Beşiktaş is one of the easiest places in Istanbul to eat well. You don’t need a plan. You just need to know which street you’re on.
Around Çarşı, food is fast and informal. People eat standing up. Sandwiches, dürüm, quick plates between errands. Walk ten minutes toward the Bosphorus and the pace changes. Tables get wider. Meals slow down. Views start to matter.
That mix confuses first-time visitors. Some restaurants look impressive but feel overpriced. Others look ordinary and serve better food than expected. We’ve seen people miss good places by turning the wrong corner.
Our guide focuses on restaurants that make sense for Beşiktaş. Places that locals actually use. From casual meals to long waterfront dinners. From modern kitchens to traditional ones that still get the basics right.
If you want to eat well here, without guessing, this is where to start.
Best Restaurants, Places Eat & Drink in Besiktas
Beşiktaş eats differently depending on the street. Çarşı is fast and loud. The waterfront slows things down. Hills bring views and longer dinners. That mix is what makes the district interesting.
These are places we recommend because they work in real life, not just on special nights.
Alaf Restaurant
€€€ · Turkish, Modern Cuisine
Alaf is in Arnavutköy and takes Anatolian cooking seriously. The menu is modern, but the roots are clear. Everything starts with technique and fire.
A wood-fired oven drives much of the menu. Grilled meats, slow-cooked dishes, and vegetables all benefit from it. Flavors stay deep without being heavy. Mezes are thoughtful, not decorative.
There’s a rooftop bar upstairs that turns the place into an evening destination, especially on weekends. Food still holds its ground.
No Regrets Booking Advice
We recommend Alaf when you want Turkish flavors with structure and confidence.
Address: Arnavutköy, Kuruçeşme Cd. No:19, Beşiktaş
Aman da Bravo Restaurant
€€ · Modern Cuisine, Contemporary
Aman da Bravo sits in Bebek and keeps things relaxed. The room feels light. Tables aren’t crowded. Service moves at a steady pace.
The menu blends Mediterranean cooking with modern bistro ideas. Fish is handled cleanly. Risottos are balanced. Lamb dishes stay tender without leaning heavy.
This is a good place for long conversations and quiet dinners. It works just as well for lunch. We come here when we want calm food without ceremony.
Address: Bebek Mah., Bebeköy Sok. No:5, Beşiktaş
29 Restaurant
€€ · Turkish, Modern Cuisine
29 sits high above the Bosphorus in Ulus. The view does a lot of work, but the kitchen keeps up.
The menu focuses on modern Turkish dishes with fine-dining polish. Grilled sea bass, lamb shank, and refined mezes lead the way. The wine list is broad and well-chosen.
This is a special-occasion restaurant. People dress for it. Service is formal but smooth. If you want a full evening with a view that actually matters, this is one of the safer choices.
Address: Ulus Mah., Yol Sok. No:71/1, Beşiktaş
AQUA Restaurant
€€€€ · Seafood
AQUA is inside the Four Seasons Hotel at the Bosphorus. Everything here is controlled. The room. The service. The pace.
The menu leans toward refined seafood. Grilled fish, sushi, and Mediterranean plates dominate. Ingredients are high quality and treated carefully.
This is not a spontaneous stop. It’s a planned dinner. Quiet. Romantic. Expensive. We suggest AQUA when atmosphere matters as much as the food.
Address: Yıldız, Çırağan Cd. No:28, Beşiktaş
Banyan Restaurant
€€ · Asian Contemporary
Banyan sits above Ortaköy and stays busy for a reason. Views are wide. Music sets the tone. The crowd comes dressed.
The menu focuses on Asian fusion. Sushi, wok dishes, and seafood plates dominate. Miso-glazed sea bass and duck dishes are popular.
This is not a quiet dinner place. It’s social. Lively. Best after dark. If you want dinner that turns into a night out, Banyan fits.
Address: Muallim Naci Cd. & Salhane Sok. No:3, Beşiktaş
Feriye Restaurant
€€€€ · Mediterranean Cuisine
Feriye is set inside a historic building right on the Bosphorus. Views of Ortaköy Mosque and the bridge define the experience.
The menu follows Mediterranean lines with modern touches. Grilled fish, octopus, and seafood risotto are common orders. Presentation stays elegant without excess.
This is formal dining. Service is polished. Prices match the setting. We recommend Feriye for milestone dinners or guests who want history and scenery on the table.
Address: Yıldız Mah., Çırağan Cd. No:44, Beşiktaş
Inari Omakase Restaurant
Inari Omakase is in Kuruçeşme and focuses on one thing. A structured sushi experience led by the chef.
This is a true omakase setup. You don’t order freely. You sit. The chef decides. Courses arrive based on season and availability. Nigiri and sashimi lead the experience, with a few modern touches layered in.
The room is quiet and controlled. Seating is limited. Attention stays on the counter. Sake and Japanese-style cocktails support the food, not distract from it.
We recommend Inari when sushi is the reason for the night, not a side choice.
Address: Kuruçeşme Cd. No:11, Beşiktaş
Park Fora Restaurant
€€€€ · Seafood
Park Fora sits on the Kuruçeşme waterfront and has been doing high-end seafood for decades. This is a classic Istanbul institution.
Fish is the focus. Daily catch. Premium shellfish. Lobster, king crab, jumbo shrimp when available. Mezes are generous and traditional. Cooking stays clean and precise.
The dining room feels formal. The terrace is the real draw. Boats pass close. The Bosphorus stays active.
This is not a casual stop. Prices are high. Service is experienced. Park Fora works best for long dinners and special occasions.
Address: Muallim Naci Cd. No:54/A, Kuruçeşme, Beşiktaş
Şans Restaurant
€€ · Turkish, Mediterranean Cuisine
Şans has been around since the early 1990s and sits in a quiet villa setting in Levent. The atmosphere is calm and business-friendly.
The menu blends Turkish and Mediterranean cooking. Grilled lamb chops are a popular order. Seafood dishes stay balanced. Desserts follow tradition.
Wine matters here. The list is broad and carefully chosen. Service is formal without being stiff.
We suggest Şans for quiet dinners, business meals, or nights when conversation matters more than scenery.
Address: Hacı Adil Cd., Palmiye Sok. No:1, Levent, Beşiktaş
Sunset Grill & Bar
€€€€ · Classic Cuisine
Sunset sits above Ulus Park and is known for one thing first. The view. It stretches wide over the Bosphorus.
The menu is large and international. Sushi, grilled meats, seafood, and desserts all share space. The sushi bar runs separately and stays busy.
This is a polished place. Service is smooth. The room fills quickly in the evening.
Sunset works best for celebrations, dates, or guests who want a classic Istanbul dinner with a skyline.
Address: Yol Sok. No:2, Ulus, Beşiktaş
Tuğra Restaurant
€€€€ · Turkish, Modern Cuisine
Tuğra is inside Çırağan Palace Kempinski and delivers a full Ottoman dining experience.
The setting is formal and historic. Chandeliers. High ceilings. Bosphorus views. The pace is slow by design.
The menu draws from Ottoman palace recipes. Hünkar Beğendi, Testi Kebabı, and rich desserts lead the experience. Presentation is detailed. Service is ceremonial.
This is not an everyday restaurant. It’s for milestone dinners and guests who want to experience Istanbul’s imperial side.
Address: Çırağan Cd. No:32, Beşiktaş
What to Eat in Beşiktaş?
Beşiktaş doesn’t have a single food identity. It shifts by area and by time of day. That’s what makes eating here easy once you stop overthinking it.
Around Beşiktaş Çarşı, food is quick and functional. Locals grab döner sandwiches, dürüm, köfte, and simple plates between errands. This is daytime eating. Fast, filling, and affordable. You don’t sit long. You don’t plan much.
Move closer to the water and priorities change. Along the Bosphorus, meals slow down. Seafood takes the lead. Grilled fish, seasonal catches, classic mezes, and long tables appear. Restaurants like Park Fora or Feriye exist for evenings when people want to sit, talk, and watch the water.
Beşiktaş also does modern Turkish cooking well. Kitchens like Alaf or 29 reinterpret Anatolian flavors without losing structure. Fire, slow cooking, and careful seasoning matter more than presentation tricks. These places work best for dinner, not rushed lunches.
For international options, Japanese food has a strong presence here. Sushi and omakase spots attract both locals and visitors, especially around Kuruçeşme and Ulus. Inari and Sunset fill that gap when you want something precise and planned.
There’s also a quiet business-dinner scene in areas like Levent. Places such as Şans serve classic Turkish and Mediterranean dishes in calmer settings, built for conversation rather than views.
Istanbeautiful Team tip:
“In Beşiktaş, decide how long you want to sit. The food choice follows naturally.”
Eat fast in Çarşı. Eat slow by the Bosphorus. You’ll get it right most of the time.