Not to miss in Istanbul

Well-known local roaster. Order a V60 filter with the tahini cookie; beans are also sold if you want to take some home.

Weekday mornings are calmer

Small Cihangir coffee bar with a loyal local following. Flat white plus tahini banana bread is the usual order.

Pair with a Cihangir stroll

Specialty filter coffee in the colourful Balat streets. Easy stop between photo walks and the old antique shops nearby.

Visit before Balat gets busy

Specialty espresso bar near Galata with another branch by the Spice Bazaar. Good for a quality coffee between sights.

Galata branch suits sightseeing breaks

Anatolian home cooking served from a counter of daily stews, wild-herb salads and revived regional dishes. Point at what looks good.

Go at lunch, before 2pm

Polished Turkish lokanta known for meze and grilled fish. A reliable mid-range lunch near the Galata and Karaköy sights.

Reserve for dinner

Long-running kebab house beside the Spice Bazaar. Try pistachio kebab and ask for a terrace table at sunset.

Book the terrace for sunset

Intimate open-fire restaurant earning its first Michelin star in 2026. Sit at the counter for small plates, including offal and vegetarian options.

Book well ahead, counter seats

Steep streets of painted houses on the Golden Horn. Shoot the main colourful street and nearby side lanes.

Weekday, 9-11am

Classic skyline across the Golden Horn. Face Süleymaniye Mosque shortly after sunrise, then return at dusk for warm light.

Sunrise, before the crowds

Hilltop over the Golden Horn. Take the cable car up, then walk down through the old cemetery at sunset.

Arrive for sunset

Free Asian-side waterfront facing the tower on its islet. Sunset works best, ideally with a fisherman in the foreground.

Go at sunset