Istanbul Restaurant

You'll find yourself on Fold Street in the city centre, walking into somewhere that takes its food seriously but doesn't require you to dress up or book three months ahead. Istanbul does the full Turkish spread—the kind of place where you can sit with mates over shared plates of properly charred halloumi and smoky aubergine dip, or go solo and demolish a generous doner without feeling rushed. The kitchen knows what it's doing with flame-grilled lamb and chicken, and the mezze selection gives you that feeling of abundance that makes Turkish restaurants worth the trip. It's become the sort of place regulars keep returning to because it's consistently good and doesn't pretend to be anything other than what it is.