The best luxury restaurant in Istanbul in 2026 is TURK Fatih Tutak, the only restaurant in the city with two Michelin stars.
We rank nine Istanbul restaurants by Michelin stars first, then price tier, setting and how the current guide describes them. Mikla and Neolokal are the best-known one-star rooms, and Araf is the newest star.
| Rank | Restaurant | Distinction | Style |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TURK Fatih Tutak | Two Michelin stars | Modern Turkish |
| 2 | Mikla | Michelin star | Modern Mediterranean and New Anatolian |
| 3 | Neolokal | Michelin star | Modern Turkish, farm to table |
| 4 | Nicole | Michelin star | Modern Turkish |
| 5 | Sankai by Nagaya | Michelin star | Contemporary Japanese |
| 6 | Casa Lavanda | Michelin star | Mediterranean and traditional, garden-grown |
| 7 | Arkestra | Michelin star | Vegetable-led fusion |
| 8 | Araka | Michelin star | Creative modern |
| 9 | Araf | New Michelin star, 2026 | Turkish, fire-led counter |
1. TURK Fatih Tutak
TURK is the only two-star restaurant in Istanbul and held onto both stars in the 2026 guide, along with a Green Star for sustainability. Chef Fatih Tutak builds the menu from Turkish regional ingredients and local producers, with delicate acidity and smoky notes.
Dishes the guide mentions include gilt-head bream from Ayval?k with soy reduction and ginger, Black Sea mackerel rolled into sesame maki, and tuna topped with caviar. Hors d’oeuvres are served in the ALVU lounge. The restaurant opens Tuesday to Saturday evenings, and you book directly.
Two stars, the highest price tier and the only restaurant in the city flagged as worth queueing for at that level.
2. Mikla
Mikla sits on the 18th floor of the Marmara Pera hotel, with a 360-degree view of Istanbul. The kitchen takes a New Anatolian approach, and a vegan set menu is always available. Its example dish is smoked duck breast.
Mikla opens Monday to Saturday evenings and closes on Sundays. If you only book one rooftop dinner in Istanbul, this is the one.
The best view on the list, plus a star and the top price tier.
3. Neolokal
Neolokal is inside Salt Galata, with large windows and a terrace over the rooftops and mosques. Chef Maksut A?kar reinterprets traditional Turkish recipes with local produce and Turkish wines. The guide mentions haddock with a mussel and olive oil broth and a pistachio baklava.
The restaurant also holds a Green Star, and its sommelier, Ersin Topkara, won the 2026 Michelin Sommelier Award.
Star, Green Star and a prize-winning sommelier at the top price tier.
4. Nicole
Nicole is named after Agnés Marthe Nicole, a Franciscan nun who owned the building in the early twentieth century. The top floor has views of the old town. The kitchen revamps traditional recipes from across Turkey, and the guide singles out lamb shoulder from Bal?kesir slow-cooked in a ke?kek stew.
Nicole opens Tuesday to Sunday evenings, and the guide rates it worth queueing for.
One star, a high price tier and a famous lamb dish.
5. Sankai by Nagaya
Sankai is the restaurant of the Bebek Hotel on the Bosphorus, led by chef Yoshizumi Nagaya, with Hiroko Shibata preparing the sushi. There is a sushi set menu and a signature menu, and the signature dish is veal cheeks slow-cooked for 48 hours.
The sushi uses fish from local waters and is served lukewarm with a splash of soy. A free shuttle is available.
The best Japanese room in the city, with a star.
6. Casa Lavanda
Casa Lavanda is a family-run restaurant attached to a boutique hotel in ?ile, about 40 km from Istanbul. It earned its first star in the 2025 guide. Chef Emre ?en grows about 80 percent of his vegetables in the hotel’s kitchen garden.
Dishes include agnolotti with burrata and mascarpone and Black Sea sea bass. The wine list has more than 300 labels. The garden terrace is in high demand.
Starred, but outside the city, so it sits below the central rooms.
7. Arkestra
Arkestra occupies a 1960s villa in Etiler. Chef Cenk Debensason grew up in Istanbul, trained in France and developed his cooking in the United States. The menu leans on vegetables and mixes classical technique with global flavors.
Upstairs, the Listening Room serves drinks to the chef’s own playlist, and the guide calls the cocktails outstanding. Doors open Tuesday to Saturday evenings.
The most casual, music-led dining room of the group, with a star.
8. Araka
Araka is in the northern Bosphorus village of Yeniköy and can be reached by ferry. Chef Zeynep P?nar Ta?demir has a highly individual style. The rural-style room and rear terrace focus on seasonal vegetables and herbs.
A signature example is pumpkin purée with za’atar, pickled vegetables and warm olives in a spicy sauce. Prices sit in a lower tier than the other starred rooms.
Starred but in a lower price tier, so it sits lower in a luxury ranking.
9. Araf
Araf won its first Michelin star in the 2026 guide. It is a small counter restaurant built around an open fire, run by chefs Kenan Çetinkaya and P?nar Korgan Çetinkaya, and the guide praises its taste, ingredient quality and technique.
This is the newest Istanbul star and the one to watch.
The newest star in the city, with less to go on than the others.
Keep reading
- The most prestigious restaurants in the world: where Istanbul’s best rank globally
- The most expensive tasting menus in the world: the top of the price scale
- The toughest restaurants to book in the US: for the reservation game back home
FAQ
What is the best luxury restaurant in Istanbul?
TURK Fatih Tutak in Bomonti, which holds two Michelin stars and a Green Star in the 2026 guide.
How many Michelin-starred restaurants are in Istanbul?
In the 2026 guide Istanbul has TURK Fatih Tutak with two stars and a group of one-star restaurants including Mikla, Neolokal, Nicole, Sankai by Nagaya, Araf, Araka, Arkestra and Casa Lavanda.
Which Istanbul restaurant has the best view?
Mikla, on the 18th floor of the Marmara Pera hotel, with a 360-degree view of the city.
Which restaurant is new in 2026?
Araf received its first Michelin star in the 2026 guide.
Do I need to book luxury restaurants in Istanbul?
Yes. These restaurants take bookings directly and most are closed on Sundays or Mondays.
Which restaurant uses its own garden?
Casa Lavanda, in ?ile, grows about 80 percent of its vegetables in the hotel’s kitchen garden.
How we put this list together
We ranked these restaurants by their Michelin distinction first, then price tier, setting and how the current guide describes them. Details come from the guide and the venues as of October 2026, and they change, so confirm before booking.
Last updated: October 2026.
