Top 3 Breakfast Places in Istanbul
I must agree with Mr. Süreya as almost everyone from Turkey does (at least I think so). Breakfast has a special meaning in Turkey. Learn everything you need to know about Turkish breakfast as a traveler and find out which 3 places are my top breakfast places in Istanbul.
“I don’t know what you think of eating, but breakfast must have something to do with happiness.“
– Turkish poet, Cemal Süreya
Turks love to eat. This is no big secret. And they are lucky enough to have the perfect climate for growing delicious products that can make it to the table. And Turks are not the only one who love to eat. I love to eat when I travel. I love to try different food. And I always try to eat local food, so I can get to know a country. Every meal in Turkey is an event and sometimes can last for hours. It is a time to relax and enjoy in a company. The most important meal of the day is breakfast. Breakfast breaks the overnight fasting period, replenishes your supply of glucose and gives you energy.
Kahvalti = turkish word for breakfast
Table of Contents
What is “kahvalti” ?
Literal translation of kahvalti is “before coffee”. Kahvalti is the first meal of the day that you eat before you drink coffee. Presentation is everything at a Turkish breakfast. It is a buffet style meal, based on the very familiar scene of a gathering of mezes. Kahvalti is the breakfast of champions. Even if you are not a morning person, you will be impressed by this celebration of food. There is nothing better than to sit outside and have your Turkish çay when the sun is shinning on your face and you are waiting for your food. You have to sit at a big table, because you will be served a mountain of food.
The basic elements of a Turkish breakfast are bread, butter, jams and preserves, honey, olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, cheeses, yoghurt, fruit juices and Turkish tea. Most places across Turkey will add eggs (hard boiled, fried or as an omelette) to breakfast.
You may also find a “menemen” (Turkish scrambled egg, mixed with tomatoes, peppers and onions), “suçuk” (spicy sausage mixed with various spices, “gözleme”, pastries and “kavut” (a roasted and crushed cereal flour mixed with milk like a porridge).
One of my favourite thing about Turkish breakfast is tea. Strong freshly-brewed Turkish tea, served in a tulip-shaped glass that is filled up to the top. The good thing is that you get a loooot of tea and you can enjoy in your tea for so long.
Where to find the best Turkish breakfast in Istanbul?
You can enjoy a Turkish breakfast almost everywhere in Istanbul. Most of the cafes and restaurant serve breakfast. Get out of your hotel early morning and go to a neighborhood cafe or use you Istanbulkart and take a ride to get the best Turkish breakfast in Istanbul. You are gonna love it, but be prepared for a food coma.
I didn’t had a breakfast in Sultanahmet, as I prefer non-touristic places. But I believe that there are many good places to eat breakfast in Sultanahmet.
(by the way, you will find the best kofte in Sultanahmet)
#3: VAN KAHVALTI EVI
Address: Kilic Ali Pasa Mahallesi, Defterdar Yokusu, No: 52A, Cihangir
The restaurant has quickly become one of the area’s most popular. So don’t be surprised if you decide to come and you will find a queue outside Van Kahvalti Evi (specially on Saturdays and Sundays). People line up for Kurdish kahvalti – a set of tiny breakfast plates with white cheeses, butter fresh bread, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, honey, jams, eggs and even Nutella. Van Kahvalti Evi’s most popular item at breakfast is a small dish of clotted cream, known as kaymak.
Van Kahvalti Evi’s set menu is inspired by the Kurdish “breakfast salons” of Van – a pretty, easterly city near the Turkish-Iranian border, from which the restaurant takes its name.
#2: VELVET CAFÉ BALAT
Address: Balat Mah, Çimen Sk. No:8 , Balat (Fatih)
The majority of tourists never make it to this quarter in Istanbul, although Balat’s picturesque buildings and streets have made this neighbourhood a hotspot for locals from all across the city. Velvet Cafe is a reflection of Balat, where the city’s best vintage and antique dealers are located among old Greek houses. The decor inside is charming. It is a cozy place, decorated with some matching antique furniture. This place even has its secret garden. This place is a hidden gem! This is absolutely one of the breakfast places in Istanbul.
You can even select your own coffee cup from a bunch of antique ones. Some of these cups are up to 100 hundred years old. Do not leave this place if you haven’t tried their homemade juice or Turkish coffee.
Try their Turkish breakfast – every little bowl has a bursts of flavors. They will serve you fresh bread, simit, white cheese, green and black olives, peanut butter, different jams and spreads, butter, honey, walnuts, cucumbers, tomatoes, hard boiled egg and some sort of a fried bread. Delicious!
Price: 250TL
#1 MR. HAKAN’S
Address: Arnavutköy, Beyazgül Sk.
Mr. Hakan’s is a breakfast place I discovered on my last visit to Istanbul. The breakfast served there is Anatolian breakfast consisting of organic and natural products of the South as Mr.Hakan was born in the Southern Region of Turkey. You can create your own breakfast or you can order the so-called Peruş Mom Breakfast (minimun 2 person). You will be served a cheese plate, vegetable plate (cucumber, pepper and parsley, served with a touch of olive oil), some salty dishes (salad, hummus, olives, etc.), butter, nutella, different jams and tahini-molasses. As if that wasn’t enough, you will also get some hot flavors (smoking pastry, Hatay pastry & french fries), a basket of bread and also menemen. You also get an unlimited tea. I could sit there for hours and just enjoy in this delicious food.
The price for this feast is 280 TL/person.
Turkish breakfast is a perfect way to start the day. There is no need to wake up early, as they are not early birds and breakfast is served all day.
Where are your favourite breakfast places in Istanbul?
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Krista
November 20, 2021Breakfast is my favourite meal of the day, so I’m really loving these recommendations! Can’t wait to try the food in Istanbul.
Jasmina
November 21, 2021Yes, breakfast is also my fav meal when I travel. And there are some great places in Istanbul!
Lina
November 20, 2021I can never start a day without having breakfast! These 3 places look amazing, would love to try them all one day 🙂
Jasmina
November 21, 2021I never eat breakfast when I’m home, but when I travel I love breakfasts! Istanbul has many amazing breakfast places and cafés 🙂
LindaJane
November 20, 2021What a wonderful way to start the day! These breakfasts look amazing! I’m saving this for my next trip to Istanbul!
Jasmina
November 21, 2021There is no better way to start the day! Istanbul has many good places and I’m looking forward to discover more on my next trip 🙂
Joanna
November 20, 2021I never eat breakfast at home. One of my joys of travelling is having breakfasts in different parts of the world.
Jasmina
November 21, 2021I’m the same. I never eat breakfast at home, but when I travel this is one of the best things to do!
Emma
November 21, 2021Breakfast looks like an awesome experience in Istanbul. I’m hoping to go to Turkey soon so keeping these places in mind. I love finding great breakfast places when I travel to start the day off right
Jasmina
November 21, 2021I love a good breakfast when I travel and Istanbul has many amazing places so you won’t have too much problems with finding a great breakfast place.
Elizabeth
November 22, 2021I have heard of Turkish breakfast, but I never knew it was such a big thing. I love food and love eating a big breakfast. It makes me so happy seeing all those plates of food. I definitely want to go to Turkey now!
Jasmina
December 18, 2021Yes, Turkish breakfasts are something amazing. I loved every single breakfast there!
Lindz
November 23, 2021Okay now I’m seriously hungry. I miss breakfast in Turkey so much. Some of my fave meals!
Jasmina
December 18, 2021Turkish breakfasts are seriously amazing, I miss them too!
gezilecek yerler
June 11, 2022Sounds like you absolutely crammed everything in in 48 hours. Definitely want to visit Istanbul at some point and it’s encouraging that you can do it on a weekend break. Also, NEED to try simit!
Jasmina
June 11, 2022I was there for 2 weeks, so there was a lot of time to do and try everything. 48 hours wouldn’t be enough for me but you can still visit some places.