Looking for the best vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Istanbul? The city now has a well-established plant-based dining scene, with restaurants serving everything from vegan versions of Turkish classics to modern bowls, fermented nut cheeses, seitan dishes and plant-based desserts. For a practical introduction, three places worth visiting are Vegan Dükkan Lokanta in Cihangir, Vegan Masa in Beşiktaş, and Bi Nevi Deli in Etiler. All three are 100% vegan, so vegetarian diners can also eat from the full menu rather than searching for individual meat-free dishes. Vegan Dükkan focuses on homemade Turkish comfort food, Vegan Masa recreates favourites such as lahmacun and pide in a stone oven, while Bi Nevi Deli takes a more contemporary whole-food, plant-based approach.
For more Istanbul food guides, neighbourhood recommendations and places to visit, bestplacefinder is also a useful starting point.
| Restaurant | Best For | Food Style | Area | Address |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vegan Dükkan Lokanta | Turkish comfort food | Vegan Turkish & international | Cihangir | Soğancı Sok. No:8/D |
| Vegan Masa (Beşiktaş) | Vegan Turkish classics | Vegan Turkish, pide & lahmacun | Beşiktaş | Mısırlıbahçe Sok. No:8/A |
| Bi Nevi Deli | Modern plant-based dining | Whole-food vegan | Etiler | Dilhayat Sok. No:10/1 |
1. Vegan Dükkan Lokanta
Vegan Dükkan Lokanta: A small, cosy restaurant that revolves around the concept of reproducing the Turkish comfort food without using any animal-based ingredients. Vegan Dükkan has expanded and is now the restaurant, opening in May 2022. According to its official website, it is an all-vegan restaurant, featuring local and fresh products and cooking in the spirit of a home cook.
The special feature of Vegan Dükkan Lokanta that comes in handy for travelers is the emphasis on Turkish cuisine instead of just a plate of health food. Vegan versions of hünkar beğendi, mantı, börek and köfte have featured on the menu, as have tofu katsu curry and other international dishes that are vegetarian options. The current information also points out the gluten free options at the restaurant.
If you’re looking to try something new on your vegan menu, the Hürrem mantı is an interesting option. Handmade dumplings with plant-based filling served with fermented cashew yoghurt. Another option inspired by the Turks is vegan hünkar beğendi, a plant based köfte served on the traditional smoked aubergine base.
It is not a large restaurant, and provides seating in the interior as well as a few outdoor tables on Sıraselviler. This lends it a relaxed neighbourhood feel, not like a fancy contemporary vegan eatery. There is also a separate Vegan Dükkan shop across the road that sells vegan items, which may come in handy if you want to take some goodies home.
So, what should you try at a Vegan Dükkan Lokanta?
In order to enjoy a Turkish experience, be sure to try the vegan mantı, hünkar beğendi or the vegan cheese and hünkar beğendi with spinach. Consider the smoked aubergine dishes too; they’re especially good if you’re not a fan of plant-based meat options.
Why to come to Vegan Dükkan Lokanta?
The highlight is its blend of classic Turkish tastes and all-vegan cuisine. For those who live around Taksim and Cihangir, it’s very convenient for those who are not looking for a vegan café snack.
Vegan Dükkan Lokanta Details
Address: Cihangir Mahallesi, Sıraselviler Caddesi, Soğancı Sokak No:8/D, 34433 Beyoğlu, Istanbul
Phone: +90 212 741 43 59
Opening hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 12:00–20:30; Monday closed. The restaurant’s official site currently lists these hours.
Instagram: @vegandukkanlokanta on Instagram
2. Vegan Masa
Vegan Masa is more of a Turkish street-food approach. Beşiktaş restaurant is 100% vegan and famous for its ability to make dishes traditionally associated with meat and dairy, such as lahmacun, pide and içli köfte. The business’s description is a ‘plant-based restaurant concept’ where traditional Turkish flavours are offered in a vegan style.
An important component of the concept of the restaurant is the stone oven. Vegan Masa calls its Beşiktaş establishment a ‘stone-oven vegan restaurant,’ making it a step away from salads and bowls to familiar Turkish baked dishes. There is vegan lahmacun, various types of pide, soups, desserts and other Turkish comfort food items.
This can be one of the more accessible experiences for individuals who have never eaten vegan Turkish cuisine. The restaurant does not offer international cuisine as a substitute for Turkish cuisine, but it takes familiar dishes and substitutes ingredients.
One famous rendition of its vegan lahmacun is well known. The filling is made from plants and is spread on very thin dough which then is baked and is closer to the traditional Turkish style than the usual western Pizza veggie. The mixed platter of pides and lahmacun is still a popular option, as indicated in the recent 2026 reviews by visitors.
The restaurant is situated in Türkali, Beşiktaş, which is close to the visitors exploring Dolmabçe and the waterfront, and Beşiktaş market. The casual interior also makes it an ideal choice for using for a casual lunch or dinner, as well as a formal dinner.
Food to Try at Vegan Masa?
Of course, the first choice is the vegan lahmacun. A variety of pides makes for an ideal group meal: you can sample different fillings. Those who prefer some Turkish cuisine in the meat free style will find vegan içli köfte to be an alternative option as well.
Why would a vegan want to visit Vegan Masa?
The Vegan Masa is especially intriguing as it illustrates how the traditional Turkish bakery and street food recipes can be transformed into a fully vegan menu. Even if you are not a vegan, but just want to explore another way to enjoy the cuisine of Turkey, it is a great option.
Vegan Masa Details
Address: Türkali Mahallesi, Mısırlıbahçe Sokak No:8/A, 34357 Beşiktaş, Istanbul
Phone: +90 535 278 76 61
Opening hours: Monday and Wednesday–Sunday, 11:00–22:00; Tuesday closed according to the current official website.
Instagram: @veganmasa on Instagram
3. Bi Nevi Deli
Now, Bi Nevi Deli is a more modern spin on the vegan meal. It was established in 2014 and ran in Karaköy until it was transferred to the Etiler location. According to its official website, it is a whole-foods, plant-based restaurant that offers 100% vegan menu items, featuring seasonal produce and local and organic products.
The menu is a lot more extensive than a standard vegan coffee shop. There is tofu scramble, pumpkin-seed scramble, buckwheat pancakes, granola and acai bowls for breakfast and bowls, sandwiches, pasta, seitan and vegetable plates for lunch and dinner.
The restaurant is notable for its abundant amount of homemade vegetarian products. Several cashew cheeses and yoghurt alternatives are fermented at Bi Nevi Deli, and ingredients like seitan, tempeh and tofu feature throughout the menu. The end product is far more like contemporary dining than vegan fast food.
The restaurant is also convenient for those travelers with several special dietary needs. Common allergens are clearly marked (nuts, soy, sesame, mustard and gluten) and there are several gluten-free items on the current menu, including gluten-free bread made in the house. The restaurant will especially request that guests with food allergies contact the staff before placing their orders since there is no guarantee that there will be no traces.
Another aspect of Bi Nevi Deli’s identity is breakfast and brunch. You can sample tofu scramble, pancakes, acai bowls, granola and other breakfast items all day long, so the restaurant is great for a morning visit as well as lunch or dinner.
So, what does Bi Nevi Deli offer?
The tofu scramble or buckwheat pancakes make a good introduction to the menu for breakfast. The restaurant’s more modern side is on display at lunch and dinner with the tofu pesto sandwich, quinoa and bean patties, or a seasonal vegetable bowl featuring pastrami-style seitan sandwiches. There’s also some homemade cashew cheese and vegan desserts to sample.
Why Visit Bi Nevi Deli?
Bi Nevi Deli is particularly suitable for travellers looking for modern, entirely vegan food rather than traditional vegan versions of Turkish dishes. Its seasonal ingredients, house-made nut cheeses, gluten-free alternatives and all-day menu make it one of the more versatile plant-based dining options in Istanbul.
Bi Nevi Deli Details
Address: Etiler Mahallesi, Dilhayat Sokak No:10/1, 34337 Beşiktaş, Istanbul
Phone: +90 212 358 60 32
Opening hours: 10:00–22:00 daily according to the restaurant’s current official website.
Instagram: @binevideli on Instagram
What Makes Istanbul Good for Vegan and Vegetarian Dining?
Istanbul’s plant-based scene has developed considerably alongside the city’s broader café and restaurant culture. While traditional Turkish food is often associated with meat, the cuisine also contains a large number of naturally plant-based dishes, particularly within the zeytinyağlı tradition of vegetables cooked with olive oil.
Modern vegan restaurants have taken that foundation further, creating completely plant-based versions of foods such as lahmacun, mantı, köfte, börek and pide, as well as international dishes such as burgers, curry, bowls and pasta. Current Istanbul food guides list dedicated vegan restaurants across neighbourhoods including Cihangir, Beşiktaş, Kadıköy and Etiler.
This variety is useful for travellers because eating vegan in Istanbul does not necessarily mean relying on salads. A plant-based food itinerary can include traditional Turkish dishes, bakery foods, breakfast plates and contemporary restaurant dishes.
Vegan or Vegetarian: What Is the Difference in Istanbul?
A vegan restaurant avoids animal-derived ingredients throughout its food, while a vegetarian restaurant does not serve meat or fish but may still use ingredients such as milk, cheese and eggs.
The three restaurants in this guide are all fully vegan, which means vegetarians can order freely from the entire menu. This is particularly useful for people who want to avoid having to ask whether individual dishes contain meat or dairy.
That said, Istanbul also has many conventional Turkish restaurants offering naturally vegetarian dishes such as imam bayıldı, mercimek çorbası, stuffed vegetables, meze, börek and zeytinyağlı dishes. The level of vegan suitability varies from restaurant to restaurant, so it is worth asking about ingredients when ordering.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best vegan restaurants in Istanbul?
Vegan Dükkan Lokanta, Vegan Masa and Bi Nevi Deli are three fully vegan restaurants representing different sides of Istanbul’s plant-based scene. Vegan Dükkan focuses on Turkish comfort food, Vegan Masa specialises in veganised Turkish bakery and street foods, while Bi Nevi Deli focuses on modern whole-food plant-based dishes.
Is Istanbul good for vegans?
Yes. Istanbul has a growing selection of dedicated vegan restaurants as well as many conventional Turkish restaurants with naturally plant-based dishes. Current 2026 restaurant guides list dedicated vegan and vegetarian venues across both the European and Asian sides of the city.
Where can I try vegan Turkish food in Istanbul?
Vegan Dükkan Lokanta and Vegan Masa are particularly useful for this. Vegan Dükkan offers plant-based versions of dishes such as mantı, börek and hünkar beğendi, while Vegan Masa focuses on lahmacun, pide and other Turkish comfort foods.
Where can I find vegan lahmacun in Istanbul?
Vegan Masa in Beşiktaş is particularly known for its vegan lahmacun, prepared as a completely plant-based version of the classic Turkish flatbread. The restaurant also serves several types of vegan pide.
Is Vegan Dükkan Lokanta completely vegan?
Yes. The restaurant’s official website describes it as an all-vegan eatery, and its current menu is entirely plant-based.
Is Vegan Masa completely vegan?
Yes. Vegan Masa’s official website describes its food production and restaurant concept as vegan, and its Beşiktaş branch is listed as 100% vegan by Vegan Istanbul.
Is Bi Nevi Deli completely vegan?
Yes. Bi Nevi Deli’s official website explicitly describes it as a whole-foods plant-based restaurant serving entirely vegan dishes.
Which vegan restaurant is best for traditional Turkish dishes?
For a menu built around traditional Turkish comfort food, Vegan Dükkan Lokanta and Vegan Masa are particularly relevant. Their menus include vegan versions of dishes such as mantı, börek, lahmacun, pide and hünkar beğendi.
Which vegan restaurant is good for breakfast or brunch?
Bi Nevi Deli has a dedicated all-day breakfast menu with tofu scramble, pumpkin-seed scramble, pancakes, granola and acai bowls.
Which vegan restaurant is closest to Taksim?
Vegan Dükkan Lokanta is in Cihangir, making it one of the more convenient dedicated vegan restaurants for travellers staying around Taksim and Beyoğlu.
Are vegan restaurants in Istanbul suitable for non-vegans?
Yes. The three restaurants in this guide focus on recreating familiar dishes using plant-based ingredients, so visitors do not necessarily need to follow a vegan diet to try them. Vegan Masa, for example, specifically positions its food around making familiar Turkish flavours accessible in plant-based form.
Can I find gluten-free vegan food in Istanbul?
Yes. Bi Nevi Deli currently offers several gluten-free alternatives and identifies allergens on its menu. Vegan Dükkan Lokanta also has a selection of gluten-free dishes. People with serious allergies should still speak directly with the restaurant because cross-contact cannot always be guaranteed.
Are there vegan restaurants on both sides of Istanbul?
Yes. Vegan restaurants operate on both the European and Asian sides. Vegan Masa, for example, currently has locations in Beşiktaş and Kadıköy, while other dedicated vegan restaurants can be found around Cihangir, Etiler and Kadıköy.
