Topkapı restaurant/ahmet baş — Restaurant in Fatih

We had a wonderful dining experience at Topkapi Restaurant in Istanbul. The service was outstanding – Ozcan, the head waiter, was incredibly attentive and welcoming even though we didn’t share a common language. Luckily, a local named Asuhan helped bridge the gap with his English, and together they guided us through the menu.

On their recommendation, we tried the lamb chops, chicken wings, shepherd’s salad, and a starter of seven different mezze served with fresh, warm bread. Every dish was full of authentic flavor, perfectly prepared, and beautifully presented. The lamb chops in particular were tender and juicy, while the mezze and bread were the perfect start to the meal.

What stood out most was the genuine warmth and friendliness of the service, which made us feel right at home. It was a true example of Turkish hospitality at its best.

If you’re looking for authentic, high-quality food and a memorable dining experience in Istanbul, Topkapi is...

It is located on the 1st and 2nd floor. Small stairs entrance off the street. Both floors were packed, but we were able to quickly sit and order.

Great everything! There's one young waiter who speaks English, and he helped us with ordering perfectly. We also used Google translate for words like water, etc.

For protein, they have lamb, chicken, cow, and fish. They also have plenty of side dishes. The lamb and chicken were juicy and delicious, and the price was much MUCH lower than restaurants in Old Town. All other tables were enjoying a bottle of Raki with friends. I wish we would've done the same.

This is a smoking establishment. For bathroom, they have a urinal. Anything more, you'd have to squat over the old style toilet on the floor.

This is our new go-to restaurant in Istanbul. We...

Topkapi restaurant is away from the tourist sites which was pretty refreshing - still accessible by tram. The manager didn't speak English and we speak no Turkish but google is great! A warm and respectful exchange made the experience a great memory. There is no menu card as such, we were invited to go downstairs and choose the meat and veg we wanted. Liver, beef and lamb were all tasty as were the aubergine & okra, spicy yoghurt and sprouts. Accompanied by pitta bread and a bottle of red wine and finishing with a plate of fruit slices. Lovely, we were well looked after ! Thanks guys :) The atmosphere was just a...