How much does eating out cost in Istanbul for two people at tourist restaurants, regular cafés and budget local eateries?

An August 31 report put dinner for two at a regular restaurant, including a glass of wine, at TRY 2,000–3,000.

An August 31 report identified social cafés as a budget option, with a meal costing TRY 200 per person.

On September 17, a report noted typical dishes advertised on café signs at TRY 400–600. A September 18 report suggested TRY 600–700 per dish at a nicer-looking venue.

On September 17, a traveller reported lunch and dinner bills typically around TRY 1,000–1,500, without specifying how many people they covered. Examples included chicken with vegetables at TRY 500, battered squid at around TRY 800, desserts at TRY 500–600, and coffee and ayran at around TRY 150.

An October 10 report listed dishes from TRY 500, a glass of beer from TRY 250, fries from TRY 280, a slice of cake from TRY 350, tea at TRY 50–100, and coffee from TRY 250.

At Istanbul’s tourist-oriented cafés, a meal for two can easily start at TRY 2,500, particularly for a full lunch or dinner with drinks. Food is a significant part of the budget, so a first visit of five to seven days needs a realistic dining allowance.

At simple, non-upmarket cafés, allow about TRY 800 per person, or around TRY 1,600 for two. This is a useful estimate for a standard meal away from the pricier venues.

The lowest-cost option is a local canteen-style eatery, where food may cost about TRY 500 per person, or roughly TRY 1,000 for two—substantially less than tourist cafés.

Even individual items can be expensive outside the most obvious tourist streets: döner and balık dürüm were reported at TRY 500–600, while a cup of coffee was TRY 300–400. Check the menu and prices before ordering.