Italian food in Istanbul works best when it stays honest. Not flashy. Not overdone. Just good ingredients, proper technique, and places that know when to keep things simple.
Over the years, the city has built a strong Italian dining scene, shaped by expat chefs, long-running family kitchens, and restaurants that care deeply about pasta texture, dough fermentation, and balance.
Our guide focuses on Italian restaurants that get those basics right. Some are polished and elegant. Others feel like neighborhood trattorias you could return to three nights in a row. You’ll find handmade pasta, wood-fired pizza, slow risottos, and desserts that don’t try too hard.
If you’re searching for where to eat Italian food in Istanbul, start here.
Our Picks of the Italian Restaurants in Istanbul
Finding the top Italian restaurants in Istanbul can be overwhelming, given the variety of choices available. Here are some must-visit spots that promise an unforgettable experience:
Glens Restaurant – in Nisantasi, Sisli
Glens sits right on Abdi İpekçi Street and feels like a neighborhood classic for Nişantaşı regulars. It’s polished but not stiff. You can come here for a long dinner or a quick glass of wine and pasta after shopping.
The Italian menu leans familiar. Wood-fired pizzas, handmade pasta, and creamy risottos done properly. Ingredients are reliable, portions generous, and the kitchen stays consistent even on busy nights.
Our take: The prawn risotto was balanced and comforting. The pizza crust had real bite, not soggy or overworked. Service stayed attentive without hovering, which matters in this area.
Address: Harbiye Mah., Abdi İpekçi Cd. No:12, Nişantaşı
St. Regis Brasserie in Nisantasi, Sisli
Inside the St. Regis Hotel, this brasserie is calm, spacious, and quietly elegant. The menu isn’t strictly Italian, but the pasta and risotto section deserves attention.
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This is a good choice if you want comfort with polish. White tablecloth energy, but relaxed pacing.
Our take: The truffle risotto was smooth and aromatic, not heavy. Service felt precise and unhurried, which fits the setting well.
Address: Mim Kemal Öke Cd. No:35, Nişantaşı
Osteria Salvatore in Çengelköy
This is one of the Asian side’s strongest Italian options, mostly thanks to the view. Sitting right on the Bosphorus, Osteria Salvatore works best at sunset.
The menu focuses on fresh pasta, seafood, and classic Italian starters, without trying to reinvent things.
Our take: The linguine with sea crayfish was bright and clean. You come here for slow dining, conversation, and the water right in front of you.
Address: Çengelköy, Kuleli Cd. No:45/1, Üsküdar
Da Mario in Etiler, Besiktas
Da Mario has been around since the early 90s, and it shows in a good way. Regulars know the staff. The kitchen knows its classics.
Set in a villa in Etiler, it feels like a place you go back to rather than try once.
Our take: The truffle ravioli was rich without being overwhelming. Warm service makes this place feel personal, not trendy.
Address: Dilhayat Sok. No:7, Etiler
Il Cortile Istanbul in Galata
Hidden inside the Ecole St. Pierre Hotel, Il Cortile feels like a secret courtyard restaurant. Quiet, intimate, and removed from Galata’s crowds.
The menu sticks to Italian comfort food with care, not shortcuts.
Our take: The homemade lasagna was layered, soft, and deeply satisfying. This is a good spot for a long, calm dinner.
Address: Galata Kulesi Sk. No:14, Beyoğlu
Cecconi’s Istanbul in Pera, Galata
Set in Soho House’s garden, Cecconi’s feels like a pause button on Beyoğlu. Green, airy, and social without being loud.
The menu highlights handmade pasta, seafood, and small plates meant for sharing.
Our take: Truffle pasta and seafood risotto both delivered. Sunday brunch here is especially popular for a reason.
Address: Meşrutiyet Cd. No:56, Beyoğlu
Eataly in Besiktas Zorlu Center
Eataly is more than a restaurant. It’s an Italian food playground. Pizza, pasta, bakery, market, all under one roof.
Good choice if you want variety or you’re dining with mixed tastes.
Our take: Tagliatelle al ragù was comforting and correct. Tiramisu finished things properly. We usually leave with pasta from the market.
Address: Zorlu Center AVM, Beşiktaş
Cotto Gastro in Suadiye, Kadikoy
Cotto Gastro is modern without trying too hard. Open kitchen, garden seating, and a menu that respects Italian basics.
It works well for long dinners with friends.
Our take: Truffle mushroom risotto stood out. The Margherita pizza had proper texture and balance.
Address: Kazım Özalp Sk., Kadıköy
Il Boccalino in Fenerbahce, Kadikoy
Small, personal, and quietly excellent. Il Boccalino feels like someone’s Italian home rather than a restaurant.
Limited seating means reservations matter.
Our take: Spinach-ricotta ravioli was soft and fresh. The tiramisu was one of the better ones in the city.
Address: Operatör Cemil Topuzlu Cd. No:35, Kadıköy
Paps Italian in Karakoy, Beyoglu
Run by a Neapolitan chef inside the French Passage, Paps focuses on real Neapolitan pizza and honest Italian cooking.
Open kitchen. Serious oven.
Our take: The Margherita DOP pizza was spot on. Seafood risotto was rich and well-seasoned.
Address: Fransız Geçidi Sk. A Blok No:4, Karaköy
Fauna in Atasehir
Fauna is small, calm, and consistent. No hype. Just good pasta and a loyal crowd. Open kitchen keeps things transparent.
Our take: Truffle tagliatelle was comforting and aromatic. Panna cotta ended the meal perfectly.
Address: Küçükbakkalköy, Işıklar Cd. No:9, Ataşehir
Italian food tips for first-time visitors
Italian restaurants in Istanbul vary more than people expect. A few small choices can shape the whole meal.
Start simple. Pasta dishes with fewer ingredients usually show the kitchen’s confidence. Fresh tagliatelle, a clean tomato sauce, good olive oil. These tell you more than overloaded plates.
Ask how the pasta is made. Handmade pasta and daily dough prep matter. If the staff can answer clearly, that’s a good sign.
Pizza lovers should look for wood-fired ovens and long-fermented dough. The crust should feel light, not bready. Charred spots are normal. Dry, stiff bases are not.
Wine lists tend to mix Italian and Turkish bottles. Turkish reds pair well with meat-based sauces, Italian whites work nicely with seafood pasta. Staff recommendations are often reliable.
Reservations help, especially in smaller trattorias and garden spaces. Weekends fill fast, even for casual places.
Dessert is worth saving room for. Tiramisu, panna cotta, and cannoli are usually made in-house at the better spots. If desserts feel like an afterthought, skip them and order espresso instead.
Neighborhood guide: where Italian works best
Italian food in Istanbul settles naturally into certain areas.
Nişantaşı suits polished Italian dining. Refined rooms, careful plating, strong wine lists. Good for date nights and long dinners.
Karaköy and Galata lean relaxed and expressive. Open kitchens, Neapolitan pizza, compact menus, lively evenings. Easy to combine with walking and drinks.
Kadıköy favors neighborhood comfort. Cozy trattorias, generous portions, fair prices. Many locals return weekly to the same spots.
Beşiktaş and Etiler balance classic and modern. Long-running Italian names sit next to newer interpretations. Business lunches work well here.
Çengelköy and the Bosphorus line suit slow meals with a view. Seafood pasta, sunset tables, quieter pacing. Ideal for unhurried evenings.