It may be a trek to Edirnekapı, but it's worth it for this one-of-a-kind restaurant, in the eponymous hotel next door, specialising in authentic Ottoman food. Authentic means...

Most visitors staying around Sultanahmet head to Kumkapı for fish, unaware that there's a far better option on their doorstep. In fact, Balıkçı Sabahattin is one of the few...

With its bright colours, velvet furnishings and an eye-catching floor piece of a nude young Norma Jean Baker, 5.Kat boasts one of the city's most striking interiors. As its...

Most meyhanes have two or three floors of indoor dining, sometimes with a roof terrace. They don't differ much in terms of food and prices, but everyone has their favourites....

Most of the little local eateries on Güneşlibahçe are indistinguishable, but Çiya is so good - and so successful - that it is taking over most of them. Çiya Sofrası specialises...

Cumhuriyet Meyhanesi, once frequented by Atatürk, is notable for its fasıl musicians.

Popular with locals, this unusual eaterie buried in the backstreets near Taksim Square offers Anatolian eating at its best. Set on six floors, the place feels like a showcase...

One of the oldest restaurants in Istanbul, Hacı Abdullah is deservedly famous for traditional Ottoman fare. Three old-school dining rooms are brightened by a few contemporary...

Right on Eminönü square, Hamdi is a hot favourite among Istanbul natives, particularly business lunchers and carniverous fans of south-eastern Turkish food. Hamdi serves meat...

The original Hünkar opened in 1950 in the far-flung, working-class Fatih neighbourhood. This new offshoot in Nişantaşı has taken the old-school Ottoman brand upmarket. Diners...

Kannat is a perfect example of a historical lokanta that appears to have changed little since it was founded in 1933. Equally popular at both lunch and dinner, the vast menu of...

Krependeki Imroz, one of the oldest meyhanes, deserves a mention. Imroz is the Greek name for Gökçeada, one of the Aegean islands, and home to the Greek owners.

Lokanta roughly translates into English as 'canteen', appropriate given the plain decorative style. No matter, it's all about the food, notable for top-quality ingredients and...

Tucked away behind the fancy waterside eateries in Bebek, this delightful eaterie is worth seeking out. (Head for the Küçük Bebek end of the high street and follow the steps...