The best of Istanbul
47 places worth going across 4 lists — pick a list, or open the map.
The best coffee shops in Istanbul
Our pick of Istanbul’s best specialty coffee — third-wave roasters through Karaköy, Cihangir and Kadıköy, not Turkish coffee houses. Cross-referenced from The World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops 2026 (https://theworlds100bestcoffeeshops.com/top-100-coffee-shops/) and the city’s coffee guides. A favourite.place selection.
Istanbul’s best bars
Our pick of Istanbul’s best cocktail bars. No 50 Best Bars ranking currently covers the city, so this is drawn from local bar-industry guides (https://istanbul-tourist-information.com/cocktail-bars-in-istanbul/) and consensus rather than a ranking body — cocktail bars only, not clubs. A favourite.place selection.
Istanbul’s best casual eats
Our pick of Istanbul’s best casual eats — lokantas, ocakbaşıs and meyhanes on both sides of the Bosphorus, cross-referenced from the city’s MICHELIN Bib Gourmand entries (https://guide.michelin.com/en/tr/istanbul-province/istanbul/restaurants/bib-gourmand) and local consensus. A favourite.place selection.
Istanbul’s best restaurants
The best restaurants in Istanbul — every entry is starred by the MICHELIN Guide or ranked by a major guide, and each note shows its exact credentials. This is the city’s complete starred set in the 2026 guide, not a trimmed selection. Sources: MICHELIN Guide Türkiye 2026 https://guide.michelin.com/en/tr/istanbul-province/istanbul/restaurants · The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025 https://www.theworlds50best.com/list/1-50