292 25 50
Opening Hours: Monday–Saturday, 12:00–16:00 and 17:00–00:30; Sunday, 13:00–22:00.
Website: yenilokanta.com
Instagram: @yeni.lokanta
3. Zübeyir Ocakbaşı
About Zübeyir Ocakbaşı
Zübeyir Ocakbaşı is the representative of the traditional part of Beyoğlu’s restaurant life. The restaurant is in Bekar Sokak, close to İstiklal Avenue, and is based on the Turkish charcoal-grill tradition of cooking meat directly over an open grill – usually just a few metres away from the customers.
It’s a story that starts in 1986 when the founders got into the food business. The Zübeyir Ocakbaşı concept itself opened its doors at Taksim in 2006, and is among the names that is known in the traditional charcoal-grill culture of Istanbul.
The atmosphere is more traditional than Mikla or Yeni Lokanta is. The copper details, wooden elements and large grill provide a warm and colourful ambience, allowing the viewer to observe the cooking process.
Dishes include Adana kebab, Urfa kebab, lamb shish, çöp şiş, lamb chops and other tenderloaf grilled meats, complemented by Turkish salads and meze. Just a couple of the perfect reasons to make this combination a favorite for groups is that several different grilled food options can be enjoyed at the same time at the table.
The place of the restaurant is also important. Zübeyir is an excellent place to eat dinner after strolling the main pedestrian streets of Beyoğlu, and is right next to Taksim and İstiklal Avenue.
It’s a much more hands-on experience than a fine-dining restaurant. It is actually the charcoal, smoke, bread and grilled meat that is the main attraction, and Zübeyir is a good primer in the traditional culture of ocakbaşı in Istanbul. The restaurant is currently listed in high regard for its “Grilled Lamb”, Kebab and traditional Turkish cooking.
Which dishes should you have at Zübeyir?
If you’re on a first date, try Adana kebab and kuzu şiş for a taste of the differences between the two styles. Adana offers you savory minced meat prepared around a skewer, and lamb shish emphasizes bigger chunks of barbecue lamb.
For a classic Turkish meze meal, add a few of the traditional meze, grilled peppers and tomatoes and a cold ayran.
Zübeyir Ocakbaşı Information
Address: Şehit Muhtar Mahallesi, İstiklal Caddesi, Bekar Sokak No:28, 34435 Beyoğlu, Istanbul, Türkiye
Phone: +90 212 293 39 51
Opening Hours: Monday–Friday, 12:00–00:00; Saturday–Sunday, approximately 11:00–00:00 according to current listings.
Website: zubeyirocakbasi.com.tr
Instagram: @zubeyir_ocakbasi
What Makes Beyoglu a Great Area for Restaurants?
Beyoğlu is one of Istanbul’s most diverse food districts because it connects several distinct neighbourhoods within a relatively compact area. Taksim, İstiklal Avenue, Galatasaray, Asmalımescit, Tomtom, Cihangir and parts of Galata all contribute to the wider dining scene.
That variety is reflected in the restaurants. One street can lead to a traditional ocakbaşı, another to a chef-led modern Turkish restaurant, and another to a rooftop overlooking the Golden Horn.
The district is also particularly convenient for visitors because food can easily be combined with sightseeing and nightlife. A restaurant visit can fit naturally around İstiklal Avenue, Galata Tower, Çukurcuma, the Museum of Innocence and Cihangir.
What Type of Restaurant Should You Choose in Beyoglu?
For a Special Occasion
Choose Mikla for refined New Anatolian cuisine, a panoramic skyline and a destination-dining experience.
For Modern Turkish Food
Choose Yeni Lokanta for contemporary interpretations of Turkish and Anatolian dishes, seasonal ingredients and tasting-menu dining.
For Traditional Kebabs
Choose Zübeyir Ocakbaşı for Adana, lamb shish and the classic charcoal-grill atmosphere of an Istanbul ocakbaşı.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best restaurants in Beyoglu?
Mikla, Yeni Lokanta and Zübeyir Ocakbaşı are three strong choices representing very different sides of Beyoğlu’s dining scene: contemporary fine dining, creative Turkish cuisine and traditional charcoal grilling.
Where can I eat traditional Turkish food in Beyoglu?
Zübeyir Ocakbaşı is particularly suitable for traditional Turkish grilled meats, while Yeni Lokanta offers a more modern interpretation of Turkish and Anatolian cuisine.
Which restaurant in Beyoglu is best for kebabs?
Zübeyir Ocakbaşı is one of the area’s established choices for Adana, Urfa, lamb shish, çöp şiş and other charcoal-grilled meats.
Which Beyoglu restaurant is best for fine dining?
Mikla is the strongest fine-dining option in this guide, combining New Anatolian cuisine with a rooftop location and panoramic views. It currently holds a Michelin star.
Where can I try modern Turkish cuisine in Beyoglu?
Yeni Lokanta focuses on creative Turkish cuisine using Anatolian and Aegean ingredients through contemporary techniques.
Which restaurants are close to İstiklal Avenue?
Both Zübeyir Ocakbaşı and Yeni Lokanta are within the wider Beyoğlu/İstiklal area. Mikla is also within walking distance, although it is positioned closer to the Asmalımescit and Pera side.
Which Beyoglu restaurant has the best view?
Mikla is particularly notable for its wide rooftop panorama over the Golden Horn, Bosphorus and Historic Peninsula.
Is Mikla good for a special occasion?
Yes. Its tasting menus, sophisticated setting, rooftop views and fine-dining format make it particularly suitable for birthdays, anniversaries and other special dinners.
Does Yeni Lokanta have a tasting menu?
Yes. Yeni Lokanta offers tasting-menu and à la carte dining. Parties of five or more are required to choose the tasting menu.
Is Zübeyir Ocakbaşı suitable for a casual dinner?
Yes. The restaurant has a much more relaxed and traditional character than a fine-dining venue and is particularly suited to groups, grilled-meat dinners and informal evenings.
What should I order at Zübeyir Ocakbaşı?
Try Adana kebab and lamb shish, with a few meze, grilled peppers and tomatoes. Ayran is also a classic accompaniment.
What type of cuisine does Mikla serve?
Mikla’s cuisine is based on its New Anatolian Kitchen concept, which reinterprets ingredients and traditions from across Anatolia using contemporary techniques.
Is Yeni Lokanta expensive?
It is positioned in the upper segment of Istanbul dining, particularly for tasting menus and wine pairings. It is better considered a destination for a special meal than a budget restaurant.
Can vegetarians eat at these restaurants?
Yes, although the level of choice differs. Mikla currently offers a dedicated vegan tasting menu, while Yeni Lokanta has vegetable-led and vegetarian-friendly dishes. Zübeyir also offers vegetable meze and salads, although its menu is primarily centred on grilled meat.
Do I need reservations?
Reservations are recommended for Mikla and Yeni Lokanta, particularly for dinner and tasting menus. Zübeyir can also become busy during peak evening periods, so booking ahead is useful when possible.
Which restaurant is best for a first visit to Beyoglu?
For a first-time visitor, Zübeyir gives you a classic Turkish grill experience, Yeni Lokanta introduces contemporary Turkish cuisine, and Mikla offers the more elevated Istanbul fine-dining experience.
Can I combine these restaurants with sightseeing?
Absolutely. Beyoğlu is highly walkable, so restaurants can easily be combined with İstiklal Avenue, Galatasaray, Galata, Cihangir and Çukurcuma depending on your itinerary.
