Refined in Istanbul

Authentic Japanese by Chef Horikoshi with omakase by reservation

Restored 1924 White-Russian salon where Atatürk had a permanent table

Hagia Sophia-and-Marmara cocktail terrace at Four Seasons Sultanahmet

Boğaz-narrowest fish house with full bar program since 1967

Over-water fish-meyhane on the Baltalimanı seam.

Bosphorus garden classic since 1997, brunch by day, full bar and cocktails after dark

Brasserie-attached cigar room on the Vadistanbul side

Inside Zuma's old Bosphorus mansion, slow-cooked baby octopus, oysters on ice, real cocktail program

Glass jewel-box of vintage champagne with sommelier service

Square-side Ortaköy classic since 1988, meze, rakı and a renovated upper terrace under the bridge

Sarıyer Çarşı fish-meyhane known for kalkan and meze depth.

Haydarpaşa-station-themed cafe-bar that turns into a wine and beer hangout after dark.

Wide Bosphorus terrace lounge for sundown cigars and the city's best afternoon tea

After-work cocktail room on Büyükdere for the Levent towers

Cognac, cigar and Friday-night jazz inside the Ottoman shipyard

İskele-side brasserie with proper cocktail list under the bridge

Late-night Kireçburnu fish-meyhane open until 02:00.

Glass-domed rooftop cigar room over the historical peninsula

Lobby brasserie and terrace at Hilton Bosphorus, all jewel-box finishes and crafted drinks

Pigalle ve MiniBar ekibinden izakaya esintili Japon tapas barı, vinil geceleri.

A park-keeper's hut built over the water, windows on three sides, classic mezes and full rakı/wine bar

Fifth-floor warm dive defending old Beyoğlu's spirit

The Nişantaşı 1980s power-lunch institution moved Bosphorus-side, 30-plus crowd, private pier, classic cocktails

St. Regis lobby bar where the Misty Mary is poured under dry ice

Panoramic CVK lounge with live performers and a proper bar program

138 whiskies, six guided malt tours, one chef-curated pairing

Water-edge House Café flagship, two terraces, full bar, summer DJ weekends

Bosphorus-mouth fish-house where the strait opens to the Black Sea.

Marble columns, Bosphorus terrace, Ottoman cocktails by the sultan's harem hall

Gault & Millau-listed yalı for marinated lüfer and rakı

Bosphorus-pier classic since 1949 under century-old plane trees.

Tarabya marina fish-house with a working bar program.

İstinye Bay fish lokantası in the old Süreyya Restaurant building since 2004

Tea, light plates and salads on the water beside İstinye iskelesi

Wabi-sabi sushi room with chef Rodel Javier off the İstinye coast road

Retro-boutique hotel bar at the marina entrance, seasonal cocktails

Bar side of Four Seasons' Bosphorus seafood room, terrace to the water, Mediterranean pours

The Stay's small rooftop above Bebek Hotel, intimate, signature cocktails, fairy-tale Bosphorus straight onto the bay.

Gül Sultan mansion, Bosphorus, rakı, fish

Kempinski's waterfront aperitivo terrace, Italian spritz ritual over the Bosphorus

Wood-panelled clubby signature bar at the Ottoman palace, elite spirits library

Grand Tarabya's second-floor bar, a Bosphorus-bay cocktail terrace.

Sunset terrace at the marina's edge, classic cocktails and white sails

Pier-tip bar-lounge with live music surrounded by sea on three sides

Shangri-La's lobby bar, jewel-box interior, sharing plates, signature cocktails until 1am

Forbes 2025 Star Bar set in the palace gardens

Istanbul twist on Raffles Singapore's original Long Bar, nightly live music

Kireçburnu waterline fish house, rakı nights the neighborhood still uses.

Belle-Époque hotel bar where Agatha Christie drank, literature nights, Friday live jazz, Istanbul-narrative cocktails.

The Tarabya fish crescent local without the tourist markup.

Ground-floor hotel bar where the Foxy crowd spills over for DJs and late drinks.

14th-floor sushi-and-cocktails bar overlooking both continents

Hilltop Baltalimanı panorama, bar open until 2am.

Palazzo Corpi ground-floor lounge, the only Soho House bar open to the public, meze-and-cocktail anchor of Meşrutiyet.

Sipping bubbles at the water's edge as the call to prayer echoes

English gentlemen's-club style bar with whiskey, cognac and live music six nights.

27-storey Ataşehir tower with a proper lobby-bar cocktail hour

Ottoman-motif velvet lobby bar inside the Akaretler row-house W, late DJ sets

Four Seasons Bosphorus lounge on one of the best terraces on the water

Chef Kaan Kayhan's waterfront meyhane on the Yeniköy pier.

33 years of rakı-sunset at the mouth of the Bosphorus

Istanbul's pre-eminent 1980 classic bar – stained glass, live music, real regulars.

Michelin Guide 2026 new entry inside the Ataturk Cultural Center

Artisan macarons and sourdough pastries above Istanbul's standard

Historic Refi Pasa Yali turned upscale breakfast with Bosphorus-front setting

Revived heritage brand with contemporary ambition, expanding to Bodrum

2026 opening in restored 19th-century Hovagimyan Han

New-generation kebap rethinking ocakbasi culture