The 10 Best Restaurants In Tophane, Istanbul

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.

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.

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 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 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.

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, 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.