Budget
Hayat Cafe
This unassuming hole-in-the-wall cafe might not look like much. In fact, the entire cafe is outside under a covered roof. Though due to popularity, most of the seats are spilling over to the sidewalk and street, and with good reason. While the beer is cold and cheap, it isn't much to speak of. But the food is exceptional a gem among the other restaurants in the area. A nice mix of mezes small plates, salads and kebabs. A good selection for vegetarians. Cheap. Open late. Friendly staff. Accepts Euros and Turkish currency.
Meshur Köfteci (Selim Usta)
Near the sultanahmet tram stop 150 meters downhill. three floor restaurant. meshur means famous, and they rightly claim that title. their specialty is meatballs in a slightly different form, called kã¶fte. take it with a piyaz beans salad and ayran. service is very swift and attentive, prices ordinary.
Karadeniz Aile Pide ve Kebap Salonu
Their specialty is pide, and at this they excel. Prices are ordinary for a quality pide place. Friendly staff.
Lale Restaurant
Or the legendary pudding shop (http://www.puddingshop.co...) as known by hippies of 60âs, is still open but without its former glory and crowd. in sultanahmet, very near the tram station.
Tarihi SubaÅı Lokantası
Traditional Ottoman/Turkish cuisine. A must go place.
Prices have gone up and it is quite difficult to eat under TL10 now Dec 2010, especially in the area around Sultanahmet Square. Restaurants and Kebab places in Sultanahmet are mainly destined to tourists with prices much higher than in places such as Taksim for instance. A kebab can cost from TL1.50 to TL5, TL8, TL10 and higher. For a good price and nice atmosphere, there is a local restaurant with no pretension at all in a small street near the Blue Mosque. For budget meals as well, it is advisable to avoid the restaurants along the tram line in the same area, although there are some really nice places there where a lunch can cost TL20 and they offer water-pipes and boardgames.
Doy-Doy Restaurant
An unassuming cafe spread out over three floors and a roof terrace with views over the Marmara Sea and the Blue Mosque. A bit of a hidden gem, and well worth the visit. Often recommended by locals and reviewed by Fodors. Serves a menu of simple kebabs, chicken and lamb stews, and pide Turkish pizza baked in a wood-burning oven. A variety of mezes are also available. Lunch specials include bean or lentil soup. Soups, meatless pizzas, veggie kebabs and salad are great options for vegetarians. Friendly service. Cheap. Open late.
Full-screen Galata Bridge Fish Sandwiches
Balik ekmek! That's what you listen out for when you're heading down to the lower level of the Bridge on the Eminonu side. Once a raucous tradition for the local fishermen to sell their 'fish in bread' straight of the side of the boat—occupational health and safety policy banned the popular trade, though you can still find the delicious morsels here! Wash it down with a fresh pickle juice..
Midrange
Rumeli Cafe
A.k.a mozaik cafe, ticarethane sokak no:8 near divanyolu caddesi, about one block from the basilica cistern, 212 512 00 08. on a relatively quiet street but close to all the attractions of sultanamet. serves mostly traditional ottoman and turkish dishes, with lots of lamb on the menu. staff are friendly and there are tables both indoors and on the sidewalk. 35-55 ytl per person main, appetizer + one drink.
Green Corner
Nice, lovely little open-air cafã© just down the road from the basilica cistern. eat a gã¶zleme whilst lying down and smoking a turkish pipe.
Top end
The Four Seasons Hotel
Tevkifhane sokak no. 1, sultanahmet-eminã¶nã¼, 90 212 638 82 00 (http://www.fourseasons.co...). the four seasons does a spectacular, but pricey, sunday brunch featuring a range of turkish and international dishes january 2005 price - 70 ytl, 11.30am-3pm.
Asitane
(http://www.asitanerestaur...), at edirnekapi. asitane specializes in traditional ottoman cuisine, based on meticulously researched recipes used in the royal palaces of the ottoman empire. the main theme of these recipes are unique blends of meats and fruits. in spite of the traditional nature of the menu, the restaurant decor would not be out of place in london or new york. pay special attention to the lamb dishes.