Classic in Istanbul

16th-century masterpiece by Mimar Sinan

Legendary 1945 institution, inventor of the Beyti kebab

Last great Ottoman hammam, built 1741

Sultan's palace on the Bosphorus

19th-century Ottoman waterfront mansions reimagined

Eastern Turkish breakfast specialties from Van

Legendary Anatolian home cooking from a culinary anthropologist

Former Ottoman prison transformed into cozy luxury

Five generations of baklava perfection

16th-century gem fully restored in Tophane

Afternoon tea at Pera Palace's century-old tearoom

Orient Express heritage since 1892

19th-century raki distillery on the Asian shore

Upper-tier fish house on Operatör Cemil Topuzlu

Boutique hotel at the marina gate with a chef's kitchen

Traditional Ottoman craftsmanship in the classic-elegant heart

Burgazada's Rum meyhane legacy lands in Bostancı

Traditional patisserie and legendary sundaes in Kadıköy

Historic ferry pier dining with unobstructed Bosphorus Bridge views

Shellfish-forward seafood in a 200-year-old Ottoman elephant warehouse

A quiet Aegean-air meyhane behind Beşiktaş fish market

Best Turkish delight since 1777

1951 iskele-side meyhane, Can Yücel and Nazım Hikmet's haunt

Compact meze-first meyhane steps from the marina

Marina-facing grill, seasoned Fenerbahçe regulars

Nevizade's 1941 original, no singing, just rakı

Turkey's first female-run meyhane, Tatavla's living memory since 1946

Old-style neighbourhood meyhane near Akaretler

Rooftop seafood house with Marmara view

Late-1800s building, seasonal mezes, Greek-Turkish soul

1920s meyhane where Yahya Kemal drank rakı

Bahariye's beloved meyhane in a French-bistro-style room

Foraged mushrooms and Golden Horn sunsets since 1939

Historic patisserie since the 1800s - now a 400sqm flagship

Historic patisserie with legendary chocolates

1895 neo-classical mansion reborn as Luxury Collection hotel