Budget
Fermentasyon
One of the nicer cafes in this street and moderately priced. Sitting at one of the tables at the street is a good option, getting one of the tables on the 1st floor at the window and overlooking the street is even better. Staff is friendly and hospitable. Enjoy a good breakfast here with the typical Turkish Menemen omelette with cheese and tomatoes.
Bereket Döner
A quite good value restaurant featuring döner also on the plate as opposed to the usual wrap/sandwich variety; dipped in tomato sauce to the point of swimming and traditional Turkish cuisine. The restaurant is a self-service one, i.e., you take a tray, and order your food by pointing at the entrance, and pay at the cash register right next to the food display take your tableware and bread at this point as you won't be served any at the table, and then take your food to a tableâthere are two more floors upstairs. No alcohol is served.
corner of Taksim Square and Istiklal Avenue
A series of stalls right at the corner of Taksim Square and Istiklal Avenue are renowned for their unique heavily spicy burgers, much smaller than the American variety. While Kızılkayalar Burger (http://www.kizilkayalar.c...) is the locals' favourite, as it's the oldest one and known as the "inventor" of the spicy burgers, all stalls, which are open 24-hr and serve both as a sit-in and take-out, offer basically the same stuffâdöner, french fries, toasts, various cold and hot snacks, freshly squeezed juices, as well as canned soft drinks, and ayran. Spicy burgers make for a great snack after a night-long binge drinking, but keep in mind that garlic smell afterwards can be overpowering.
Balıkpazarı
On the Balıkpazarı Alley literally "Fish Market", next to Ãiçek Pasajı and opposite Galatasaray Lisesi, on about the mid-point of Istiklal Avenue, there is a number of small eateries side by side, offering delicious fried mussels midye tava, 3.50 TL per sandwich with a yogurt sauce, best to be washed down by a pint of beer.
Midrange
Ficcin
The restaurant offers an exceptional value lunch, but is also pleasantly busy at night. Several of the staff speak English and foreign tourists are welcome alongside the many locals who eat there regularly. Fıccın is unusual in being a Circassian restaurant, which also serves Turkish food. Seats are available on the street and in several rooms inside. Alcohol is also served.
Nevizade
Located behind istiklal boulevard, you can find it by entering ãiã§ek pasajä±. it's one of the most famous streets in istiklal boulevard. it's narrow, and is mostly known for its meyhane style restaurants, where lively conversation is the main dish on every table, next to fish and rakä± that is.
Haci Abdullah
Aäa camii, atä±f yä±lmaz cad, eski sakizagaci cad, no: 9/a, +90 212 293-85-61 / 293-08-51 fax: +90 212 244-32-97. one of the best ottoman restaurants in the country. you can find very traditional foods there. no alcohol.
Zencefil
A vegetarian cafe serving healthy and home-style dishes in Beyoglu. Also has a backyard.
Leb-i Derya
A nice cafe-restaurant with a splendid view of the bosphorus and the topkapi palace in tunel, beyoglu.
The House Café
Istiklal caddesi mä±sä±r apt. no:163 beyoälu, +90 212 251-79-91 fax: +90 212 249-79-91 . they serve giant salads, main dishes and pizzas pleasing even to the gourmets. the menu is seasonal which allows them to use only the freshest ingredients.
Top end
360 Istanbul
This gem is in the Beyoglu district on a 360 degrees rooftop, has awesome views of the city. Has a DJ and more party atmosphere late at night and quiet dinners before.
NuTeras
For a breath-taking view of the city and a phenomenal mean, go to NuTeras, the restaurant located on top of a 17 story hotel near the Galata tower.