Istanbul Seafood Culture: 5 Must-Try Fish Restaurants

Istanbul's seafood culture has been an integral part of its heritage for centuries, with the city’s strategic location along the Bosphorus making it a hub for fresh seafood from both the Black Sea and the Marmara Sea. The city’s rich maritime history dates back to ancient times, when fishing and seafood trade were vital to the economy. The abundance of fish like anchovies (hamsi), bluefish (lüfer), and sea bass (levrek), as well as shellfish, formed the foundation of Istanbul's culinary traditions. Seafood dishes, such as grilled fish and stuffed mussels (midye dolma), became popular street foods that reflect the city's enduring connection to the sea.

In modern-day Istanbul, the seafood culture continues to thrive, especially in iconic neighborhoods such as Karaköy, Kumkapı, and Ortaköy, which are known for their vibrant fish markets and bustling seafood restaurants. Locals and tourists alike flock to these areas to enjoy fresh catches of the day, particularly hamsi in the winter months and lüfer in the summer. Balık ekmek, a traditional grilled fish sandwich, is a popular street food, often served at Bosphorus-side stalls. The city's seafaring legacy is celebrated in every dish, making seafood a quintessential part of Istanbul's culinary identity.

We curated some of the best seafood restaurants in Istanbul for you:

Balıkçı Sabahattin

Operating since 1927, Balıkçı Sabahattin occupies a lovingly restored Ottoman timber mansion tucked behind Hagia Sophia, making it one of the most atmospheric seafood restaurants in Istanbul’s Old City. Inside its creaking wooden floors and low-lit beams, the kitchen lets the fresh catch shine: start with the signature fish börek—delicate phyllo parcels filled with minced sea bass—and exemplary midye dolma, then move on to the house classic, lüfer baked in a clay pot with little more than extra-virgin olive oil, lemon and garden herbs. Portions are generous, prices fair for such a storied address, and the garden tables glow under soft lanterns at sunset—so book ahead if you want a coveted window seat. Open daily from noon until midnight, Balıkçı Sabahattin proves that Istanbul’s seafood heritage is best savored where tradition meets simple, flawless technique.

Phone: +90 212 458 18 24

Website: https://www.balikcisabahattin.com/en

Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Mx6khyB8fjXiFcHc8

Balıkçı Sabahattin

Sur Balık Cihangir

Set on the 7th-floor rooftop of a Cihangir apartment block, Sur Balık Cihangir seats about 200 guests across two levels and a breezy terrace that captures Bosphorus sunsets. Begin with the ice-case of Aegean mezes—marinated sea-bass, fish pastrami, purslane in yogurt—before sharing the kitchen’s signature whole turbot or bluefish roasted with baby onions, olive oil and garden herbs, a preparation food writers still single out for its purity of flavor. Staff encourage you to choose your fish and cooking style, while an optional “Chef’s Selection” tasting flight lets newcomers sample four courses at a fixed price. Book around 19:00 for front-row views as the Golden Horn lights up.

Phone: +90 535 470 13 81

Website: https://www.surbalik.com/en/cihangir

Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/1GerjBTePV5HxmJg6

Sur Balık Cihangir with view of Old City

Sur Balık Sarayburnu

Poised beneath the ancient Topkapı sea walls, Sur Balık Sarayburnu occupies a three-storey timber mansion whose garden and glass-walled dining room seat roughly 550 guests (250 indoors, 300 alfresco), all gazing across the Sea of Marmara’s sunset-flushed horizon. The kitchen marries classic meyhane starters—stuffed mussels, crispy calamari, octopus salad and silky taramasalata—with show-piece mains like butter-roasted turbot or whole bluefish finished on charcoal, letting nothing obscure the day-boat freshness. Go just before 19:00 to watch ferries glide past the palace silhouette while you graze through the rotating meze board and house-baked desserts.

Phone: +90 212 517 53 02.

Website: https://www.surbalik.com/en/sarayburnu

Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/1FEGALmQih8dTjKE7

Sur Balık Sarayburnu - Marmara Sea in the background

Karışma Sen

Operating since 1938, Karışma Sen channels classic Aegean-Mediterranean meyhane spirit in its white-washed dining room and string-lit seaside terrace on Kennedy-Sahilyolu, where the fresh-catch counter tempts you with daily lüfer, sea-bream, and red mullet straight off local day-boats. Generous meze platters—think olive-oil-braised octopus, purslane in yogurt, and silky taramasalata—set the tone before house specialties like charcoal-grilled sea-bream kebabs or the beloved midye dolma arrive, all finished with little more than extra-virgin olive oil, lemon, and garden herbs to showcase pristine flavors. Run by descendants of the original Nacar family, the restaurant keeps prices moderate, pours crisp Thracian whites by the glass, and stays open 12:00–00:00 daily, making it a favorite for locals and visitors exploring the Historic Peninsula.

Phone: +90 212 458 00 81—reservations are a must for sunset tables facing the Marmara.

Website: http://www.karismasen.com/

Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/BBKSX885e2LFbmxG8

Karışma Sen Seafood Restaurant

Cibalikapı Balıkçısı

Cibalikapı Balıkçısı sits on a wooden pier over the Golden Horn, giving you front-row views as the sun goes down. Start with classic mezes like creamy hummus, rich imam bayıldı (stuffed eggplant), and zesty octopus salad. The house specialty is midyeli pilav—mussel rice baked in a clay pot—followed by the day’s fresh fish, often grilled bluefish, red mullet, or sea-bass skewers, simply dressed with parsley, olive oil, and lemon. Traditional fasıl music adds to the lively mood several nights a week. Open 12:00 – 02:00.

Phone: +90 212 533 28 46—reserve early for the terrace.

Website: https://www.instagram.com/cibalikapibalikcisi/

Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/jqpwkrKbAE9eqGbX9