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The 10 Best Restaurants In Tophane, Istanbul

Sahi’s rooftop terrace
Sahi’s rooftop terrace | Courtesy of Sahi
Laura Broomhead

Tophane is a relatively small area located in the Beyoğlu district of Istanbul on the banks of the Bosporus river. At the time of the Ottoman Empire, this was one of the city’s main industrial zones due to its strategic location. In more recent times, the Beyoğlu district and, with it, the area of Tophane, has seen a surge of creative influx and has become an artistic center of Istanbul. Today, there are a variety of great shops, bars and restaurants in the area – here’s our guide to the top 10 places to grab a bite to eat.

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Sahi

Store

Sahi is not the easiest of establishments to find within the small streets filling the Tophane area of Beyoğlu, but if you’re a fan of home-made sweet treats you should definitely seek it out. The ground floor of the building is a dedicated shop and platform for small, local and independent designers and craftspeople to promote their goods, while the rooftop terrace has been transformed into a small cafe. Here you can sample some of the best Iokum (Turkish delight) in the area – made from 100% natural ingredients and using only traditional cooking methods – as well as a small selection of sweet and savory snacks.

Peymane (Tom Tom)

Bar, Diner, Restaurant, Turkish

The Peymane restaurant in Tom Tom set up shop in a five-story listed building, four floors of which have now been converted into a stunning fine-dining restaurant. The small menu is made up of mainly Turkish dishes with influences from world cuisine. Here you can enjoy your meal either in the lobby, the underground Mahrem Bar whose arched stone walls and fireplace make it the coziest of all the floors, the beautiful garden terrace or on the VIP floor at the top of the building.

Tophane Kebapcisi

Tophane Kebapcisi

Tophane Kebapcisi may not look like much from the outside (or, for that matter, from the inside) but the food is tasty and well-made and the welcoming staff are always enthusiastic and friendly. Tophane Kebapcisi mainly offers kebabs and other Turkish meals to eat in or on the go and also caters for vegetarian diets.

Address & telephone number: Boğazkesen Cad. No.15, 34425 Beyoğlu, Istanbul, +90 (212) 244 11 78

Unter

Cafe, Diner, Restaurant, Coffee, Turkish

The 1960s stone building which houses Unter restaurant in Tophane features three stylish and unique floors to enjoy a tasty meal with your loved ones. The ground floor’s stylish, trendy interior features bare brick walls, stripped back wooden furniture and distressed metal chairs while the huge glass windows let in lots of light. The two upper floors offer additional seating for groups and private events. The restaurant is open for brunch, lunch and dinner and has a wide and varied menu. Ingredients are always fresh and seasonal and often organic, ensuring a delicious, high-quality meal every time.

Istanbul Modern Restaurant

Cafe, Restaurant, Turkish

Istanbul Modern is the dining establishment adjacent to (and part of) Istanbul’s Museum of Modern Art. The restaurant’s opening hours are the same as those of the museum next-door, which is definitely worth a visit. We recommend coming here for lunch, an early dinner or even just a snack after a cultural afternoon spent browsing the collection (although you needn’t be visiting the museum in order to dine here). Grab a table on the terrace to admire the spectacular views over the Bosporus – they are particularly beautiful at sunset.

Romans Culture Cafe & Bistro

Bistro, Cafe, Restaurant, Turkish

Romans Culture Cafe & Bistro is a corner cafe with floor to ceiling windows and quirky decor. The ornate chandeliers and red velvet drapes in contrast with the shabby-chic furniture give this cafe-cum-restaurant a fun, up-beat atmosphere where you can enjoy a bite to eat with friends or family. The walls are plastered with black and white photos and there are shelves upon shelves of books which customers are free to browse. There’s also a little gift shop where you can buy trinkets and souvenirs from your visit to Tophane.

Kulinata

Kulinata

Kulinata only opened in Istanbul’s Beyoğlu district in 2013 but has already made a great impact on locals and tourists alike. The interior is charming with quaint, red and white checkered tablecloths on the tables, while the outdoor terrace surrounded by bright painted murals is great on sunny days (though perhaps best avoided in the height of Istanbul’s scorching summers). Food here is fresh and home-made and there is an abundance of vegetarian options to eat in or take away. All of the fresh, wholesome ingredients are laid out behind a glass-fronted counter so you can pick and choose exactly what you want.

Address & telephone number: Lüleci Hendek Cad. No.21, 34425 Beyoğlu, Istanbul, Turkey, +90 (212) 293 11 06

Muhit

Bar, Cafe, Restaurant, Turkish

Beyoğlu’s café culture
© Pete/Flickr
Muhit cafe and restaurant is a great reflection of the transformation that the Beyoğlu has undergone in recent years from a former run-down port area to a lively and creative arts scene. Muhit is located just a stone’s throw away from the formidable Bosporus river on a road filled with shops, bars, cafes and restaurants. The cafe is open all day so you can come here to simply enjoy a coffee in a cool, calm atmosphere away from the manic crowds which are so typical of the thriving city of Istanbul. Alternatively, stick around for one of Muhit’s tasty and generously sized dishes inspired by Turkish and world cuisines.

Tukkan

Bar, Restaurant, Cafe, Coffee, Turkish

Views of Istanbul
© MoyanBrenn/Flickr
Tukkan, located in the heart of Tophane’s main shopping and dining area, is a bar and restaurant open from early in the morning until late at night for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, snacks, coffee and drinks. The restaurant’s menu shows a diverse mix of influences from around the world – dishes are inspired by Greek, Mediterranean, Italian, American, Mexican, Creole and of course Turkish cuisines. The restaurant’s decor is sophisticated and stylish and the delicious dishes are beautifully presented.

Tophane Dürümcüsü

Restaurant

Tophane Dürümcüsü

Tophane Dürümcüsü’s décor is an interesting blend of 1950s America and traditional Turkish dining establishments, with black and white checkered floor tiles and red upholstered tall stools contrasting with the Turkish carpets that are hanging from the walls. The food, however, is decidedly Turkish, with dishes including classic chicken or lamb kebabs, rice dishes and traditional soups. The restaurant is small but is perfectly formed and the shop front lets out onto one of Tophane’s bustling streets, so you can people watch to your heart’s content while enjoying an obligatory Turkish kebab in the country’s biggest city.

Address & telephone number: Boğazkesen Cad. No: 15, 34200 Beyoğlu, Istanbul, Turkey, +90 (212) 244 11 78

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