Datlı Maya

Located behind the Firuz Ağa Mosque in the heart of Cihangir – look for the bright-blue storefront – Datlı Maya is a can’t-miss spot for those in search of an interesting, fresh, diverse vegetarian menu. As cosy as cosy gets, Datlı Maya greets visitors with its large wood-fired fırın (oven) and a counter laden with what’s fresh and ready to go that day. Place your order downstairs and then climb the steep staircase, past the second kitchen, and up to a small room with four or five tables. The menu is excellent, with a wide variety of vegetarian options: wild mushroom and aged goat cheese pide, vegetarian lahmacun with chilli paste, various salads, hummus, wraps and a white bean güveç. They also serve Turkish breakfast, freshly baked cakes and desserts, and offer lunchtime specials and a delivery service. The pide (8-15 TL) are the main culinary attraction, brought straight to the table with the wooden oven paddle on which they’ve just been cooked. Other dishes are generally even less expensive. Datlı Maya takes its food seriously, more so than its service and organization, which are fairly slapdash. It’s like a home away from home, yet with much better food than found in most houses. Delivery service available. No alcohol.