The Best 16 Fish Restaurants in Istanbul

Enjoying great seafood is one of the biggest pleasures of the peninsula nation of Türkiye. Are you looking for the best seafood restaurant in Istanbul? Istanbul has an abundance of top-quality fish restaurants and to help you decide which one is best for you, we’ve compiled a list of the 16 best fish restaurants in Istanbul expressing the traditional and the modern.

Tip: A  trip to Istanbul can be a great adventure, but it’s important to be aware of the city’s heavy traffic that can disrupt your plans. To make the most of your stay, we recommend staying close to the city center, museums, and other key attractions. The Beyoğlu area is an ideal choice, offering a variety of hotels and easy access to all the top-rated sights. Follow this link to check out the accommodations in the area, and keep reading for more essential travel advice!

1. Adem Baba Restaurant

The name of Adem Baba Restaurant, which started in 1992 on a small boat in Bebek, is known across all of Istanbul. The restaurant has a friendly and comfortable interior design and offers excellent quality seafood dishes. You’ll feel very comfortable and happy when eating here.

2. Set Balık

One of the famous fish restaurants in Istanbul, Set Balık Lokantası is located in Tarabya, Sarıyer. Here, you can taste dishes made of fresh seafood and try tasty desserts. Your dinner will be accompanied by an elegant design and comfortable ambiance of the venue.

3. Iskele Rumeli Hisari Restaurants

To enjoy a unique view of the Bosphorus while having your dinner, this is the place to come. It is one of the best fish restaurant Istanbul. You can see the whole Bosphorus from the restaurant and in summer, the cool sea breeze makes the restaurant even more pleasant. Don’t forget to make a reservation.

Tip: With a rental car, you’ll be able to navigate Istanbul’s bustling streets and neighborhoods with ease, and explore all the hidden gems that the city has to offer. Plus, you’ll save time and money by avoiding crowded public transportation and expensive taxis. See prices here.

What can be better than cooking fresh fish? Take a look at this fish rods to experience fishing right in front of amazing Bosphorus view.

4. İsmet Baba Restaurant

Comfortable and with great views of the city, this fish restaurant has beautiful homely wooden interior decor. It also boasts great service and quality fish dishes. This option of fish restaurants in Istanbul is located in a perfect location!

5. Kıyı Restaurant

If you want to eat dinner in an aesthetic spot, Coastal Restaurant is a good choice. The coastal restaurant has an extremely impressive atmosphere and is ideal for a special romantic meal. Coastal Restaurant is located in Tarabya, a neighbourhood of the Sariyer district of Istanbul.

6. Misina Fish Restaurant

If the aesthetics of a restaurant are important to you then this is the place to eat. It offers stunningly presented starters to post on Instagram.

7. Balıkçı Sabahattin

One of the most famous features of this restaurant is the vegetables! The combinations of herbs used to create the starters make this a favourite fish restaurant for many people.

For those, who like testing their cooking skills, this fish scaler may become a great helper at the kitchen and reduce the time spent on scaling the fish.

8. Kandilli Suna’s Place Fish Restaurant

If you prefer comfort over formality then you’ll love Suna’s Place. Here you’ll feel comfortable and free – and the fish is very tasty too! A rich starter menu is well prepared for you here!

9. Historical Ali Baba Fish Restaurant

If you want to dine al fresco and spend tranquil hours under the trees, Historical Ali Baba Fish Restaurant is the ideal place. You’ll have the opportunity to try tasty dishes accompanied by a unique sea view and a peaceful atmosphere. Historical Ali Baba Fish Restaurant serves as a restaurant and a bar.

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10. Sultanahmet Ottoman Fish Terrace House

With its authentic interior decoration and perfect location, Sultanahmet Ottoman Fish Terrace House offers an authentic Istanbul experience. You’ll love the taste of unique seafood, and why not try the regional buttermilk with it? Ideally located in the city centre, you can enjoy a great tasting, healthy dinner and a few delicious hours soaking up the ambience of Istanbul.

11. Sur Fish Restaurant Sarayburnu

Sur Fish Restaurant Sarayburnu is a renowned establishment offering elegance, high-quality service, and great food. And as an extra treat, you can eat peacefully while watching the gorgeous sea waves. In the evening you can enjoy a perfect view of the moon. The chefs insist on only the finest quality ingredients, and the restaurant is known for great-tasting fish dishes.

12. Turk Art Terrace Restaurant

Fancy enjoying a delicious meal of traditional Turkish seafood while viewing the beautiful city of Istanbul from a terrace? This fantastic restaurant, especially famous for its seafood and kebabs, is one of the few restaurants with a smoking area. We recommend that you make a reservation as it can get very busy.

13. Hanzade Terrace Restaurant

Gaze at the endless view of the Marmara Sea while eating here. This place offers an authentic Turkish eating experience and is well known for its local dishes. There are different kinds of kebabs as well as seafood.

14. Bebek Balıkçı

If you want your dinner to be accompanied by an amazing Bosphorus view, then Bebek Balıkçı is the place to choose. The restaurant has been operating for aşmost 50 years now but regularly modernizes its menu. It is one of the best seafood restaurants in Istanbul. Jan Claude Van Dame, Catharine Deneuve, and other celebrities have visited this restaurant. If you visit Bebek Balıkçısı, we recommend you fish in salt.

15. Mükellef

If you are looking for a place where you can eat not only delicious seafood but also try mouthwatering meat dishes, you can visit Mükellef. In addition to the outstanding menu, its location can give you an opportunity to enjoy a walk along Karaköy’s landmarks after your meal.

16. Mürver Restaurant

At Mürver Restaurant, you can try delicious seafood and meat dishes from the menu that is constantly renewed according to each season. Here, the dishes are cooked over fire. Mürver was opened in 2017 and since then has been serving its own classics and more dishes, expanding the menu.