Istanbul is a lively city full of colours, culture, shops, and vegan restaurants. Istanbul is the only city in the world that is spread between two continents, Europe and Asia. It is also the most populous city in Europe.
The locals are friendly, and the city has so much to see that I think it is a place that you have to visit many times, not just once. My favourite things about Istanbul are delicious vegan food and great Turkish coffee.
WHERE TO STAY?
We stayed at two hotels, and both were amazing – the best choice depends on your budget and preferred location. Each one also has excellent reviews.
The first and more affordable option is Doruk Palas Hotel, a cosy, family-run hotel near Galata Tower. We had a lovely experience there. Check the availability here.
However, we now have a new favourite: Romance Istanbul Hotel. The atmosphere is fantastic, and the location is close to many major tourist attractions. This hotel is definitely worth booking.
->Book your stay in Romance Istanbul Hotel now!
TURKISH COFFEE
One thing that is special to me in Istanbul is Turkish coffee. Even the locals love drinking their coffee and tea. One of my favourite things from our trip to Istanbul was drinking a very good cup of Turkish coffee and watching masses of people walking by.
The city also has many great tattoo artists, so if this is your cup of tea, go for it!
WHERE TO EAT VEGAN FOOD IN ISTANBUL?
DUKKAN GALATA – VEGAN BREAKFAST
I was not very satisfied with the vegan breakfast options at our hotel, and I really wanted to try a traditional Turkish breakfast. We were so lucky to find this restaurant that prepares the most amazing, and I think that the only vegan, Turkish breakfast in Istanbul.
It was so much food that I did not manage to eat it all by myself. It has a little bit of everything so you can enjoy your breakfast in the best way possible. They also offer coffee with soy milk!
FALAFEL KOY
It is a small vegan falafel restaurant just near the most popular Istiklal Street. It has a few different falafel plates all are available for a very affordable price.
The space is tiny, but you can go to the upper floor where there are a few tables where you can sit and enjoy your falafel. The portions are not huge, but the food was good and fresh.
BABEL CAFÉ RESTAURANT IN ISTANBUL
We found this place by accident, and we are lucky that we did! It is a trendy bar/restaurant with good music and very friendly staff. They have a few vegetarian options that can be made vegan. We tried manti and stuffed aubergine. Both were delicious.
This was my first time eating manti which are traditional Turkish dumplings that are usually filled with lamb but in this case, they were filled with green lentils.
VEGAN ISTANBUL
It is an affordable buffet restaurant with a great variety of foods to choose from. Everything looked so good that we tried many different things, and everything was delicious.
It is a great place to have a vegan lunch or dinner in Istanbul. I could not resist trying their vegan chocolate cake and I loved it.
YUZU MODA
It is a vegan Asian restaurant on the Asian side of the city of Istanbul. It is a modern-looking restaurant. They offer sushi and some warm dishes. For starters, we tried their rainbow sushi, and it was probably the best vegan sushi that I have ever tried.
I am so sad that I did not manage to try all of their other sushi combinations. It was a little bit cold that day, so we decided to have something warm for lunch. We tried their vegan skewers with rice. They were good but I cannot stop thinking about how good that sushi was.
MIVAN RESTAURANT
Mivan restaurant is not vegan, but they offer a vegetarian menu. This restaurant has amazing Tripadvisor and Google reviews. The interior is very nice and in the main tourist season, I recommend you make a table reservation because the restaurant is not very big.
We asked the waiter about which dishes can be made vegan and he was very helpful. They also offered us some vegan appetizers on the house. My boyfriend had a vegan falafel burger and I had one of my favourite meals in Istanbul which was a vegan casserole.
DERALIYE OTTOMAN PALACE CUISINE RESTAURANT
This restaurant had great reviews online, so we decided to try it out. I had a traditional Turkish vegan kebab and my boyfriend tried stuffed apples.
The vegan kebab was prepared at our table, and it was a great experience to watch how our waiter prepared this dish with fire. I must say that it was not my favourite thing to eat but stuffed apples were amazing.
FINE DINING IN ISTANBUL AT MIKLA – VEGAN TASTING MENU
If you are looking for a fine dining experience in the centre of Istanbul with a beautiful view you have to make a reservation at Mikla restaurant. It is very hard to find fine dining with vegan options anywhere but here they are offering a vegan tasting menu!
Mikla restaurant has a seven-course vegan tasting menu, and you can have it in combination with a variety of quality selections of wine. It is a nice restaurant on the top floor with an astonishing view over the whole of Istanbul. You can check their vegan tasting menu here.
Istanbul is a city that I cannot wait to come back to. Even though I spend 5 days in the city I still feel that there is so much that I did not have enough time to see. One thing that I really like besides everything that I already mentioned is that it was very affordable. If you skip all the fancy restaurants and fancy hotels you really can enjoy Istanbul on a budget!
There are also many vegan restaurants that I have to try next time I visit and I believe that many more will open in the future!
WHAT TO SEE IN ISTANBUL?
Istanbul has many historical landmarks to visit. If your hotel is situated in a good central location, everything is within walking distance. We loved our stay at the cutest family-owned hotel called Doruk Palas Hotel. If walking is not your cup of tea, they also have very affordable public transportation.
The one thing that most visitors want to visit is The Hagia Sophia. It was the greatest architectural achievement of the Byzantine Empire. A few steps away there is also The Blue Mosque. Right now, is going through construction but it is still worth visiting.
The Grand Bazaar is a huge place full of shops to explore and find affordable clothing, bags, shoes, and other goods. Close to The Grand Bazaar, you can also find The Spice Bazaar, where you can shop for many different spices.
One of my favourite things to visit in Istanbul is The Topkapi Palace. This was the sultan’s home full of beautiful interiors and gardens. Everything is presented in English so you can have a closer look at their way of living. You can also take the guided tour that includes the entry ticket.
Take the ferry to the Asian side of Istanbul. The price is affordable and this way you can experience both sides of Istanbul. Istiklal street on the European side of Istanbul is a busy pedestrian street full of modern shops and restaurants. This street is full of people even in the late-night hours.
SEE ALSO:
Check This Guide to Find out Where to Eat Delicious Vegan Food in the City of Dubrovnik!