hospitality

The gastronomic treasures of İstanbul are endless, and sometimes this richness can be stunning! If you’re unsure where to begin, this article on İstanbul's iconic flavors and where you can taste them is exactly what you need.

As you would expect in a famous holiday destination like Bodrum, there are many stunning hotels renowned for their views, service, bars, and cocktails. However, some of these hotels also stand out for their restaurants, such as Kitchen by Osman Sezener at The Bodrum Edition and Maçakızı led by Aret Sahakyan—you’ll want to visit them even if you’re not staying there!

In Bodrum, there is a place for everyone, whether authentic, secluded, or vibrant. Bağarası, Dereköy Lokantası, and Kurul Bitez are proof that Bodrum restaurants are not limited to a single type of cuisine. These restaurants offer flavors of different cuisines but have something in common: the pleasure of dining beneath lush trees.

Among the fine-dining restaurants in Bodrum are some of the most celebrated cuisines in the world. Some of them stand out not only for their delicious dishes but also for their cocktails, sunset parties, and vibrant atmosphere, such as Isola Manzara -the representative of Italian cuisine, Zuma -one of the leading restaurants of Japanese cuisine, and Hakkasan which introduced Chinese cuisine to the world.

Bodrum has become a genuinely fulfilling destination with stunning coastlines that offer both quiet and lively holiday experiences -as you prefer. Now, it also stands out for some important restaurants and two prominent examples of these refined places are Malva and Tuti which combine the world-famous Aegean olive oils with fresh seafood, herbs, and vegetables and treat the region’s products, from various cheeses to fruits naturally ripened on trees like precious gems.

İzmir, one of the largest and oldest cities in Türkiye, is a true gastronomic gem. From Aegean herbs to sea fish, marinated lamb to artichokes, local ingredients are combined with centuries-old recipes here. Like any real gastronomic city, İzmir offers enjoying good dishes at very reasonable prices. Here are some of İzmir’s well-established and affordable places to eat.

As a region in an excellent climatic zone, Urla nurtures fertile vineyards, yields valuable agricultural products, and thus inspires local cuisine. Perhaps one of the most beautiful aspects of the entire Aegean coast -or the Mediterranean climate in the wider area- is “delicious tables in the open air,” which appear with brand new interpretations in Levan and Teruar Urla.

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.

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.

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.