Turkey is a foodie heaven with an excellent reputation for food and drinks.

Every region in Turkey is famous for a particular drink or food, from Anatolia to the Black Sea and the Aegean region, which all come together in Istanbul to make the city's food unique.

In Istanbul, every meal is unique, but breakfast is crucial in the daily life of the Turkish people. So, you'll want to try breakfast for the authentic traditional Turkish food experience.

The Turks don't eat only one kind of food for breakfast; the breakfast should include different types of milk and cheeses, locally sourced cream with honey, varieties of olives and thyme, fresh vegetables such as cucumber and tomatoes, and eggs.

If you're visiting Istanbul, what is the best food I can have for breakfast, and where can I have the best breakfast in Istanbul? Where are the best restaurants in Istanbul? Well, we've got the answer. We've compiled the list of food items you will find in a Turkish breakfast, the most popular Turkish breakfast options in Istanbul restaurants and the best restaurants for breakfast in Istanbul to help you experience the taste of Turkey.

What is a typical Turkish breakfast?

Traditional Turkish breakfasts are a symphony of flavors. Turkish tea, eggs, cheese, olives, fresh vegetables, and fruit like cucumbers, tomatoes, or peppers are just a few food items that make Turkish breakfast unique from other breakfasts worldwide. A variety of bread, bagels, pastries, and even more exotic options like katmer, crunchy sweet pancakes with pistachio and clotted cream can also be found in Turkish breakfast.

Eggs are an essential component of Turkish breakfasts. Depending on how you want your eggs cooked, they can be fried with breadcrumbs or boiled or mixed into dishes like 'menemen,' eggs seasoned with onions, red pepper flakes, and tomatoes.

Turkish breakfasts vary depending on where you go, but they all have food items in common such as black olives, cheese, green olives, fresh tomatoes, jam, honey, butter, cucumbers, and Turkish tea.

List of Popular food options you will find in a traditional Turkish breakfast menu:

Before we go into our list of best restaurants for breakfast in Istanbul, let's quickly take a look at some of the famous Turkish breakfast options you will find in most of the restaurants in Istanbul.

Cheeses

Tulum peyniri

It is a traditional Turkish cream cheese made from raw or pasteurized goat's milk. The cheese is also ripened in a goat skin casing, making it soft, creamy and slightly crumbly.

Kasar Peyniri

Kasar peyniri is a medium-hard or hard traditional Turkish cheese made mainly from sheep and up to 20% goat's milk.

Beyaz peynir

Beyaz peynir is another cheese made from unpasteurized milk. It is a brined cheese made from unpasteurized cow, sheep or goat milk. The cheese is grainy and similar to sirene, lighvan, feta, and other Balkan white cheeses.

It is eaten either plain, with salads, or incorporated into cooked foods such as menemen, börek, gözleme and pide.

Drinks

Cay

Cay is a traditional Turkish tea offered to visitors when they visit someone's home or go to stores, shopping malls, restaurants and other public spaces. Offering cay is a vital hospitality gesture in Turkey.

Cay is a bitter, slightly sweet black tea traditionally prepared in a so-called Çaydanlık, a two-piece teapot of different-sized teapots.

Turk Kahvesi

Turk Kahvesi is a finely ground traditional Turkish coffee brewed by boiling. It is one of the oldest coffee dating from the Ottoman Empire, and has an essential place in Turkish culture to the present day. It has a unique identity and tradition with its unique taste, foam, and smell.

Egg Dishes

Menemen

If you want something more substantial than the light traditional Turkish cheese or drinks for breakfast, you can try Menemen.

Menemen is a delicious egg similar to Shakshuka. It is originally from a town with the same name, just north of Izmir.

It is made with scrambled eggs, tomatoes, onions, green peppers, and spices and is often eaten for breakfast or lunch.

Sucuklu yumurta 

Sucuklu Yumurta is another delicious egg dish. It is a simple breakfast made with egg and Sucuk.

Sucuk is a dried cured sausage made with lamb or beef and flavored with garlic, cumin and red pepper flakes.

Sahanda yumurta

Sahanda yumurta (Turkish fried eggs) is one of the most popular Turkish egg recipes. It is a fried egg with red pepper flakes sprinkled over the top of the egg.

The best thing about the Sahanda Yumurta is the sunshine yellow runny yolks of the dish that beg for fresh crusty bread to be dipped into them. It is mainly served in a pan.

Çilbir

Another Turkish breakfast you must try is Cilbir. It's an ancient dish that goes as far back as the Ottoman Empire.

Çılbır is a dish of poached eggs and garlic with yogurt. It is commonly topped with melted butter infused with Paprika or chili flakes and usually served with bread on the side.

Meats

Kavurma: 

Kavurma is one of the famous Turkish traditional breakfasts. It is seasoned beef meat containing lamb chunks fried with onions and hot peppers. It is usually served in a pan with salad and fresh bread.

Pastirma: Pastirma is a highly seasoned, air-dried, cured beef.

Sucuk: Sucuk is a dry and fermented sausage made with lamb or beef and flavored with garlic, cumin and red pepper flakes.

Pastries

Su boregi

Su boregi is a drier, less saucy version of the Italian lasagna. It is also known as 'water börek' and is one of the most popular types of Turkish pastry. It contains white flour, eggs, feta cheese, and butter.

Turks love these delicious savory treats and eat them for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or as a snack any time of the day.

Simit

Simit is a circular sesame-seeded bread usually topped with honey or Nutella.

Pişi

Pisi is a traditional Turkish bread in either a triangle or circular shape. It is made with yeast, flour, milk, eggs, salt, butter, sugar, and fat. It has a similar flavor and consistency to doughnuts but is not as sweet.

Sigara Boregi

Sigara böreği are cigarette-like pastries that will fly off the plate. They are perfectly cheesy and oozy with the ultimate crunch.

They are generally made with Phyllo pastry and stuffed with various fillings such as cheese, spinach and meat. They are usually eaten for breakfast, an appetizer, or a small snack.

Akitma 

Akıtma is a unique Turkish-style crepe or pancake. It is different from regular pancakes and crepes as it's made with yeast instead of baking powder. And no eggs or milk is added. It's made just with water, flour and yeast.

Boyoz

Boyoz is a Turkish pastry made with flour, sunflower oil and tahini.

Gozleme

Gozleme is another tasty Turkish breakfast you should try. This is usually more of a lunch dish but is often served during breakfast.

It's a stuffed flatbread, usually topped with cheese and meats. It's traditionally savory with cheese, but you can find it with Nutella too. However, Turkish people tend to prefer the savory version.

Bal Kaymak

Bal Kaymak is a traditional Turkish meal prepared all over the country. It's a sweet, clotted cream from water buffalo milk drizzled with honey. It's a small dish and is usually accompanied by other breakfast meals or bread.

THE BEST BREAKFAST PLACES IN ISTANBUL

Now that you know what you can get as a Turkish breakfast, let's look at some of the best restaurants and cafes for breakfast in Istanbul.

Beşiktaş Kahvaltıcılar Sokağı (The Breakfast Street of Besiktas)

If you want to eat breakfast in Istanbul on a budget and taste Turkish culture, Besiktas Kahvaltıcılar Sokagi is worth a visit.

The breakfast street of Besiktas is one of the most popular places to enjoy traditional Turkish breakfasts. Several small restaurants on every corner and down every alley serve very traditional Turkish breakfasts for an affordable price.

There are different places where you can experience the local breakfast menus. The food here is cheap, so it is the best option if you are on a budget.

Besiktas can be crowded at peak hours, so if you want to sit outside in the fresh air, the best time to come here is early in the morning.

Besiktas district is an amazingly vibrant and international part of Istanbul. There are plenty of locals and students all over the place, allowing you to make friends and learn about Turkish culture from them.

Breakfast is served all day long here, so come anytime to enjoy a Turkish breakfast plate. Çakmak Kahvalti Salonu and Pişi Breakfast & Burger are good places here with a good breakfast menu. The staple food to try here is Pişi, a deep-fried dough. It's available at most of the restaurants here.

Namli Gurme, Karakoy

If you want to have an authentic traditional Turkish breakfast experience in Istanbul, Namli Gurme is a perfect choice for you. This restaurant offers one of the best traditional Turkish breakfasts with various dishes that can't be found elsewhere.

It is one of the famous restaurants in Istanbul and is located on the side of the Galata Bridge. The restaurant has been serving delicious meals for over forty years. They are best known for their delicious meat products, especially pastirma (cured beef) which can be served plain or with fried eggs. However, It offers a variety of cheeses, eggs, and smoked meat. Various Turkish omelets are also available; some with nuts, some with vegetables and some with beef.

Moreover, you can order their food online or at the restaurant and take your Turkish food home.

Van Kahvaltı Evi, Cihangir

Van Kahvalti Evi is another popular place to have breakfast in Istanbul. It is one of Istanbul's most straightforward yet welcoming breakfast places.

Van Kahvalti Evi is located in the trendy bohemian neighborhood of Cihangir in the Beyoğlu district. The atmosphere here is lovely and amicable, and everything is delicious. The place is often whole on weekends, so it is better to go during the week.

The most popular food options on their menu are Mirtuga (made from butter and walnut), Kavut, and Jaji. There is also a variety of cheese for cheese lovers, including herb cheese from Van, Tulum cheese aged in sheepskin, and Kars gruyere.

You can also have menemen and gozleme; the options are seemingly endless! And all for a low price. If you like to dine al fresco style, there is a table or two outside overlooking the cobbled street.

Dogaciyiz Gourmet, Beyoglu

Dogaciyiz Gourmet is an excellent option if you want to sit somewhere and enjoy a quiet breakfast in Istanbul. The ambiance here is lovely, and it's never crowded. The food is reasonably priced, and they use locally sourced ingredients to make all their dishes.

Doğaciyiz Gourmet offers plenty of options for breakfast, including salted yogurt, clotted cream made with buffalo milk and combined with honey, biberli ceviz, a walnut and red pepper dip and hummus; an eggplant and grilled red pepper salad.

Yiğit Sofram Gözleme ve Kahvaltı, Beyoglu

Yiğit Sofram Gözleme is a small family-owned restaurant. The food here tastes like what your mum would cook for you – full of affection, love, care, and attention to detail. In addition, the friendly staff will make you feel at home in this cozy spot that's perfect for any time of day.

Ferikoy Organik Pazar (Ferikoy Farmers Market), Bomonti

If you like exploring a local farmers market and having a simple Turkish gozleme, Ferikoy Organik Pazar is the best option.

Ferikoy farmers market is one of the best places for a traditional Turkish breakfast in Istanbul. The gozlemes that they make here are worth waking up for. They smell like fresh bread and taste even better than you would imagine. If you still need to get a favorite gozleme mix, you should start with the cheese and potato gozleme in Ferikoy Organik Pazar!

Cafe Privato, Galata

Galata is a great place to go shopping and is also home to some of the best Turkish breakfast restaurants in Istanbul. If you want to have breakfast in an area with a vintage atmosphere and delicious food, Privato Café is a good choice.

Privato Cafe has that traditional feel with its delicious food choices like boreks, eggs, and more. The café also has 100-year-old clocks and old items on display that add to its charm as soon as one walks into the place.

Everything at Privato cafe is handmade and organic. An organic home-cooking breakfast welcomes you served on tables decorated with lace and only using carefully selected items from producers who make homemade jams without sugar if your preference is not sugary spreads!

The menu also includes choices such as a honey pancake and different pastries. Moreover, Privato's sugar-free jam tastes like natural fruit and is a must-try item on the menu.

Privato Cafe is located near Taksim, Cihangir, Galata and Karakoy neighborhoods. It's also accessible from Sultanahmet via tram. Its central location and unique service make it one of the best Turkish breakfast spots in Istanbul.

Zennup Restaurant

Zennup is a famous Turkish chef restaurant in Istanbul. It is located in Fişekhane. Zennup is a great way to start your day! Once you visit, you will also want to come back later for lunch and dinner!

Brekkie Croissant & Cookie

The Kadikoy district in Istanbul is famous for old alleys, historic places, buildings, and houses reflecting the elegance and fragility of its past. However, it's also one of Istanbul's most vibrant areas, full of delicious restaurants and cafes.

If you are looking for traditional Turkish and international breakfast in Kadikoy, you should visit Brekkie Croissant & Cookie. Each food served here is simply a perfect Instagram shot. In addition, you're sure to find a lively atmosphere full of young, energetic people in this place.

As it is clear from the venue's name, they serve croissants and all types of sandwiches. We strongly recommend trying one!

Big Chefs Restaurant (Tarabya) 

Big chefs restaurant is located in the Tarabya area overlooking the Bosphorus Strait. It has many branches in several cities, but this is the most beautiful one. It has one of the best Turkish breakfasts in Istanbul, with a sea view to enjoy your breakfast.

Big chefs restaurant is a must-visit if you're looking for a traditional Turkish breakfast. The restaurant serves fresh local cuisine and many breakfast options from different regions.

You can try "serpme kahvaltı" from the menu if you want to try a little bit of every local Turkish cuisine. It has 27 different types of food with unlimited tea service.

Emek Cafe (Yeniköy)

Emek Cafe, in Yeniköy, is great for a delicious breakfast or any other meal. The back of the Cafe boasts an incredible view of the Bosphorus. It is also one of the best budget-friendly cafes for the best breakfast in Istanbul, featuring a sea view.

Emek Cafe has a classic menu, and all ingredients are fresh.

It is a famous local breakfast place for the ones looking for a unique experience. Going early is recommended to avoid the crowd and get the best table with a view.

Emirgan Sütiş (Emirgan Branch)

Emirgan Sütiş is a famous restaurant in Istanbul, and its breakfast menu is tourists' favorite. They started with their first branch in 1953, and now they have 15 branches in Istanbul.

It is famous for its high-quality service, delicious food and lovely atmosphere. The most popular breakfast options here are "bal-kaymak" (honey and cream), "menemen" (Turkish scrambled eggs), "simit" (Turkish bagel) and "börek" (Turkish egg roll). You can also create your breakfast menu by picking from abundant choices and sharing the experience with your loved ones.

Backyard Restaurant

The backyard restaurant is set in the impressive garden of the historic French Orphanage in the middle of the Arnavutköy and Etiler districts. It offers a pleasant setting for a drink and a snack. Diners can taste a real Turkish breakfast in a stunning location.

When you walk into the restaurant, you feel that its unique atmosphere and setting assure you of the best breakfast in Istanbul. We recommend enjoying breakfast in the garden, with good music and a view.

The Market Bosphorus

The Market Bosphorus is one of Istanbul's best and most luxurious restaurants. You can enjoy breakfast with a charming view over the Bosphorus.

The restaurant also offers oriental cuisine, delicious steak meals, excellent service, and a lovely atmosphere. It has a 300-people capacity, making it a good option for big groups to enjoy the best Turkish breakfast in Istanbul. The popular choices include "serpme kahvaltı" and "handmade Turkish sausage and halloumi".

Cesme Bazlama Kahvalti Restaurant

Cesme Bazlama Kahvalti restaurant is located in Nisantasi, a district famous for its fashion boutiques in Istanbul. It is a trendy breakfast place in Istanbul, thanks to the original flavors on its menu.

One of the most popular food items on the menu includes flatbread served with butter from Trabzon, handmade jam, handmade sausage from Kayseri, black mulberry and goat cheese from the Aegean region. In addition, unlimited tea is a part of the menu.

Kahve 6 Restaurant

Kahve 6 restaurant is a famous breakfast spot with a unique menu, including falafel and Chinese plates. The restaurant also offers handmade eggplant and leek pastry. You can also enjoy your brunch at Kahve 6 and taste handcrafted meals and olive oil dishes.

Kahve 6 is located at Cihangir, one of the famous neighborhoods of Istanbul. After having breakfast here, you can explore the museum of Innocence of Nobel Prize-winner, author Orhan Pamuk.

Cakmak Kahvalti Salonu Restaurant

Cakmak Kahvalti Salonu restaurant is located in Besiktas Fish Market. It has a straightforward table; however, the breakfast you eat here is an authentic local experience.

The breakfast offered here is an optimized version of the one prepared by Turkish mothers at home.

The restaurant offers Aegean olives, delicious Turkish cheese, menemen (eggs, tomatoes and peppers), and fresh tomatoes and peppers.

After breakfast in the ideally located restaurant, you can visit Dolmabahce Palace or have a lovely walk from Besiktas to Ortakoy.

Saade Kahvalti Restaurant

Saade Kahvalti restaurant is located in Sultanahmet, in the heart of Istanbul's Old City. Saade Kahvalti restaurant is a place that focuses on traditional Turkish breakfast and is very successful in this regard.

The restaurant offers Anatolian specialties such as zahter olive oil, ezine cheese, Antep tomato paste and Erzincan Tulum cheese.

The House Cafe

The House Cafe is a famous cafe located at the best spot in Ortakoy, where you can enjoy the broad view of the Bosphorus from the restaurant.

The House Cafe has a very colorful and modern design. Going early is recommended to avoid the crowd and get a table by the sea.

The breakfast in this restaurant is a balanced menu. It includes Hot food and classical Turkish breakfast items, and the way the breakfast is served appeals both to the eyes and mouth.

After an excellent breakfast at the house cafe, you can walk to Bebek because Istanbul's most beautiful walking route is between these two districts.

Mangerie Restaurant

Mangerie restaurant has an exciting feature that makes it one of the popular options. Mangerie restaurant is open 24/7, and you can enjoy its fantastic food whenever you like. Mangerie offers pear-mascarpone toast and focaccia toast, and the breakfast menu includes fruit salad and nut butter.

Mangerie restaurant is located in Bebek, one of the most beautiful districts of the Bosphorus. After having a delicious breakfast at Mangerie, walking from Bebek district to Rumeli Hisari is among the best things to do in Istanbul. You can also take great photos and enjoy the Bosphorus view on this route. At the end of this walk, you can also visit the Rumeli Fortress, a 15th-century structure.

Emirgan Sutis Restaurant

Emirgan Sutis restaurant is one of the restaurants identified with breakfast in Istanbul. It is located in Emirgan, one of the most beautiful districts of the Bosphorus.

Emirgan Sutis restaurant serves mouth-watering Turkish omelettes such as "menemen" and "sucuklu yumurta".

Sutis Emirgan restaurant composes its menu with the milk they produce on its farm, and it stands out as an excellent choice for classical Turkish breakfast lovers. Besides eggs, its excellent pastry choices complete the breakfast, accompanied by 14 types of organic bread made of sourdough.

After having breakfast, you can take beautiful photos of the Bosphorus. Also, the Sabanci Museum, one of Istanbul's most important museums, is close to the restaurant.

Halat by Divan Restaurantt

Halat by Divan restaurant is situated inside the Rahmi Koc Museum on the coast of the Golden Horn in Istanbul. It is operated by one of Turkey's biggest food brands, Divan.

Halat by Divan restaurant gives you a chance to have breakfast with an exquisite view of the shore of the Golden Horn. After breakfast at Halan by Divan restaurant, you can explore the Rahmi Koc Museum, one of the best museums in Istanbul.

Forno Restaurant

Forno restaurant is located in Balat, one of Istanbul's famous and oldest districts. Forno's restaurant breakfast includes organic jam, eggs on a wood fire, and many more choices that deserve a try. If you love pastry, Forno restaurant also has butter croissants and hot pitta in its buffet.

Although Forna restaurant is small, it is usually packed on weekends. The restaurant also serves pizza and lahmacun (oval-shaped flatbread topped with ground meat, vegetables and spices ).

Perispri Cafe

Perispri Cafe is also located in Balat. It has one of the most delicious breakfast buffets in Istanbul and offers a stylish and spacious environment.

Perispri is a place that stands out with its stylish decoration. Thanks to the antique items related to the history of Istanbul adorning the ground floor of the Cafe.

The prices in Perispri are high; however, the stylish ambiance and delicious breakfast buffet of the Cafe will make you feel it is worth the price.

Naif Restaurant

Naif Restaurant is a place that serves Aegean-style breakfast. Edremit olives, Bergama Tulum cheese, handmade jam and every other item on its menu is brought to you from its source. There are also special delicacies like French-style eggy bread and omelet with egg.

Naif Restaurant is located in Karakoy, a famous tourist district of Istanbul. After having breakfast here, you can visit Kilic Ali Pasa Mosque and Hamami, a 500-year-old Ottoman mosque and hammam.

Mums Cafe

If you want a rich Turkish breakfast in a historic environment, you can try Mums Cafe.

Mums Cafe is located in a stylish passage and has a menu where you can find the best flavors of Turkish breakfast.

The Mums Cafe is located in Fransiz Gecidi (French passage), which has existed since the Ottoman period. It was built during the architectural transformation of Istanbul in the 19th century. This passage was made for French sailors and European merchants in Istanbul to negotiate business.

Sut, Yumurta, Recel Restaurant

Sut, Yumurta, and Recel bring local breakfast style and foreign kitchen together, giving you many breakfast options. You can find local delicacies in this restaurant, such as cornbread from the Black Sea kitchen, boyoz from the Aegean kitchen and gruyere from Kars.

If you are a vegan or have a kid, there are special breakfast plates for vegans and kids. If you would like to go for other options, there are classical breakfast plates with cheese, olives, and eggs, and if you love just sweet delicacies in your breakfast, you can try a French breakfast plate.

Midpoint Restaurant

Midpoint restaurant is located at the best spot in Fenerbahce (in Kadikoy). It has an exquisite design and offers a fantastic sea view; however, if you want a table near the sea, it is better to be there before 10:00 a.m.

Two breakfast options stand out in this place. One is a classical breakfast with cheese, tomatoes, olives, and jam choices. The second option is the breakfast plate called "Warm Breakfast," which comes with items such as french fries and sausages.

After breakfast at Midpoint restaurant, you can also visit Fenerbahce Park and take a nature walk. The Fenerbahce park is just a walking distance from Midpoint restaurant.

Moda Teras Restaurant

Moda Teras restaurant has a fantastic view that you can watch Fenerbahce, Kalamis Bay and even Prince Islands on the Sea of Marmara. The breakfast served at Moda Teras restaurant is excellent, alongside its incredible scenery. You can choose an open buffet, Turkish breakfast, or American breakfast plate at Moda Teras restaurant.

Kuff Cafe

Kuff Cafe is located on Yeldegirmeni Street in Kadikoy. At Kuff Cafe, you can try fried dough plates and pancakes, and remember to enjoy the coffee here.

Beyaz Firin Restaurant

Beyaz Firin restaurant is located in Suadiye, on the Asian side of Istanbul. It is the place for special delicacies like halloumi cheese from Cyprus, Hatay olive with Za'atar and walnuts, and tahini with hard consistency on the wood fire.

In this restaurant, you can expect great breakfast options, including fried halloumi cheese, sautéed mushrooms, fried eggs on sourdough bread, fried jambon, cherry tomatoes and avocado or a special omelet for athletes.

After breakfast at Beyaz Firin restaurant, you can visit Bagdat Street, the best place to shop on the Asian Side. This 15-kilometer-long shopping street along the Kadikoy district is a paradise for shopping lovers.

By Batul Iddi