The Top 10 Restaurants In Bursa, Turkey

If the thought of tender steaks, juicy chops and succulent kebabs gets your taste buds tingling then Uzan Et Mangal (a family-friendly steakhouse, grill and barbecue restaurant) is the place to head in Bursa. Its menu is a meat lover’s heaven with everything from köfte and külbasti (fillet of lamb) to sucuk (a spicy Turkish sausage) and T-bone steak. And with puddings like baklava, kadayif or Bursa’s very own local specialty, kemalpaşa, served too, diners with a sweet tooth will want to leave room for dessert.

Hasköyüm Pidecisi has been serving its signature dish, pide (a Turkish recipe similar to pizza featuring flatbread accompanied by a range of tasty toppings) since 1998 and many years on, they’re proving just as popular. Choose from varieties like the ‘Kiymali’ (topped with minced veal and lamb, tomatoes, onion, pepper and mixed spices) or the ‘Pastirmali Kasarli’ (with veal entrecote, bacon and Kasar cheese) and combine with other classic Turkish dishes including köfte and manti.

Located around 20 miles outside of Bursa’s city center in the pretty coastal town of Mudanya, Beyaz Kayalar boasts beautiful sea views and a menu brimming with deliciously fresh Mediterranean and Aegean inspired seafood dishes to boot. A range of hot and cold meze is served to start and although Beyaz Kayalar’s menu changes daily according to available daily catches, guests can expect specialties like shrimp manti, sea bass wrapped in chard, scallops with white wine sauce or kaşar cheese and fish kebabs.

Selcuk Restaurant is one of Bursa’s most long-standing restaurants and nearly half a century later guests still flock to the family-owned haunt for its traditional Turkish and international cuisine. Start with mouthwatering meze like haydari with tzatziki, beyaz cheese with melon, or Russian salad with hummus followed by hearty main courses like ali nazik (lamb with smoky roasted eggplant and yoghurt), Viennese-style schnitzel and stuffed peppers. Opt for an indulgent dessert of chocolate soufflé or panna cotta to finish.

Taking its cue from classic Neapolitan cuisine and other authentic Italian fare, Dababa is the place to go in Bursa when you’re craving pizza, pasta and the like. Quintessentially Italian small plates kick start Dababa’s menu, think bruschetta, Caprese salad and beef carpaccio, followed by delicious pizzas like the ‘Capriziosa’ (topped with mushrooms, artichoke, ham, olives, tomato and mozzarella) or the signature ‘Dababa’ (with eggplant and barbecued red peppers). If pizza doesn’t suit, there’s plenty of pasta dishes too, choose from options like spaghetti Bolognese and gnocchi with four cheese sauce, and entrees including beef tenderloin with gorgonzola, walnuts, grilled zucchini and potatoes.

Stylish, modern and serving an extensive menu of Turkish, European and international cuisine alongside regular live music, Demo is where Bursa’s cool kids flock for food and fun. Open early ‘til late daily, Demo offers hearty breakfast fare like omelets, pancakes and toasted sandwiches while guests dining later in the day can chow down on dishes like pasta and pizzas wraps, Chinese-inspired noodles, steaks and seafood, pizzas and a huge range of burgers. The signature Demo Burger (with mushroom and béchamel sauce, cheddar and lettuce) and the Venezuela Burger (topped with avocado, honey-Dijon mustard, cheddar, red onion, Nigella seeds, lettuce and mayonnaise) are favorites. Wash down with one of Demo’s many signature cocktails or an ice cold beer.

Nestled not far from the Atatürk Congress Culture Centre, the site of Bursa’s former textile factory, Hayat Lokantasi’s gastronomic bent, Ottoman and Turkish cuisine, is as steeped in history as its location. Dine on classic dishes such as roasted lamb marinated in buttermilk and served with pilaf, goat kebab, meat and vegetable börek or kuru fasulye (white bean stew) before desserts like helvasi (a semolina based Turkish sweet treat). A breakfast buffet is served on weekends featuring yet more classic Turkish fare alongside a range of local cheese.

For deliciously fresh Mediterranean and Aegean inspired seafood in stylish surrounds, look no further than Ege Balik. A beautifully decorated interior (think blue and white motif complemented by smart, tiled floors) that perfectly matches its fish-focused cuisine is bound to delight any seafood fan. Start with dishes like lakerda (pickled bonito) and tomato stuffed snapper followed by main courses of grilled bluefish or skewered swordfish. Finish with a delicious dessert of soufflé.

The Kitap Evi Hotel already boasts a reputation as one of Bursa’s most beautiful boutique hotels, and its onsite restaurant only adds to the prestige. During colder months an intimate, candlelit dining room complete with a roaring open fireplace and piano welcomes guests; while in the summertime, Kitap Evi Hotel’s romantic garden patio, nestled under a canopy of magnolia, linden and elaeagnus trees and softly illuminated by charming fairy lights, set the perfect scene in which to try its delicious Turkish and global cuisine.

Undoubtedly one of Bursa’s best-known and best-loved restaurants, Yüce Hünkar Café has been serving its specialty, the Bursa doner kebab, for the past 50 years. Featuring roasted lamb slices on a bed of pide bread with melted butter sauce, yoghurt, grilled tomatoes and peppers, it’s definitely the restaurant’s must-try dish. However there’s plenty of other meaty eats served too, including grilled köfte and tenderloin steak alongside pizzas and salads and a range of indulgent desserts far too delectable to deny.