Sign up with email

or

Already a member? Log in.

Trouble logging in?

Not a member? Sign up!

Update: Sultanzade Sofrası is sadly no longer open.

Think of Ramadan, which began in late June in many parts of the world, as a kind of monthlong biathlon that consists of an all-day race to beat back the hunger and thirst of fasting, followed by an all-night marathon of eating and drinking in order to fortify the body for the next day’s fast. In recent years in Turkey, iftar, the traditional break fast meal that used to mostly consist of some dates and a freshly baked round of Ramadan pide, has started to become an increasingly trendy affair, with ministers, businessmen and regular people trying to make an impression by hosting ever more lavish meals.

Still, even if you’re not fasting, a traditional iftar meal at the right place remains a unique and tasty window onto life during the Ramadan period. Below is a list of our favorite spots for iftar in Istanbul (note: reservations are recommended):

Asitane
This upscalish restaurant near the lovely Chora Church prides itself on its devotion to cooking according to ancient Ottoman recipes. For whatever reason, we’ve usually found the place uncomfortably devoid of customers during most of the year, but during Ramadan, Asitane fills up with fast-breakers looking for an Ottoman-style iftar. The restaurant’s garden is a particularly pleasant place to spend the evening.

Set menu 85 TL

Çiya
Although no excuse is needed to visit this well-known spot – one of our favorite restaurants in Istanbul – during Ramadan they are serving up a special iftar menu which, like the restaurant’s regular menu, will likely change daily and feature lesser-known regional specialties from around Turkey. Highly recommended.

Set menu 70 TL

Ramadan in Eyüp, photo by Monique JaquesKanaat
Located in the Asian side’s Üsküdar neighborhood, this classic restaurant is an esnaf lokantası (tradesmen’s cafeteria) that has grown into something bigger and classier, with an almost overwhelming selection of very nicely made prepared dishes served from what seems like a mile-long steam table.

À la carte

Şahin
Unlike Kanaat, Şahin has remained a humble, yet bustling, esnaf lokantası, with two small floors and a smaller menu of classic dishes prepared with a lot of love. It’s another one of our favorite places in town.

À la carte

Sultanzade Sofrası
Istanbul’s Eyüp neighborhood and its complex of mosques and mausoleums is a major pilgrimage site and a favorite spot for families who want to have an outdoor iftar. During Ramadan, the historic neighborhood has an almost carnival-like atmosphere after sundown. Sultanzade Sofrası, a restaurant serving food from the Hatay region and overlooking Eyüp’s main square, is a great perch from which to take in the neighborhood’s iftar vibe.

“Luxury” iftar menu, 45 TL
  • Pirineu en BocaMarch 7, 2018 Pirineu en Boca (0)
    There are many legends and myths surrounding the Pyrenees. Some claim that the divine […] Posted in Barcelona
  • Notes on ReopeningJune 8, 2020 Notes on Reopening (0)
    Everything is ready at Mangia e Bevi. The tables are spaced out, the seats reduced from […] Posted in Naples
  • “Meet Me in Yusufpaşa”October 18, 2019 “Meet Me in Yusufpaşa” (0)
    Editor’s note: Tara Milutis, an American filmmaker based in Istanbul, shares the […] Posted in Istanbul
Monique Jaques

Published on July 09, 2014

Related stories

March 7, 2018

Pirineu en Boca: Straight From the Mountains

Barcelona | By Paula Mourenza
BarcelonaThere are many legends and myths surrounding the Pyrenees. Some claim that the divine hero Hercules created the mountains by piling up rocks as a tomb for his love Pyrene, who had died in one of the area’s forests after being bitten by a snake. While a romantic story, the Pyrenees are much more than…
October 18, 2019

“Meet Me in Yusufpaşa”: Breaking Bread with Istanbul’s Migrant Communities

Istanbul | By Tara Milutis
IstanbulEditor’s note: Tara Milutis, an American filmmaker based in Istanbul, shares the inspiration behind her new short film “Meet Me in Yusufpaşa,” which tells the story of Istanbul’s Yusufpaşa neighborhood, where food knits communities together and expresses the experience of migration and assimilation. When I first visited Istanbul in the spring of 2016, I was…
Select your currency
USD United States (US) dollar
EUR Euro