We had a variety of different foods. They were all very delicious. You can get good pizza, good…read moreTurkish food, good fish. Also, the service was great. The staff was really friendly.

We saw the reviews and pictures online and decided to give it a try. We are so glad that we did try…read morethis place. From the location, ambience, food, taste, and service... everything is superb. Mr. Baris was our waitress and he took his time serving us as well as making a foodie show! Everything we tried is great. But of course we love the Turkish pot kebab. We recommend everyone to try this dish. The garden is so lovely too and such a quiet escape in a busy city. Thank you all for such a nice time. Baris, we wish you the best!

Istanbul is a fascinating cosmopolitan city with tons of eateries spread across its massively…read moresprawling landscape. I spent considerable time researching the ONE restaurant our group of two families (4 adults, 3 kids aged 13-15) would visit during our overnight stop while on the Norwegian Viva cruise ship. I kept coming back to Gulhane Sark Sofrasi while researching and decided this was our spot. After all, it has 5,246 Tripadvisor reviews and is ranked the #5 restaurant in Istanbul. The food, service and outdoor ambience were all fantastic. Oh, the house cat was fantastic, too, and sure was protective of its turf, scaring away any other cats who dared try snagging any dropped food. My gals ordered what I felt were plain (less exotic?) chicken dishes but they really enjoyed them. My daughter chose the Sultan's Favorite. My best buddy's daughter ordered a steak which looked fantastic. His wife ordered an eggplant dish and some protein according to her strict diet (for health reasons) as well as shrimp and grilled veggies. Us boys shared the mixed appetizer plate with delicious dips and dolmas as well as, the recommended "Adana the Classsic" kebab ($16) and some kind of cheesey meaty casserole/stew (either the Dana Guvec or the Kuzu Guvec) ~$23 that was also recommended to us. The kebab was absolutely fantastic although I didn't love the casserole/stew which seemed to me to have less flavor. The dips were awesome, especially the Turkish "salsa". I felt $30 for their House Wine & $16 for a Margarita were a little steep but maybe those are common price points for Istanbul. The entrees too were a little pricier than in mainland Greece but again, Istanbul definitely seemed more advanced and modern. I highly recommend Gulhane Sark Sofrasi and would definitely go back!

Very nice restaurant with live music when we got there. The menu is varied and the staff speaks…read moreEnglish. We got a chicken kebab and a regular kebab. Both were good but a bit salty for our palate. Very friendly staff...as in truly friendly and welcoming......Nice patio dining.

I LOVE this spot. The views, the food, the service, the music .. I love it!…read more This is where I was first introduced to adjika, a tasty pepper sauce that is served with their table bread, which is also delicious. I had to grab some at a local market. I highly recommend the chicken kabobs, juicy and well seasoned. Also enjoyed the margaritas, stiff and not overly sweet. Staff is pleasant and attentive. The views are unmatched in the evening. Make your reservation in advance to secure your sunset table. The inside is nice and classy but I simply adore the open air views from the roof. The birds really set off the skyline and you can see several of the mosques around. Not SUPER expensive but it is in the higher end price wise compared to their surrounding competition -- 100% worth it in my book. I will definitely go again on my next visit. Glad I could introduce it to a friend this go round. The only thing I disliked about this place is the "dining dome" as I called it. A portion of the roof now offers seating in a large plastic dome. The dome is scratched up and obstructs the view of the city but does protect diners from the wind. I was not a fan of this dome. I'm sure it's something someone saw on the internet and implemented .. I hope they get rid of it, it's super unnecessary. Otherwise -- LOVE!

Beautiful views, nice restaurant, huge menu. Had some really good mezze and shared the turkish…read moreravioli that we hadn't seen elsewhere and were like dim sum. The views, food, and service make for an unforgettable experience.

Quality mixed meat platter. The side grilled veggies and the yogurt dipping enhanced the flavor of…read morethe platter. Loved hearty fresh salad paired with sweet seafood such as salmon cubes, shrimps, squids. Relaxing background jazz and a appropriate service.

Just an average meal compared to everything else we've been eating in Istanbul. The seafood…read morelinguine was just alright and the mixed grill wasn't nearly seasoned as well as many of the other meats we've been eating here.

We went to Istanbul a few weeks ago. We stumbled upon this restaurant, a few steps from our hotel…read morein the Sultanahmet district. The food didn't disappoint. My family had lamb kebabs, meze platter and I had grilled fish. Everything we had was delicious. We enjoyed dipping our warm pita bread with the different things on the meze platter---baba ganoush, hummus, yogurt, etc. The fish was fresh and good with a sprinkling of lemon. We sat outdoors which was perfect---cool and great for people watching. Service is quick, friendly and engaging. There's like mini fire shows going on at other tables. It was a great start to our Istanbul vacation.

So, we picked this restaurant mainly because it was right next to our hotel…read more Overall, it was pretty nice-nothing too surprising, but we weren't disappointed. The hosts were super warm and welcoming, and the atmosphere was cozy. The food was decent-just okay, not amazing or anything, but totally reasonable. l'd probably give it around a 3.5 out of 5, not quite a 4, but definitely not a bad spot!

Really descent food with lots of options. Portions were on par and didn't leave still hungry or…read moreoverly full. Beer was super cold !!

Although Faros Kebap isn't as authentic as other restaurants within the area, the food here was…read moredelicious! Coming from a vegetarian, I was appreciative of the fact that they had so many options for me - I really enjoyed the hummus, falafel, fries and pide. Had a super filling meal for quite the reasonable price.

This was my first night in Istanbul and I eased tired from traveling from cappadocia earlier in the…read moreday. This restaurant was close to my hotel and had great reviews on Yelp. When I arrived there was only one other customer inside. The restaurant decor was cute and I very comfortable. The staff were friendly and welcoming. This spot was a bit pricey just like most of the restaurants in this touristy area. I had certain Turkish entrees i wanted to try during my vacation. I ordered the Iskender kebab which is beef and pita bread covered with tomato sauce with yogurt on the side. I ordered a side salad to go with it. The dish was very delicious as you can tell in one of my pics. I chatted with some of the staff about life in Istanbul. I was offered some complimentary pomegranate tea before I left and it hit the spot. This is definitely a place to check out when you're in the area.

A MUST TRY. As an American, I have been SO impressed with food here in Turkey and if you are in the…read morearea, this restaurant is an absolute MUST-TRY if you're looking for great food. I had some of THEE BEST chicken kebab I've ever had in this country here. The beef kebab was also tender and flavorful. You cannot go wrong with any of these! The service was quick and prompt, and the servers were great at making recommendations. I came here in the winter so we sat indoors which felt a bit cramped however, there is also outdoor seating during the nicer weather months. If I'm ever back here in Istanbul, I would definitely come back. And if you're reading this, you NEED to try the Old Ottoman!

A great Turkish breakfast! We ordered the breakfast for 1 and a lentil soup. It was more than…read moreenough for 2 people. The prices have gone up since menu photos were last posted so keep that in mind. It was about $40 USD, but the quality was amazing. Tons of sweet kittens outside!! We went early, soon after they opened and the service was great and it was peaceful inside. Definitely recommend!!

Food: We ordered the traditional Turkish breakfast, and…read moreeverything tasted incredibly fresh. They source much of their ingredients from their own farm, and you can tell. The tomatoes were unbelievable, the walnuts were some of the best I've had, and every plate felt thoughtful and vibrant. It's the kind of breakfast that reminds you how simple food can be exceptional when the ingredients are high quality. Ambiance: Beautiful setting on a quiet street with a clear view of the historic Galata Tower in the background. The space is clean, cozy, and welcoming. It has that warm, tucked-away charm that makes you want to linger a bit longer. Location/Getting There: Be prepared: it's an intense uphill walk from the Karakoy Ferry Port. There is a cable metro that takes you up, so it's worth finding if you want to skip the climb. Once you're up there, the area is great and the walk becomes part of the experience. Reservations: We were able to go without any issue, but it's a popular spot. If you're planning a weekend visit, a reservation wouldn't hurt. Price: About $100 USD for four people. A bit on the pricey side, but worth it--especially considering how fresh everything is. Prices across Istanbul have gone up in general, and this felt fair for the quality. Service: A+. Friendly, attentive, and warm. I went with my cousin, who is a regular here, but even aside from that, the service was excellent. You can feel they take pride in what they do. Overall: Cafe Privato is a great find with amazing food, a charming atmosphere, and a unique location. Five stars all around and absolutely worth visiting. I highly recommend it.