The flavors of Turkey can now be found in Istanbul restaurants; it is a trip back to the land of the Ottoman Empire and the wealth of great food with recipes that date back centuries. But as non-native ingredients become more readily available and foreign cuisines gain influence, a coterie of Istanbul restaurants are reinventing Turkish food.

Enjoy the day by waking up to a rich breakfast buffet, consisting of freshly baked breads and bakery items as well as selected meats and cheese, fresh fruits and juices with rich coffee and traditional Turkish tea.

In Istanbul you will find from luxury restaurant which serve occidental meals to traditional meyhanes (taverns) and fast-foods. Reservations are recommended wherever possible; in the case of upscale and popular restaurants, they are essential.

The most part, 90% of the restaurants, and eateries in the neighborhood of Sultanahmet. A bit farther up the Bosphorus in Besiktas and Etiler are the five-star restaurants that attract Turkish jet-setters and consulate personnel, for the most part providing a wide selection of fresh-fish specialties, excellent service, and spectacular views.

You can savor Turkish food or take advantage of the international buffet with a different theme every day. Prices are reasonable, service average, and there is a good selection of meze, kebabs, and the usual Turkish fare.

In a Turkish themed restaurant, the main draw is the Kebabs and with a ’Fries, Soda, and Kebab’.Ideal for a late breakfast is menemen (a kind of sloppy Turkish omelette with tomatoes, served with crusty bread) and a pot of filter coffee. For lunch or dinner try the mezze and foods based on lamb, fish and chicken like kebaps, kofte, baba ganoush, hummus, gyros. Finally, round out the meal with a choice of Turkish deserts.

The latest trend in Istanbul restaurants is the fast food version of the traditional simit (kind of bagel) and borek (pastry).

My favorites are to traditional meyhanes (taverns) for the healthy fresh fish and delicious appetizers.
Kebap is sold right on the street and it is delicious. Try the Adana but be careful it is spicy.

Fast foods are very popular: you’ll find McDonalds, KFCs and a lot of local fast foods and pizza places. I have eaten at McDonald and the food was ok. They serve some interesting burgers: with Turk kofte inside.

! Tip: There are restaurants which provide a backdrop for the view over the Bosphorus. This kind of restaurants is ideal for a relaxed family lunch or romantic meal.

! Tip: The Istanbul restaurants have wide selection of Turkish wines produced from rich Anatolian grapes.Try one.

! Tip: Belly dancing is performed in some Istanbul Restaurants. Also the atmosphere is very relaxed and the staff loves to enjoy themselves with the customers which all made for a very entertaining night out with traditional Turkish music and dancing.

! Tip: Ask about the special Turkish Pizza served some nights for dinner.

Most of Istanbul restaurants have absolutely fabulous food, a very relaxed atmosphere and they are definitely not as expensive as other restaurants. The beautiful atmosphere, lovely friendly staff, and delicious Turkish cuisine will make you happy.

Istanbul short description

Istanbul, formerly Constantinople, is located in the north-west Marmara Region of Turkey.It is situated near the North Anatolian fault line, which runs from northern Anatolia to the Marmara Sea. It is the only city in the world that sits astride two continents Europe and Asia.

Istanbul is also one of the world’s major conference destinations and is an increasingly popular choice for the world’s leading international associations.The city has 9,451,000 official population, unofficial population is much higher.

Hotels

There are 40,586 beds in 265 lodging facilities bearing touristic license and 19 of which are 5 star hotels, in Istanbul.You will find many types of hotels: 5 stars hotels, 4 stars hotels, 3 stars hotels, cheap hotels & hostels and accommodation in Istanbul apartments.

Pensions and one and two star hotels may be as inexpensive as $9 per night.

For mid-range and cheap hotels/restaurants, you may actually have a better time if you avoid places listed in your guide.

The Sultanahmet district hotels place you closest to many of the key museums and attractions of the city, but be sure not to miss out on other parts of Istanbul as well.

All major credit cards are accepted at most hotels, restaurants and stores.

Its full range of accommodation, from tourist class to deluxe hotels, and the hospitable people of Istanbul will make your holiday comfortable and enjoyable.

Tourist tips

! A frequent scam, often in smaller hotels (but it can also happen in a variety of other contexts), is to quote prices in Lira and then later, when payment is due, claim the price was given in Euros.

! It’s best to have your hotel arrange for cabs as hotels often have arrangements with a particular company and thus have a little leverage that will act in your favor.

This is the first part of the attractive destination Istanbul, in the future posts you will read about What to visit in Istanbul, Shopping, Food and drinks.