Magazine
Ancient Roads, Diverse Culinary Traditions: Lokanta 1741, Pandeli, Aheste
İstanbul’s centuries-old, rich, multicultural cuisine displays diverse traditions in various locations today. Some restaurants reunite people with the palace cuisine, some reinterpret familiar flavors with a chef’s touch; some try to serve the dishes everyone likes in a usual way, and some recreate familiar dishes from scratch. Frankly, there is room for everyone in this great metropolis.
Editor's Picks
Istanbul : Ambassadors of A Cuisine Legacy Worth Discovering, Matbah and Deraliye
In almost every country, the capital city evokes images of “refined cuisine” due to its association with palaces and aristocracy. In Türkiye, the spotlight naturally falls on the “old capital,” Istanbul. First established as the capital by Emperor Constantine, Istanbul has maintained this prestigious status for centuries.
The Starred Japanese of Istanbul: Sankai by Nagaya
Sankai by Nagara is one of the latest One-Star restaurants in Istanbul. It serves the city’s most sophisticated Japanese flavors and promises to offer an authentic Japanese dining experience with a kitchen led by Chef Nagaya and Chef Shibata. And how could they create this “authentic Japanese dining experience” in Istanbul?
Time and Taste: From a Century Ago to The Present Day Istanbul
An avenue of approximately two kilometers beckoning flaneurs and flaneuses of the city; monumental stone buildings on both sides reflecting diverse architectural styles, each more glamorous than the other; chic restaurants, patisseries, and cafés embracing the entire neighborhood: Welcome to İstiklal Street, also known as Cadde-i Kebir or Grand Rue de Pera!
MICHELIN Guide Türkiye: At Tuğra, service makes the difference
Front-of-house teams are made up of professionals who can elevate a dining experience to a whole new level. The team at Restaurant Tuğra in Istanbul, headed up by Ismail Kahveci, is a case in point… and recipient of our Service Award. This article is supported by Mastercard, official partner of the MICHELIN Guide Istanbul, Izmir & Bodrum.
MICHELIN Guide Ceremony
The culinary scenes of İzmir and Bodrum make a brilliant entry in the 2024 MICHELIN Guide İstanbul, İzmir, Bodrum
A total of 111 restaurants are recommended, including 15 in İzmir and 19 in Bodrum. 2 restaurants in Bodrum and 3 restaurants in İzmir are awarded One MICHELIN Star. 2 new establishments are also honored in İstanbul. 4 new committed restaurants receive the MICHELIN Green Star. A new MICHELIN Award is presented: the MICHELIN Sommelier Award.
53 restaurants spotlighted in the first selection of the MICHELIN Guide Istanbul
Michelin is pleased to present the very first selection of restaurants of the MICHELIN Guide Istanbul 2023. With 53 restaurants making the selection, the Istanbul culinary map greatly impressed the MICHELIN Guide inspectors.
Dining Out
The Starred Japanese of Istanbul: Sankai by Nagaya
Sankai by Nagara is one of the latest One-Star restaurants in Istanbul. It serves the city’s most sophisticated Japanese flavors and promises to offer an authentic Japanese dining experience with a kitchen led by Chef Nagaya and Chef Shibata. And how could they create this “authentic Japanese dining experience” in Istanbul?
Three Kitchens, Three Culinary Styles
It takes time, experience and finesse to present an ingredient to the customer as a dish. To transform that ingredient to different tastes, textures and appereances through various cooking methods, and to create layered flavors.
Around the world in Istanbul
Istanbul is proud of its culinary traditions. The diversity of Turkish tradition, from meze to mantı or smoked yoghurt, is held in high regard. But this metropolis has so much more to offer. Our inspectors guide you through the various international cuisines that make Istanbul a global city – also in culinary terms.
Features
Ancient Roads, Diverse Culinary Traditions: Lokanta 1741, Pandeli, Aheste
İstanbul’s centuries-old, rich, multicultural cuisine displays diverse traditions in various locations today. Some restaurants reunite people with the palace cuisine, some reinterpret familiar flavors with a chef’s touch; some try to serve the dishes everyone likes in a usual way, and some recreate familiar dishes from scratch. Frankly, there is room for everyone in this great metropolis.
Istanbul : Ambassadors of A Cuisine Legacy Worth Discovering, Matbah and Deraliye
In almost every country, the capital city evokes images of “refined cuisine” due to its association with palaces and aristocracy. In Türkiye, the spotlight naturally falls on the “old capital,” Istanbul. First established as the capital by Emperor Constantine, Istanbul has maintained this prestigious status for centuries.
MICHELIN Guide Türkiye: At Tuğra, service makes the difference
Front-of-house teams are made up of professionals who can elevate a dining experience to a whole new level. The team at Restaurant Tuğra in Istanbul, headed up by Ismail Kahveci, is a case in point… and recipient of our Service Award. This article is supported by Mastercard, official partner of the MICHELIN Guide Istanbul, Izmir & Bodrum.
People
Generation Y Chefs
The food scene is changing both in terms of age and direction. Generation Y chefs approach food with passion. The more time they spend in the kitchen, the more they discover themselves and then hone their knowledge accordingly. They dream not of rediscovering the world, but rather of walking confidently down their own path and adding something of their own personality to the legacy they’ve inherited from great chefs before them – and by better recognizing and using what this land has to offer them.
Coming back to Istanbul to find yourself: a day with Fatih Tutak - Restaurant TURK Fatih Tutak
Spend a day with Fatih Tutak, chef of the very first 2 Star restaurant in the MICHELIN Guide Istanbul. Hidden among the skyscrapers, this place offers a mesmerizing journey to the new Anatolian cuisine spiced up with Chef Fatih's fantasies.
Diverse women, diverse styles: Female chefs of Istanbul
Despite the fact that cooking has been seen primarily as a female duty for centuries, it is an unfortunate irony that cuisine, and especially refined cuisine continues to be considered a male exclusive profession. Female chefs still have to exert harder work compared to their male counterparts in order to achieve a similar level of success and regard. However, as is the case in the rest of the world, plenty of female chefs in Istanbul have proven themselves and achieved the recognition they deserve. And they all reflect their own personalities and signature styles in their cuisines.
Wine
Restaurants Carry Türkiye's Heritage Grapes to The Future
Anatolian land has blessed us with grapes. Discussion about the local food or cuisine automatically brings the topic of local wines. What grows together, goes together.
Travel
Time and Taste: From a Century Ago to The Present Day Istanbul
An avenue of approximately two kilometers beckoning flaneurs and flaneuses of the city; monumental stone buildings on both sides reflecting diverse architectural styles, each more glamorous than the other; chic restaurants, patisseries, and cafés embracing the entire neighborhood: Welcome to İstiklal Street, also known as Cadde-i Kebir or Grand Rue de Pera!
Beyoğlu Culture Route: the soul of İstanbul
The Beyoğlu Culture Route is a wonderful tribute to İstanbul’s identity through architecture, art, and culture.
10 restaurants from which to admire Istanbul’s skyline
For unique views of the metropolis on the Bosphorus and world-class cuisine recommended by MICHELIN inspectors, these rooftop restaurants are where it’s at. So, where in Istanbul should you book to be sure to have the best experience of all this first-hand? Our inspectors have collated 10 establishments that deserve a slot in your itinerary.
News & Views
The MICHELIN Guide Creates a Distinction for the Hotel Selection—the MICHELIN Key
In the spirit of the MICHELIN Star, the MICHELIN Key recognizes the most exceptional hotels throughout the world.
İzmir and Bodrum added to the MICHELIN Guide’s Turkish map
İzmir and Bodrum join İstanbul as the two new Turkish territories scrutinized by the MICHELIN Guide Inspectors. This extension to two iconic and touristic territories confirms Türkiye as a rich and thrilling gourmet destination. Restaurant selections for İzmir and Bodrum will be announced together with the İstanbul one, during the same Ceremony to be hold on November 9th 2023 in İstanbul
Sustainable Gastronomy
Grasping sustainability in a big city: A farm trip with Maksut Askar - Neolokal, Istanbul
We spent a day in Urban Gardens in Gümüşdere, Istanbul with Maksut Askar, chef of Neolokal restaurant, the only one awarded a MICHELIN Green Star in Istanbul 2022.
What is a MICHELIN Green Star?
Introduced in 2020 during the presentation of the MICHELIN Guide France selection, and now deployed in all of the Guide's selections, the Green Star is the newest MICHELIN award. Let's take a closer look at this new green award.
