Trattoria Carbonara — Restaurant in Beşiktaş

My girlfriend and I were staying at the Renaissance Bosphorus for our holiday, and decided to do a little exploring in the vicinity of our lodging. We walked through a series of streets, and happened upon this lovely, airy, and tastefully decorated Italian eatery.

After a brief glance at the menu, we decided that this would be the perfect place for us to break our intermittent fast, especially in light of the beautiful environs. We sat down, and ordered a number of items, to include the onion and minestrone soups, the salmon entree, the eggplant appetizer, the porcini ravioli, and the arugula salad.

The food came quickly, and after just a few bites of each dish, we decided that the offerings at Trattoria Carbonara surpassed comparable dishes at numerous Italian restaurants in our home state of New York, as well as NYC and Long Island. Simply put, the flavors were clean, wholesome, and perfectly seasoned. The portions sizes were perfect for our mood.

The minestrone was lovely, and the addition of diced bell peppers added a beautifully fresh flavor. We found the eggplant to be elegant in its simplicity; the individual flavors of fresh mozzarella, olive oil, and eggplant maintained a beautiful balance. The hand made porcini ravioli was delicate, and the mushroom shone as the star of that dish. The arugula salad with its goat cheese, tomatoes, and balsamic glaze provided a beautiful acidic counterpoint to the slight richness of the ravioli.

But the star of our experience was Recep, the impossibly friendly and hilarious chef-owner with whom we had a 45+ minute conversation on the topic of everything from German sports cars, to the story of how he ended up at the helm of this eatery after having started there as a teenager.

He even treated us to delicious cups of Turkish coffee, along with handmade chocolate and strawberry ice cream, which happened to be the best we had tasted on our trip. We plan to make a pitstop on the way to the airport. Do yourself a favor, and stop by if you're ever hankering for delicious...

My boyfriend Muni and I accidentally stumbled upon Trattoria Carbonara while wandering through Istanbul—and what a serendipitous experience it was! From the moment we stepped in, we were welcomed by a warm, inviting atmosphere and genuinely friendly staff.

We started with minestrone and onion soup, alongside a perfectly seasoned eggplant appetizer. Then came the mushroom cheese ravioli and a beautifully prepared salmon entrée—every bite was absolutely delicious. You can truly taste the love and care in every dish.

What made the evening even more special was meeting Recep, the chef and owner. He came out to chat with us after the meal and shared his beautiful story. He started working here in high school, became like family to the previous owner, and eventually took over the restaurant. He told us that profit is not his priority—his true passion lies in creating good food, bringing joy to others, supporting his young family, and being part of the community.

To top it all off, Recep treated us to the most flavorful Turkish coffee and heavenly, homemade French-style ice cream—on the house. Such a kind and generous gesture.

Muni and I will never forget this meal or Recep. Trattoria Carbonara is more than just a restaurant—it’s a labor of love. Highly recommend to anyone visiting Istanbul who craves authentic Italian...

We’ve been to Istanbul many times, but usually stayed right in the center. This time, we decided to explore a new area a little away from the usual spots — and we’re so glad we did! We stumbled upon this restaurant for dinner, and I can honestly say it’s one of the best places we’ve tried in Istanbul.

The atmosphere is so cozy and welcoming, which makes you feel right at home from the very first moment. The food was absolutely incredible — so fresh and full of flavor. We ordered the burrata, a Margherita pizza, and pasta, and everything was just delicious.

On top of that, we had the honor of meeting the restaurant’s boss, Recep, who kindly treated us to the most amazing ice cream (honestly, it was SO tasty!) and had a lovely chat with us.

We truly recommend this restaurant to everyone — whether you’re local or visiting Istanbul, it’s worth the trip. We can’t wait to come back...