Let me start by telling you that your visit would be incomplete if you don’t have Turkish Breakfast in Istanbul. Turkish breakfasts are a unique cultural experience of their own and something I promise you will be thinking and dreaming about long after you leave Turkey.
With a variety of dishes inspired by traditional Turkish cuisine mixed with Middle-Eastern notes, your taste buds will be in heaven as you indulge in multiple dips, jams, breads and a dozen other delicious dishes.
You will never look at breakfast the same way again, as you work your way through the dishes, dipping and mixing different tastes while sipping unlimited amounts of Turkish tea. You can find Turkish breakfast offered nearly everywhere in Istanbul so you are definitely spoilt for choice.
However, all places to some extent differ in their offering as they may include and exclude a number of dishes to make their breakfast more unique.
So if you are looking for the Best Turkish Breakfast in Istanbul, you’ve come to the right place!
Prepare for your trip to Istanbul
➔ Book your accommodation in advance – find the best hotel deals for Istanbul here.
➔ Find the best tours in Istanbul – book your adventures in Istanbul in advance.
➔ Rent a car – the best and easiest way to get around Istanbul is by renting a car.
➔ Travel Insurance – make sure you’re covered before your trip! I always use SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance which is super affordable and flexible.
➔ Travel cards – Get a Wise or Revolut bank cards to avoid overseas charges and save money on your travels.
Best Breakfast in Istanbul
1. Arada Cafe
Traditional Turkish breakfast with a Middle-Eastern spin, including some Lebanese staples to the mix. Incredibly delicious food with a big variety of dishes both from Turkish and Lebanese cuisines. Cosy atmosphere and beautiful presentation of the breakfast, with small colourful plates and a tray of jams to choose from.
Both the exterior and interior design of the cafe are a photographer’s dream, decorated with beautiful pink flowers and colorful tables. The traditional music playing in the background created a Middle-Eastern feel to the experience and a lovely ambiance.
Shortly after you order, our table is quickly filled with countless small colourful plates, full with cheeses, savoury dips and breads, olives, falafels, donuts and so much more. After being presented with a big tray of jams to choose from and pick for our table, they make the breakfast display even more magical with the help of some dried ice placed in the middle of the table.
The food here is simply impeccable. Everything from the cheeses to the jams and dips taste like heaven, and I have to say that Arada Cafe makes some of the best falafels in Istanbul.
Cuisine: Traditional Turkish specialties mixed with Middle-eastern dishes: halloumi cheese, and other types of cheeses, falafels, chickpea hummus and beetroot hummus , three types of olives, shakshuka, fried donuts bread (incredible), feta cheese rolls, variety of jams and other dips + flatbread with spices.
Price: 140 TRY (£7,30) per person
Opening hours: 8:30pm – 5pm breakfast served (the restaurant stays open till 11:45pm)
Location: Arada Cafe – Hacımimi, Lüleci Hendek Cd. 23a, Beyoğlu, İstanbul, Turkey
2. Van Kahvelti Evi
Van Kahvelti Evi is a locals’ hotspot with lively atmosphere, incredible quality of food and great variety of small dishes. Friendly staff, unlimited amount of tea and constant refill of bread. The best value for money out of all the options.
The breakfast includes different types of jam, tahini with molasses, honey and cream, butter, red pepper paste, four types of cheeses, two fried eggs and freshly baked bread. We were absolutely stunned by the variety and didn’t know where to start.
As you start dipping into the different dishes, and mixing and matching all sorts of combinations, you’ll definitely not want to stop eating regardless of getting full already getting full (I know we have all been there at one point or another in our lives! :D).
Our favourites were definitely the red pepper paste and the honey and cream combination, which makes my mouth water even just thinking about it. The eggs, the cheese and the bread were just perfect and for a cheese lover like me, I felt like I’m in heaven.
Cuisine: Traditional Turkish specialties: variety of jams, four types of cheeses, honey and cream, red pepper dip, tahini with molasses, olives, fried eggs and big basket with different types of bread.
Price: 120 TRY (£6) per person
Opening hours: 8am – 5pm
Location: Van Kahvelti Evi – Kılıçali Paşa, Defterdar Ykş. 52/A, 34425 Beyoğlu, İstanbul
3. Bazlama Kahvelti
Dreamy interior design and relaxing atmosphere. Freshly prepared dishes based on original homemade recipes developed by the family.
Bazlama Kahvelti specialises only in Turkish breakfast so you don’t have to order, they just bring it to you shortly after being seated.
The portions are small to reduce food waste, but you can ask for more of whatever your favourite dishes were, as they have the policy that ‘you are not allowed to eat unless you are fully satisfied’!
Soon after you’re seating, tons of small dishes and dips are being served to your table. Once you have tried out all the dishes you can ask for extra of whatever was your favourite at no extra cost.
Shortly after, you are presented with a big tray of jams to choose from, all 36 types of which homemade by the family that owns the restaurant.
The deliciousness of the breakfast and the beautiful interior design makes this place a must visit while in Istanbul and definitely worth the long journey to get here.
Cuisine: Traditional Turkish breakfast with all the staples like cheeses, breads, red pepper paste and tahini, with unique additions like dry cottage with spices, eggplant with three cheeses and potatoes with caramelised onions. Not to forget the 36 kinds of homemade jams that Nurten Anne (the lovely wife of the founder of Bazlama Kahvelti) has created all herself!
Price: 125 TRY (£6,50) per person
Opening hours: 9am – 5pm, every day
Location: Bazlama Kahvelti – Teşvikiye, Osman F. Seden Sk. No:8, Şişli, İstanbul
Final thoughts
Turkish cuisine is undoubtedly varied, with its best examples being the traditional Turkish breakfast, Turkish mezze and delicious street food.
By reading thus far you must be convinced why having Turkish Breakfast in Istanbul is a must! While there’s plenty of places around offering breakfast in Istanbul, for the true best experience I recommend visiting one of the ones above (or if you have time, why not all of them? :D)
If you are a food lover this is a true culinary experience that you’ll be thinking about long after you leave Turkey.
Make sure to let me know in the comments where you tried Turkish breakfast and how you liked it!
Looking for a place to stay in Istanbul?
Here are our favourite hotels in Istanbul:
The Galataport Hotel – The best view of the Galata Tower with delicious breakfast on the rooftop
Sayeban Hotel Istanbul – Divine comfort and beautiful views over the most historic part of Istanbul, Sultanahmet
Novotel Istanbul Bosphorus – Overlooking the Bosphorus with luxurious rooms and gourmet breakfast choices
Leave a Reply