Istanbul’s culinary landscape is steeped in history, with eateries that have been serving locals and travelers for generations. From Ottoman-era palaces to Balkan-influenced lokantas, each restaurant tells a rich story of culture and cuisine. Dive into the flavors and tales of twelve of Istanbul’s most storied dining establishments.
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Dining Through the Ages in Istanbul
Istanbul’s historic restaurants offer more than just food – they are living monuments of the city’s past. These establishments, some founded as early as the late 19th century, have preserved recipes and atmospheres that span generations. They stand in ancient bazaars and old neighborhoods, inviting diners to taste traditional Turkish and regional dishes while soaking up the ambiance of another era.
1924 Istanbul (Rejans)
Founded in 1924 by Russian émigrés fleeing the Bolshevik Revolution, this legendary Beyoğlu establishment became one of the most fashionable addresses of the young Turkish Republic. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk himself was a regular, and the restaurant’s polished wood interiors, mirrors, and live piano music captured the mood of a cosmopolitan Istanbul. After closing in 2011, it was restored and reopened in 2016 under its historic identity. Today it serves classic Russian dishes such as beef Stroganoff, borscht, and blinis with smoked salmon, alongside modern international influences. The vodka menu is among the most extensive in the city, making it a true homage to its founders.
Practical Info ℹ️
💎Opening Hours:Monday–Saturday, 16:00 – 00:00 (Closed Sundays)
💎Average Price per Person: $30–$50
Orient Express Restaurant (Sirkeci Station)
This storied restaurant first opened its doors in 1890 at the Sirkeci Train Station, the final stop of the famed Orient Express. For decades, it was a meeting point of travelers, writers, and Istanbul’s social elite. The decor blends Ottoman and European influences, with high ceilings, art deco details, and vintage photographs recalling its glamorous past. The menu focuses on accessible Turkish classics – grilled kebabs, hünkar beğendi (lamb on roasted eggplant purée), tandır lamb, and comforting desserts like rice pudding. Its enduring appeal lies in both its history and its affordability, which continue to attract curious visitors.
Practical Info ℹ️
💎Opening Hours: Daily, approx. 10:00 – 00:00 (check current status due to station renovations)
💎Average Price per Person: $15–$25
Konyalı Restaurant (Topkapı Palace)
Founded in 1897, Konyalı became one of the first establishments to bring refined Ottoman and Anatolian dishes to a wider public. Its most famous branch, located inside Topkapı Palace since the 1960s, has long been a showcase of Istanbul’s culinary heritage for visiting dignitaries and everyday guests alike. Classic dishes such as hünkar beğendi (lamb on creamy eggplant purée), Mevlevi pilavı with fragrant spices, and tender roasted lamb tandır highlight its menu. With panoramic views over the Bosphorus from its palace terrace, the restaurant preserves a regal atmosphere where tradition meets hospitality.
Practical Info ℹ️
💎Opening Hours: Daily except Tuesdays, 08:30 – 16:30
💎Average Price per Person: $15–$20
Meşhur Filibe Köftecisi
Dating back to 1893, this tiny lokanta was founded by a butcher who migrated from Filibe (Plovdiv). It quickly gained fame for its juicy, smoky köfte served with piyaz, a refreshing white bean salad. Simplicity is the secret here – the menu has remained almost unchanged for more than a century. Locals swear by ordering “one and a half portions” to make up for the relatively small serving size, while the crusty bread and ayran complete the experience. The atmosphere is modest and lively, just steps from Sirkeci, with generations of Istanbulites having lined up for the same flavors.
Practical Info ℹ️
💎Opening Hours: Monday–Saturday, lunch to late afternoon (closed Sundays)
💎Average Price per Person: $10–$15
Ayaspaşa Rus Lokantası
Opened in 1943 by a Russian émigré family, this long-standing venue became one of Istanbul’s most beloved Russian kitchens. Still family-run, it continues to serve recipes handed down through generations: borş çorbası (borscht), dumplings, stroganoff, and hearty cabbage rolls. A trademark ritual here is pairing the food with chilled “sarı vodka.” In winter, evenings are enriched with live music, giving the dining room an old-world, bohemian character. It is a nostalgic refuge where Istanbul’s Russian community left its indelible mark on the city’s dining culture.
Practical Info ℹ️
💎Opening Hours: Daily from 12:00 – 23:00
💎Average Price per Person: $15–$25
Pandeli Restaurant
Perched above the Spice Bazaar since 1901, Pandeli is a true Istanbul institution. Its founder, Pandeli Çobanoğlu, rose from humble beginnings to create a restaurant so iconic that Atatürk, Audrey Hepburn, and Sean Connery all dined here. The interior is lined with striking turquoise Iznik tiles, while the menu celebrates Ottoman classics: lamb cutlets, hünkar beğendi, and perde pilavı (rice baked in pastry with almonds and chicken). After closing for a few years, it triumphantly reopened in 2018, once again offering both locals and visitors a taste of culinary history in one of the city’s most atmospheric settings.
Practical Info ℹ️
💎Opening Hours: Monday–Saturday, 11:30 – 19:00 (Closed Sundays)
💎Average Price per Person: $20–$30
Kanaat Lokantası (Üsküdar)
Since 1933, Kanaat Lokantası has stood as the pride of Üsküdar. Founded by an immigrant family from the Balkans, it embodies the esnaf lokantası spirit – a place where dishes are displayed in steaming trays behind glass, and customers point to what they want. Its daily-changing buffet stretches from delicate olive-oil vegetables (zeytinyağlılar) to rich stews, pilafs, and grilled meats. A few signatures, such as Uzbek-style lamb pilaf and goat-milk ice cream, keep regulars coming back. For locals, it has long been a Sunday family ritual, and for visitors it’s a chance to see how Istanbulites truly eat.
Practical Info ℹ️
💎Opening Hours: Daily, 07:00 – 23:00
💎Average Price per Person: $5–$10
Hacı Abdullah Lokantası
Established in 1888, Hacı Abdullah is one of Istanbul’s most enduring representatives of Ottoman cuisine. Its founding was approved by Sultan Abdülhamid II himself, and the tradition of master-apprentice training has ensured consistency for over a century. The menu features palace favorites such as elbasan tava (lamb baked with yogurt), seasonal vegetable stews, and homemade pickles and compotes that line the shelves in glass jars. Visitors are greeted with the sight of colorful preserves before they even sit down. The restaurant’s decor – high ceilings, carved wood, and framed portraits – makes dining here feel like stepping into a living museum of culinary heritage.
Practical Info ℹ️
💎Opening Hours: Daily, 11:00 – 23:00
💎Average Price per Person: $20–$40
Siirt Şeref Büryan
Hidden in the historic Kadınlar Pazarı quarter since the late 19th century, Siirt Şeref Büryan is dedicated to one thing above all: büryan kebabı. This ancient dish from Siirt is made by suspending whole lambs in a deep pit oven, where they slow-roast until the meat is meltingly tender. Served on simple bread that soaks up the juices, it’s a primal and unforgettable experience. The restaurant also serves perde pilavı (rice baked in a crust with almonds, currants, and chicken) and mumbar dolması (stuffed intestines), dishes rooted in Anatolian home cooking. Dining here is less about frills and more about authenticity.
Practical Info ℹ️
💎Opening Hours: Daily, 11:00 – 22:00
💎Average Price per Person: $10–$15
Sultanahmet Köftecisi Selim Usta
Founded in 1920, this unassuming eatery has grown into one of the most beloved food stops in Istanbul’s old city. Its menu is famously limited – just juicy, hand-rolled köfte served with white bean salad (piyaz), fresh bread, and, for dessert, semolina halva. Yet that simplicity is exactly what keeps it packed with both locals and visitors every day. The décor is straightforward, with walls covered in old photographs and press clippings. Be prepared for quick service, a buzzing crowd, and a meal that has defined comfort food in Sultanahmet for more than a century.
Practical Info ℹ️
💎Opening Hours: Daily, 10:00 – 22:00
💎Average Price per Person: $8–$12
Kurufasulyeci Erzincanlı Ali Baba
Since 1924, Erzincanlı Ali Baba has been synonymous with one of Turkey’s most beloved comfort foods: kuru fasulye (stewed white beans). Located near the Süleymaniye Mosque, it has served generations of locals, students, and workers a simple yet perfect combination – beans slow-cooked in tomato and butter, paired with fluffy pilaf and pickles. The menu is rounded out with hearty stews, kebabs, and the classic kabak tatlısı (pumpkin dessert), but the beans are what made Ali Baba a legend. The aroma of bubbling copper pots fills the small, no-frills dining room, where tables turn over quickly throughout the day.
Practical Info ℹ️
💎Opening Hours: Daily, 11:00 – 21:00
💎Average Price per Person: $5–$8
Yanyalı Fehmi Lokantası
Established in 1919 by a family originally from Ioannina (Yanya), this Kadıköy institution is celebrated for blending Ottoman recipes with Balkan influences. For more than a century, Yanyalı Fehmi has served specialties like islim kebabı (lamb wrapped in eggplant), elbasan tava, stuffed grape leaves, and comforting soups that recall a home kitchen. The restaurant’s tiled walls and framed vintage photographs create a nostalgic atmosphere, while the long buffet displays a colorful array of daily dishes. It’s a true neighborhood landmark, where locals and loyal regulars mingle with curious newcomers.
Practical Info ℹ️
💎Opening Hours: Daily, 10:00 – 22:00 (Closed Fridays)
💎Average Price per Person: $10–$15
Why These Historic Restaurants Matter
Dining in Istanbul’s oldest restaurants is more than a meal—it is an immersion into the city’s living history. Each establishment tells a story of migration, empire, or neighborhood tradition: the Russian émigrés at 1924 Istanbul, the Ottoman grandeur of Konyalı, the market bustle surrounding Pandeli, or the enduring simplicity of Sultanahmet Köftecisi. They are proof that culture can be preserved not only in monuments but also on the table, passed down one recipe at a time.
Our Recommendation
At The Other Tour, we treasure these venues because they allow our guests to taste Istanbul in its most authentic form. When we guide travelers through the city, we do not only visit landmarks; we sit down in these very dining rooms, share meals, and talk about their stories. Some of these restaurants even form part of our curated itineraries, while others are places we frequent personally.
If you are seeking to experience Istanbul not just as a visitor but as a participant in its history, these restaurants are essential stops.
Join us, and discover the city through its kitchens—where every dish is a chapter of Istanbul’s past, and every bite connects you to its soul.
