What food is complimentary vs charged extra at Istanbul restaurants?

Tea is often accompanied by a few complimentary cubes of Turkish delight. At some cafés, bread, olives, pickles, and a spicy condiment are complimentary, but this should be explicitly indicated on the menu; otherwise extra appetizers may be added to the bill.

In small cafés, particularly those frequented by locals, jars of pickled peppers may be left on the table free of charge. A basket of bread is also typically served at no extra cost.

At the snack bar behind Building A near reception, an à la carte menu is available in the evening; according to a guest report, salmon, pizza, flatbreads, Turkish coffee, and wine are complimentary there.

At the social café (soс. café), unexpected charges for extras were not an issue — they don't bring unrequested items to the table.

In regular Istanbul restaurants, it's common to receive mezes, a small salad, bread, and yogurt alongside your main dish — and these are sometimes not charged. However, this varies by place.

As a general rule in Istanbul: bread is usually free, and sometimes greens or tea. Anything else brought to the table without being ordered — mezes, appetizers, yogurt — is likely chargeable. Always confirm with the waiter upfront.