Michelin Star Restaurants in Istanbul | Your Full Guide 2026

Table of Contents

Toggle

Discover the exquisite Michelin-starred culinary delights in Istanbul, blending traditional Turkish flavors with innovative techniques, offering an unparalleled dining experience.

Venturing to Istanbul Hungry for an unforgettable culinary experience In this vibrant city where East meets West, you can immerse yourself in a gastronomic journey that promises unparalleled taste sensations.

The Prestige of a Michelin Star

But what is a Michelin star and why does it matter A Michelin star is more than just an accolade. It’s a validation of the exceptional, the extraordinary, and the exquisite. Restaurants that have earned this prestigious honor stand as the epitome of fine dining, boasting superior quality, innovative cuisine, and world-class service.

Your Personal Michelin Star Tour Guide

Use our Michelin Decoder Lens to help you explore more restaurant and learn everything about them.

🔍 Michelin Decoder Lens

Discover the complete insider guide to Istanbul’s 132 Michelin-recognized restaurants

Hover your magnifying glass over restaurant cards to reveal chef lineages, booking secrets, and insider tips

⭐ Starred Restaurants (8)

🌿 Green Stars (4)

🍽️ Bib Gourmand (14)

TURK Fatih Tutak

World’s Only Two-Star Turkish Restaurant

Modern Turkish

Şişli

₺₺₺₺

Fatih Tutak

Tasting Menu Only

Extremely Difficult

Maintained Two Stars since 2023 inaugural guide. Creates “new alphabet for Turkish cuisine”

Mikla

Breathtaking 360° Views & Milestone Celebrations

New Anatolian Kitchen

Beyoğlu (Rooftop)

₺₺₺₺

Mehmet Gürs

7-Course + À La Carte

Excellent Value

Istanbul institution before Michelin arrived. “Mikla” = Istanbul in Old Norse

Nicole

Romantic Elegance & Wine Connoisseurs

Contemporary Mediterranean

Beyoğlu (Historic)

₺₺₺₺

Serkan Aksoy

2025 Service Award

Sept 2025 Reopening

Located in former Franciscan monastery. Named after healing nun Agnés Marthe Nicole

Neolokal

Culinary Heritage & Sustainability Advocates

Anatolian Revival

Beyoğlu (Salt Galata)

₺₺₺₺

Maksut Aşkar

Zero-Waste Philosophy

Vegan/Allergy Options

Preserves “endangered” Anatolian recipes. Most accommodating fine-dining in city

Araka

Intimate Romance & Vegetable-Centric Cuisine

Vegetable-Forward

Sarıyer (Yeniköy)

₺₺₺₺

Zeynep Pınar Taşdemir

Garden Terrace

City Escape

Hidden gem in village-like Yeniköy. Tranquil escape from metropolitan bustle

Arkestra

Stylish Night Out & Design Lovers

Modern European Fusion

Beşiktaş (Etiler)

₺₺₺₺

Cenk Debensason

Food + Music + Design

3 Distinct Venues

Multi-sensory destination: Restaurant, Ritmo bistro, and audiophile Listening Room

Sankai by Nagaya

Exclusive Omakase & Japanese Purists

Edomae Japanese

Beşiktaş (Bebek)

₺₺₺₺

Yoshizumi Nagaya

24 Seats Only

Luxury Shuttle

Chef holds Michelin stars in Düsseldorf. Authentic omakase with Bosphorus views

Casa Lavanda

Destination Dining & Farm-to-Table Experience

Mediterranean Farm-to-Table

Şile (45km from city)

₺₺₺

Emre Şen (ex-Mikla)

80% Home-Grown

Boutique Hotel

21-acre biodynamic farm. Perfect weekend escape with 300+ wine labels

Neolokal

Cultural & Agricultural Preservation Leader

Heritage Preservation

Local Producers

Zero-Waste

Biodiversity Champion

“A culture that cannot preserve its past cannot have a future” – sustainability philosophy

Casa Lavanda

Biodynamic Farm-as-Restaurant Model

Closed-Loop System

Kitchen Waste → Fertilizer

Rainwater Management

Minimal Footprint

2,000-square-meter biodynamic garden. Self-sufficient ecosystem showcase

The BARN

“Beyond Zero Waste” Philosophy Pioneer

Buğra Özdemir

Silivri (Net-Zero Farm)

Heirloom Seeds

Regenerative Cycle

Located on “Grandma’s Wonderland” farm. Holistic system where restaurant nourishes land

Telezzüz

Turkey’s First Fully Vegan Fine Dining

Plant-Based Ethos

Üsküdar

Own Vegetable Garden

Vegan Turkish Reinterpretation

Celebrates nature through ingredients. Zero-waste approach with environmental consciousness by design

Karaköy Lokantası

Classic Turkish Meze Excellence

Traditional Turkish

Beyoğlu (Karaköy)

Beautiful Tiled Dining

Perennially Popular

Beloved neighborhood cornerstone. Classic expertly prepared Turkish meze and mains

Aheste

Modern Turkish Mezze Innovation

Modern Turkish

Beyoğlu (Asmalı Mescit)

Intimate & Romantic

Contemporary Experience

Modern reinterpretation of traditional mezze. Charming setting for contemporary Turkish experience

Inari Omakase Kuruçeşme

High-Quality Japanese at Accessible Prices

Japanese Contemporary

Beşiktaş

Excellent Value

International Excellence

Proves excellent value exists in international fine dining. Quality Japanese contemporary cuisine

+ 11 More Bib Gourmands

14 total

Everyday Culinary Excellence Across the City

Turkish & International

All Neighborhoods

Reasonable Prices

Local Favorites

Includes Ali Ocakbaşı, Pandeli, EFENDY, Foxy Nişantaşı, and 7 others across Istanbul

`; wrapper.appendChild(reveal); return reveal; }const reveal = createReveal();// Show custom cursor when entering cards cards.forEach(card => { card.addEventListener('mouseenter', (e) => { cursor.classList.add('active'); card.style.cursor = 'none'; });card.addEventListener('mouseleave', (e) => { cursor.classList.remove('active'); card.style.cursor = 'crosshair'; hideReveal(); clearHighlights(); });card.addEventListener('mousemove', (e) => { updateCursorPosition(e); handleHover(e, card); }); });function updateCursorPosition(e) { cursor.style.left = e.clientX + 'px'; cursor.style.top = e.clientY + 'px'; }function handleHover(e, card) { const target = e.target.closest('[data-reveal]'); const restaurant = card.dataset.restaurant; clearHighlights();if (target && restaurant && restaurantData[restaurant]) { const revealType = target.dataset.reveal; const data = restaurantData[restaurant][revealType]; if (data) { showReveal(e, data); highlightElement(target); } } else { hideReveal(); } }function showReveal(e, data) { const rect = wrapper.getBoundingClientRect(); const x = e.clientX - rect.left; const y = e.clientY - rect.top;reveal.querySelector('h4').textContent = data.title; reveal.querySelector('p').textContent = data.content; reveal.style.left = Math.min(x + 20, wrapper.offsetWidth - 340) + 'px'; reveal.style.top = Math.max(y - 60, 10) + 'px'; reveal.classList.add('active'); currentReveal = reveal; }function hideReveal() { if (currentReveal) { currentReveal.classList.remove('active'); currentReveal = null; } }function highlightElement(element) { element.classList.add('highlighted'); }function clearHighlights() { wrapper.querySelectorAll('.highlighted').forEach(el => { el.classList.remove('highlighted'); }); }// Hide cursor when leaving wrapper wrapper.addEventListener('mouseleave', () => { cursor.classList.remove('active'); hideReveal(); clearHighlights(); });// Prevent default cursor wrapper.addEventListener('mouseenter', () => { wrapper.style.cursor = 'none'; });})();

Michelin Star Restaurants in Istanbul

Now, let’s dive into the world of Michelin star restaurants in Istanbul and discover what makes them so special.

Mikla

Cuisine and Ambience

Mikla, a prestigious Michelin-starred restaurant, offers one of Istanbul’s most celebrated culinary experiences with its innovative cuisine. Standing at the very pinnacle of the city’s dining scene is TURK Fatih Tutak, distinguished as the only restaurant in Turkey to hold two Michelin Stars.

Signature Dishes

The signature dish The Hamsi, a Black Sea anchovy served with rice, red onion, and parsley, is a must-try.

Nicole

Cuisine and Ambience

Nicole is another celebrated Michelin-starred gem in Istanbul, recognized for its unique contemporary interpretation of Turkish cuisine. For those planning a visit, it is important to note that the restaurant is currently undergoing a significant renovation and is set to welcome guests again with a refreshed venue starting September 16, 2025

Signature Dishes

Nicole’s Tasting Menu is a culinary tour-de-force, featuring dishes like the Aegean octopus with ‘lor’ cheese and pickled wild strawberries.

St. Regis Brasserie

Cuisine and Ambience

The St. Regis Brasserie offers a cosmopolitan dining experience with its stylish interior and a menu that combines local ingredients with international techniques.

Signature Dishes

The Istanbul-inspired Brasserie Burger, made with Turkish beef and local cheese, is a crowd-pleaser.

The Michelin-Star Experience in Istanbul

Unique Culinary Flavors

Each restaurant we’ve mentioned offers unique culinary flavors, masterfully blending tradition and innovation.

Exceptional Service

Alongside the exquisite cuisine, these restaurants also offer exceptional service, ensuring each dining experience is unforgettable.

Stunning Views and Ambience

Most of these restaurants also offer stunning views of Istanbul, enhancing the overall dining experience.

Conclusion

The Michelin star restaurants in Istanbul promise more than just a meal; they offer a truly extraordinary dining experience. So, if you are in Istanbul and looking for an unforgettable culinary journey, the city’s officially recognized Michelin-starred restaurants should be on your bucket list. This includes the two-starred TURK Fatih Tutak and one-star honorees such as Mikla and Neolokal, offering a true taste of world-class dining.

FAQs

1. What is a Michelin Star
   • A Michelin Star is a mark of distinction awarded by the Michelin travel guide to restaurants that exhibit exceptional quality in their food, service, and ambiance.
2. How many Michelin Star restaurants are there in Istanbul
   • The city boasts a brilliant constellation of starred dining experiences. At the top is the two-starred TURK Fatih Tutak, a destination in itself. It’s joined by a selection of outstanding one-star restaurants, including the iconic Mikla and the contemporary Nicole. The guide’s recognition also extends to other fine establishments; for instance, the St. Regis Brasserie holds a ‘Selected Restaurant’ recommendation, marking it as a place of high quality.
3. What makes Michelin Star restaurants in Istanbul unique
   • Michelin Star restaurants in Istanbul offer a unique blend of traditional Turkish and international cuisine, exceptional service, and stunning views.
4. What are some signature dishes in these restaurants
   • Some signature dishes include Mikla’s Hamsi, Nicole’s Aegean octopus, and St. Regis Brasserie’s Istanbul-inspired burger.
5. Do I need a reservation for these restaurants
   • Yes, it is highly recommended to make a reservation in advance due to their popularity.