First: The meaning of a Michelin Star
Michelin stars are awarded to restaurants that meet certain criteria, which broadly include the following:
-Using quality products
-Mastery of flavor and cooking techniques
-The cuisine reflects the personality of the chef
-Value for money
-Consistency of food and quality
Restaurants are visited and reviewed multiple times by an anonymous team of ‘restaurant inspectors’.
The origin of the Michelin Guide
The prestigious Michelin Guide was originally launched around 1889, part of an effort by brothers Andre and Edouard Michelin to promote automobile travel and thereby their eponymous tire company. Initially free, the modest booklet provided route maps as well as listings for mechanics, petrol stations, restaurants and accommodations. In 1920, the Guide, available for a small fee, was revamped to include restaurant listings according to specific categories. In 1926, the Michelin brothers created their restaurant inspection team, known as ‘mystery diners’, who visited and reviewed restaurants anonymously and awarded stars per a three-stage evaluation process.
The Michelin Star Ratings
Michelin Guide stars are awarded according to the category served by the restaurant and its performance, with a possible maximum of three stars. According to the Michelin Guide:
“One MICHELIN Star is awarded to restaurants using top quality ingredients, where dishes with distinct flavors are prepared to a consistently high standard.
Two MICHELIN Stars are awarded when the personality and talent of the chef are evident in their expertly crafted dishes; their food is refined and inspired.
Three MICHELIN Stars is our highest award, given for the superlative cooking of chefs at the peak of their profession; their cooking is elevated to an art form and some of their dishes are destined to become classics.”
Michelin-starred restaurants in Türkiye
We’re excited to explore the list of Michelin-starred restaurants in Türkiye! Although all the Michelin-starred establishments are currently in the city of İstanbul, we’re looking forward to more restaurants being crowned throughout Türkiye.
TURK Fatih Tutak- İstanbul
Helmed by Chef Fatih Tutak, the mission of TURK Fatih Tutak is to honor the roots, traditions and products of a geography stretching from the Aegean to its Balkan and Anatolian borders. As the only restaurant (thus far) in Türkiye to receive two Michelin stars, TURK offers refined Anatolian-style dishes with a modern accent and high quality ingredients in a warm, industrial-chic setting.
By the way, with 53 restaurants selected for the İstanbul guide, you might want to consider purchasing a flight ticket.
Neolokal- İstanbul
At stylish Neolokal, Chef Maksut Aşkar cooks Anatolian dishes with a modern interpretation. The restaurant, appreciated for its sustainability approach in the kitchen, was granted the “Green” Michelin star, awarded to restaurants working with an environmentally friendly approach to gastronomy.
Traditions and lost cultures are the main sources of inspiration for Chef Maksut Aşkar at Neolokal, which defines itself as timeless. Serving in Beyoğlu from the top floor of the SALT Galata bank-turned-art center, the restaurant’s dishes are a delicious bridge connecting the old and the new.
Od Urla – İzmir
Awarded a Michelin star this year, Od Urla is set in the İzmir family home of Chef Osman Sezener. Acclaimed for its sustainability and distinctive gastronomic style, Od Urla has both a Michelin star and a Michelin green star.
Collaborating with local producers and serving dishes cooked over wood fires, Od Urla has won accolades for its Aegean-inspired seasonal menus. The restaurant’s open kitchen offers a relaxed setting where guests can converse with the chefs while observing the creation of their meals.
Arkestra – İstanbul
Arkestra, helmed by Chef Cenk Debensason, presents creative interpretations of modern European dishes made with seasonal ingredients. This Michelin-starred restaurant in Etiler, İstanbul, invites guests to savor original dishes inspired by the chef’s own journey in a stylish atmosphere.
Kitchen – Bodrum
At Kitchen, in Bodrum, Chef Osman Sezener of Od Urla, and his team have earned a Michelin star. Featuring stunning bay views and consistently serving fresh, delicious dishes to guests, Kitchen fuses Turkish cuisine with an international perspective. The restaurant distinguishes itself with its elegant deployment of herbs from the surrounding gardens, as well as charcoal-grilled octopus and fragrant sourdough bread.
Maçakızı- Bodrum
Featuring breathtaking views and a luxe atmosphere, Maçakızı is a special place in every way. This Michelin-starred restaurant offers diners an unforgettable experience of creative Aegean cuisine crafted by Chef Aret Sahakyan and his team.
When in Bodrum, we recommend a visit to Maçakızı, which wins hearts with its flavor pairings and diverse menu.
Teruar Urla – İzmir
The first glimpse of Teruar Urla confirms its status as a gateway to tranquility among the vineyards. Set in a picturesque stone building with valley views, Teruar Urla, the brainchild of Chef Osman Serdaroğlu, was awarded a Michelin star this year. Featuring an impeccable menu offering Italian-influenced dishes made with local products in minimalist presentations, this charming restaurant appeals to both the eye and the palate.
Sankai by Nagaya – İstanbul
The Michelin-starred Sankai by Nagaya brings the subtleties of Japanese cuisine to Bebek, a picturesque İstanbul neighbourhood. Featuring Bosphorus views, the restaurant was opened by Japanese chef Yoshizumi Nagaya inside the boutique hotel of the same name. Sankai by Nagaya offers a distinctive blend of Japanese culture with inspiration of European cuisine. Some of its notable dishes include beef cheeks, as well as sushi prepared with fresh fish caught in the Bosphorus.
Vino Locale – İzmir
Helmed by Ozan and Seray Kumbasar, Vino Locale, in İzmir, was awarded a Michelin star this year for its impressive service and sophisticated menus. Using produce that they grow themselves or purchase from local producers, the couple craft seasonal menus featuring Thai and Italian inspired dishes. Their attention to detail and context perfectly complements Urla’s romantic atmosphere.
Nicole – İstanbul
Chef Serkan Aksoy and his team serve contemporary interpretations of classic Turkish dishes at Nicole, located on the top floor of an elegant historic building in Beyoğlu. In addition, the restaurant’s terrace offers stunning views of the Historical Peninsula and the Princes’ Islands.
Mikla Restaurant – İstanbul
Established in 2005 by Turkish-Scandinavian Chef Mehmet Gürs, Mikla continues to dazzle diners in its lovely setting atop the Pera Marmara hotel in Beyoğlu’s Pera neighborhood. Now helmed by Chef Cihan Çetinkaya, the restaurant promises an unforgettable dining experience focused on seasonal New Anatolian cuisine, prepared with local products and ingredients. Naturally, Mikla also offers fabulous views of the Bosphorus and the Historical Peninsula.
Araka- İstanbul
Araka provides service in a lovely rustic-chic setting in Yeniköy, one of İstanbul’s most beautiful seaside communities. Chef Zeynep Pınar Taşdemir draws acclaim for her seasonal menus that highlight local and regional herbs and vegetables.
Restaurants with the Bib Gourmand Award
The Michelin Guide is not limited merely to starred establishments – the Guide also features restaurants that offer high quality and taste at affordable prices via the Bib Gourmand Award. In İstanbul, this group includes the following:
- Adil Müftüoğlu
- Aheste
- Alaf
- Aman da Bravo
- Aida Vino e Cucina
- Ayşa Boşnak Börekçisi
- Beğendik Abi
- Calipso
- Circle by Vertical
- Cuma
- Effendy
- Fauna
- Foxy
- Giritli
- Hiç Lokanta
- Karaköy Lokantası
- LA Mahzen
- Inari Omakase
- İki Sandal
- Otantik Ocakbaşı
- Pandeli
- The Red Balloon
- SADE Beş Denizler Mutfağı
- Tavacı Recep Usta
- Tershane
Last but not least: Tuğra Restaurant granted the 2024 Michelin Service Award
The Michelin Service Award includes an evaluation that prioritizes the comfort of the guests and the quality of service. Tuğra Restaurant, set along the Bosphorus in İstanbul’s Beşiktaş district, is this year’s winner of the Michelin Service Award.
In addition to İstanbul, other cities worldwide are home to dozens of Michelin-starred restaurants. To organize your own gastronomic route, check out Countries famous for their Michelin-Starred restaurants.
To many delicious discoveries!
