Vegan Istanbul: 7 Vegan Restaurants To Visit Now

I didn’t have sky-high expectations for Istanbul when it came to vegan restaurants and food. I figured there’d be a couple of spots tucked away somewhere, but I also braced myself for a whole lot of meat. After all, Türkiye has a well-known love affair with meat and dairy — someone even told me, completely seriously, “Do you know how hard it is to make soup without butter?” At that moment, I couldn’t help but think: What have I gotten myself into?

But Istanbul had a surprise or two up its sleeve.

While Türkiye isn’t exactly a vegan haven, Istanbul is definitely on the rise. I didn’t just find a handful of options — I found veganized döner, meatballs smothered in creamy cashew yogurt, vibrant salads bursting with pomegranate and herbs, and creative twists on traditional dishes that left me more than impressed.

No, Istanbul isn’t the most vegan-friendly city in the world — but it’s far from the least. And if you visit these spots, you’ll eat very, very well.

They have a small indoor dining area that reminds me of being welcomed into someone’s home, which leads into a lovely back garden space (complete with a kitty). The menu is a beautiful fusion of Turkish delights with global inspiration. I highly recommend their stuffed eggplant, topped with tangy tahini. With one forkful, you can tell that every ounce of this dish is made with so much care, from the rich tomato sauce to the zesty dressing on the salad. You should also try and save room for dessert — you can’t go wrong with a slice of housemade cheesecake or apple pie!

This is one of those places that you’ll wish you could go to more than once (especially if you’re GF). I actually thought I would be able to squeeze in an extra visit to my itinerary, but I didn’t have quite enough time to make it there and to my flight — next time!

This little family-run spot is perched on the corner of a quieter neighborhood, offering a peaceful setting to enjoy a meal. The menu is massive; I was overwhelmed! It seems they have veganized just about every meaty Turkish dish you can imagine and more. Since I couldn’t decide, I had my server help (I find this is always a good thing to do). She said her favorite dish was their special meatballs covered in a cashew yogurt — it wasn’t something I would usually choose, but I went for it and am glad I did. The combination of the savory meatballs with the tangy cashew sauce was fantastic! I wish I could’ve saved room for an order of her mom’s stuffed cabbage — I haven’t had it since I was a kid.

As I was wandering through the quieter streets behind Galata Tower (I promise, they exist!), I just happened to find this delightful vegan café. Actually, I feel like it was looking for me, with its chalkboard sign proclaiming “vegan, coffee, & fresh juices.” It’s like they already knew me! Whether you visit for breakfast or lunch, you’ll find plenty of options (I actually visited twice, as it was conveniently close to the second hotel I stayed in).

I would’ve usually walked right on by a place like this — it’s tucked down an alley with a bunch of other restaurants and plenty of people trying to get your attention. On top of that, it’s also right in the heart of some of Istanbul’s most popular sights. Generally, these things spell expensive and not vegan-friendly!

With all that said, this spot came recommended to me by a local Turkish guide. He said he really enjoys bringing people here and that they would have options, so I figured I had to check it out, and luckily, it was only a short walk from my hotel. My first impression was positive — the menu was well-marked! This isn’t all that common in Istanbul. They offer a mix of mezze dishes, featuring many vegan options, allowing you to create a vibrant combination of grape leaves, pomegranate-infused salad, hummus, and more. It’s a great spot when you need a sightseeing break in the Old Town.