Refined in Istanbul

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

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

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

Gül Sultan mansion, Bosphorus, rakı, fish

Michelin Guide 2026 new entry inside the Ataturk Cultural Center

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

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

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

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

Artisan macarons and sourdough pastries above Istanbul's standard

After-work cocktail room on Büyükdere for the Levent towers

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

New-generation kebap rethinking ocakbasi culture

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

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

Revived heritage brand with contemporary ambition, expanding to Bodrum

2026 opening in restored 19th-century Hovagimyan Han

The Tarabya fish crescent local without the tourist markup.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tarabya marina fish-house with a working bar program.

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

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