How to avoid tourist trap restaurants and find authentic good food in Istanbul?
Based on 1 discussion with 3 participants · Last activity: today
TL;DR
Skip the first cafe you see near major sights in Istanbul — it's often overpriced and low quality; look for spots recommended by locals/expats instead of relying on hotel all-inclusive food.
What the community said
Travelers who only stay at Turkish all-inclusive resorts often never try authentic, high-quality local dishes and desserts (like a proper San Sebastian-style cheesecake) — they simply have nothing to compare it to.
8 days ago San Sebastian cheesecake
General rule that applies in Istanbul too: don't walk into the first cafe or restaurant you see near tourist attractions — you'll likely overpay for mediocre food. Better to search local traveler/expat community recommendations first.
16 days ago
Eating at places mainly frequented by locals rather than tourists is completely fine and welcomed — restaurants need the business, and there's enough food to go around for everyone.
30 days ago