Istanbul Travel & Food Guide

Istanbul straddles two continents, and the meeting of Europe and Asia across the Bosphorus shapes everything—its skyline of domes and minarets, its layered history, and a kitchen that draws on both. Few cities offer so much in one trip: imperial palaces, sprawling bazaars, ferry rides between worlds, and food that ranges from quick street snacks to long, convivial feasts.

What the food is known for

Turkish cooking here is rich and varied: smoky kebabs, fresh-baked simit rings, fish sandwiches by the water and breakfasts that stretch across an entire table. The soul of an Istanbul evening is meze—dozens of small cold and hot plates shared slowly over raki. Sweets get equal billing, from syrup-soaked baklava to creamy künefe. Tea, served in tulip glasses, punctuates the whole day.

Where and how to eat

These areas each tell a different story:

• Kadıköy — the Asian-side food market, buzzing with local stalls and meyhanes.
• Sultanahmet — the historic peninsula near the great mosques and the Grand Bazaar.
• Karaköy & Beyoğlu — lively lanes of street snacks, bakeries and rooftop tables.

Make breakfast a leisurely event, snack between sights, and save the evening for a long meze spread. Ferry between continents to eat on both shores. Menus and market signs are frequently only in Turkish, so photographing them to translate helps you navigate the dozens of meze and order beyond the few names you recognize.