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Eminönü is one of the most touristic places in Istanbul. It’s located on the Golden Horn opposite Karaköy. There’s lots to explore in this neighborhood within the Fatih district.

Eminönü, Istanbul, Turkey
Eminönü
A street in Eminönü
A street in Eminönü

 

Eminönü Square

The heart of the neighborhood is Eminönü Square (Eminönü Meydanı). It’s an open area bordered by the Spice Bazaar, New Mosque, and several Ottoman buildings. Tahtakale and the Rüstem Pasha Mosque are just behind.

Eminönü Square
Eminönü Square
Eminönü Square
Eminönü Square

The square is a great place for people watching and contains a few decent restaurants. There are also lots of street vendors selling different snacks such as roasted corn and chestnuts, depending on the season.

Eminönü Square in Istanbul, Turkey
Eminönü Square
Corn vendor
Corn vendor
Chestnut vendor on Eminönü Square in Istanbul, Turkey
Chestnut vendor


 

Kiraz Han

On the west side of the square are four historic Ottoman buildings. First is Kiraz Han, which sits next to Ragıp Gümüşpala Street, the busy street passing by the square. The construction date is thought to be sometime in the 17th century. It’s owned by the city and was restored in 1994.

Kiraz Han on Eminönü Square in Istanbul, Turkey
Kiraz Han
Kiraz Han on Eminönü Square in Istanbul, Turkey
Kiraz Han

 

Big Çukur Han

Next door is Big Çukur Han (Büyük Çukur Han), which was built between 1558 and 1561 by Grand Vizier Rüstem Pasha (c. 1505 – 1561) as part of the Rüstem Pasha Mosque complex. The architect was Mimar Sinan (1490-1588). One of the oldest hans in Istanbul, it has two floors and a central courtyard. The han has lost its original appearance over the years. It was built together with Small Çukur Han (Küçük Çukur Han), which is attached to the west.

Big Çukur Han on Eminönü Square in Istanbul, Turkey
Big Çukur Han

 

Burmalı Han

Attached to the south of Big Çukur Han and hidden away from the square is Burmalı Han. It was also built by Rüstem Pasha in 1556 and the architect was Mimar Sinan. Some historians believe it originally functioned as a courthouse and was later converted into a han.

Burmalı Han on Eminönü Square in Istanbul, Turkey
Burmalı Han


 

Kızıl Han

Finally, across the street on the corner of Eminönü Square is Kızıl Han. It’s thought to have been built in the 17th century. The architect and original owner of the building is unknown. Another name for the building is Papazoğlu Han or Papaz Han, which may indicate it had Greek ownership in the past.

Kızıl Han on Eminönü Square in Istanbul, Turkey
Kızıl Han

 

Eminönü Underpass

An underpass connects the other side of Eminönü Square across Ragıp Gümüşpala Street, where you can access Eminönü Pier and the Galata Bridge.

Underpass


 

Eminönü Pier

Eminönü Pier sits along the Golden Horn on either side of the Galata Bridge in Eminönü. If you’re looking for action, Eminönü Pier is a busy area full of locals and tourists walking in every direction. Street vendors trying to make a living add to the atmosphere. It’s an incredible place to people-watch and is full of interesting sights, sounds, and smells.

Eminönü Pier in Eminönü, Istanbul, Turkey
Eminönü Pier
Eminönü Pier in Eminönü, Istanbul, Turkey
Eminönü Pier
Lokma vendor

 

Eminönü as a Transport Hub

In addition to being an important tourist attraction, Eminönü is a major transportation hub. Stops for the T1 tram line and T5 tram line are to the east and west of the Galata Bridge, respectively. Further west, there’s a large bus terminal with buses to all over the European side of the city. You can catch ferries to Üsküdar and Kadıköy as well.

Eminönü Pier
Eminönü Pier

 

Bosporus Tours from Eminönü

It’s possible to catch a touristic Bosporus cruise leaving from Eminönü Pier. Turyol cruises leave from west of the Galata Bridge and last about 90 minutes. They run pretty much hourly from 10am to 7pm and cost 200₺ (as of August 2024).

Turyol ferry terminal
Turyol ferry terminal
Boarding a Turyol Bosporus cruise

The City Ferry Lines (İstanbul Şehir Hatları) cruises leave from east of the Galata Bridge. Short Bosporus tours running for 2 hours are 260₺ for foreigners (as of August 2024). Children under six are admitted free of charge. They leave daily at 2:40pm and 4:45pm.

Bosporus cruise

Full Bosporus tours leave at 10:35am daily and last about six hours. These tours include a 2 ½ hour stop at Anadolu Kavağı. Both return and one-way tickets for foreigners cost 480₺ (as of August 2024). Children under six are admitted free of charge.

Bosporus cruise

In addition to the public cruises, it’s also possible to arrange for a private Bosporus cruise. This can be done through your hotel or speaking directly with someone at the docks. Prices vary.

Enjoying a private Bosporus cruise
Bosporus cruise


 

Balık Ekmek

Some of the vendors are on boats on the Golden Horn cooking up balık ekmek, which is a popular fish sandwich. The sandwiches are made with fried or grilled fish, usually mackerel, and topped with vegetables such as lettuce, onion, and tomato.

Balık ekmek boats in Eminönü, Istanbul, Turkey
Balık ekmek boats
Balık ekmek boats in Eminönü, Istanbul, Turkey
Balık ekmek boats
Balık ekmek boats
Balık ekmek boats

 

Zindan Han

Just west of the T5 tram stop is Zindan Han. It was built in the 19th century and named after a Byzantine dungeon that used to occupy the site. The Ottomans used the dungeon as a debtor’s prison and also a women’s prison.

Zindan Han in Eminönü in Istanbul, Turkey
Zindan Han

Zindan Han is the largest han in the city built in the western style of architecture. It survived demolition in the 1970s when a project to create parkland along the Golden Horn came to fruition.

Zindan Han
Zindan Han


 

Tomb of Cafer Baba

The tomb of Cafer Baba (Cafer Baba Türbesi) is attached to the rear of Zindan Han. It was once a tower on the Byzantine sea walls. According to legend, Cafer Baba came to Constantinople in the late 8th century as an envoy of Abbasid Caliph Harun al-Rashid to Empress Irene. He was later imprisoned under Nikephoros I, escaping with the help of Ali, a Byzantine guard who converted to Islam. Both were killed in their escape. The grave was found after the Fall of Constantinople and quickly became a pilgrimage site.

Tomb of Cafer Baba
Tomb of Cafer Baba

 

Ahi Çelebi Mosque

Finally, across the street to the west is the Ahi Çelebi Mosque (Ahi Çelebi Camii). It was built in 1480 by Ahi Çelebi (1432-1522), a doctor of Mehmed the Conqueror and the chief physician under Bayezid II. It burned down in 1539 and 1653 and was damaged by an earthquake in 1892. The mosque was restored and reopened to worship in the 1990s.

Ahi Çelebi Mosque


 

İşbank Museum

The İşbank Museum is housed in a historic building in Eminönü on the back side of the New Mosque. It tells the story of İşbank, Turkey’s largest bank. The building opened on September 23, 1892, as the main branch of the Ottoman post office. It was constructed by Sheikh Ahmed Muhtar Talat Efendi. It served as the main branch until the new post office opened nearby in Sirkeci in 1909. After that, the building served as a package post office.

İşbank Museum in Eminönü, Istanbul, Turkey
İşbank Museum

The building was sold to a local bank in 1917. In 1927, it was purchased by İşbank and converted into their main Istanbul office. İşbank used the building until 2004, and on October 14, 2007, it opened to the public as a museum.

İşbank Museum in Eminönü, Istanbul, Turkey
İşbank Museum

Admission to the İşbank Museum is free (as of August 2024). It’s open daily except Mondays from 10am to 6pm. The nearest public transportation is the Eminönü stop on the T1 tram line. Be aware that the exhibits are all in Turkish.

Entrance to the İşbank Museum
Entrance

 

First Floor

The history of İşbank, founded in 1924, is chronicled on the first floor. On display are documents, photos, historic advertisements, and even the original furniture used in the branch manager’s office.

İşbank display at the İşbank Museum in Eminönü, Istanbul, Turkey
İşbank display
İşbank advertisements and photos at the İşbank Museum in Eminönü, Istanbul, Turkey
İşbank advertisements and photos
Branch manager's office at the İşbank Museum in Eminönü, Istanbul, Turkey
Branch manager’s office

A model of the İşbank headquarters in Levent is also on display. The skyscrapers were built between 1996 and 2000. The complex includes an auditorium where performances are often held.

Model of the İşbank complex in Levent at the İşbank Museum in Eminönü, Istanbul, Turkey
Model of the İşbank complex in Levent

Among the architectural details to look out for are original decorations on the walls. They sit behind panes of glass.

First floor at the İşbank Museum in Eminönü, Istanbul, Turkey
First floor
Original wall decoration at the İşbank Museum in Eminönü, Istanbul, Turkey
Original wall decoration


 

Ground Floor

The ground floor contains exhibition space built into the old teller windows, allowing visitors to appreciate the fine workmanship of the 1920s.

Teller windows at the İşbank Museum in Eminönü, Istanbul, Turkey
Teller windows
Teller window at the İşbank Museum in Eminönü, Istanbul, Turkey
Teller window

The exhibition contained a history of the Turkish War of Independence. There were several photos, videos, and artifacts on display. Although everything is in Turkish, the exhibit does a fine job of bringing the war to life.

Turkish War of Independence exhibit at the İşbank Museum in Eminönü, Istanbul, Turkey
Turkish War of Independence exhibit
Turkish War of Independence exhibit at the İşbank Museum in Eminönü, Istanbul, Turkey
Turkish War of Independence exhibit
Greek soldier's uniform at the İşbank Museum in Eminönü, Istanbul, Turkey
Greek soldier’s uniform
Turkish soldier's uniform at the İşbank Museum
Turkish soldier’s uniform

 

Basement

The basement, which is accessed by a stairwell to the right of the entrance, was the most interesting part of the museum for me. First is the safe deposit box vault. Some of the boxes contain items that I guess were found in unclaimed boxes. They included passports, toys, photos, and sentimental items.

Door to the safe deposit box vault at the İşbank Museum
Door to the safe deposit box vault
Safe deposit box vault at the İşbank Museum
Safe deposit box vault
Safe deposit box at the İşbank Museum
Safe deposit box
Key box at the İşbank Museum
Key box

Next is a long corridor with a dizzying display of numbers projected onto the wall and floors. It kind of brought back nightmares of my days as an accountant!

Corridor with numbers at the İşbank Museum
Corridor with numbers

Around the corner is the main bank vault, which was built by Lips Dordrecht of the Netherlands. It contains some of the original equipment used in the banking industry as well as the original cabinets where money was stored.

Door to the main vault at the İşbank Museum
Door to the main vault
Main vault at the İşbank Museum
Main vault
Lips Dordrecht logo in the vault at the İşbank Museum
Lips Dordrecht logo in the vault
Banking machine at the İşbank Museum
Banking machine

The exhibition in the main vault consists of old documents mainly in French, Turkish, and Ottoman Turkish. They include cancelled checks, letters, stock shares, and ledgers. Each document is kept in a sliding glass display that pulls out of the cabinet.

Cancelled check in Ottoman Turkish at the İşbank Museum
Cancelled check in Ottoman Turkish
Cancelled check in modern Turkish at the İşbank Museum
Cancelled check in modern Turkish
Letter in French at the İşbank Museum
Letter in French
Ledger in Ottoman Turkish at the İşbank Museum
Ledger in Ottoman Turkish
Stock shares in Ottoman Turkish at the İşbank Museum
Stock shares in Ottoman Turkish

 

Skyfall Movie Set

Finally, on an interesting side note, the street in front of the İşbank Museum was used as a set for the 2012 James Bond film, Skyfall. I was able to walk past the set, which was used as a street market, during non-production hours.

Skyfall set at the İşbank Museum in Eminönü, Istanbul, Turkey
Skyfall set


 

Fourth Vakıf Han

A block further down the street is the Fourth Vakıf Han (4. Vakıf Han), now the Legacy Ottoman Hotel. An architectural gem, it was designed as an office building in 1911 by Mimar Kemaleddin (1870-1927) and built between 1916 and 1926. The building replaced the Hamidiye Mosque Complex (Hamidiye Külliyesi), built by Sultan Abdülhamid I in the late 18th century.

Fourth Vakıf Han in Eminönü, Istanbul, Turkey
Fourth Vakıf Han

During the Allied occupation of Constantinople after World War I, from 1920 to 1923, the Fourth Vakıf Han was used as a barracks for French soldiers. Later in the 20th century, it housed the Istanbul Stock Exchange (Borsa İstanbul). In 2000, it was emptied with the intention of converting it into a courthouse.

Fourth Vakıf Han in Eminönü, Istanbul, Turkey
Fourth Vakıf Han

The building stood vacant for four years until a hotel decided to move in. Legacy Ottoman Hotel opened on July 2, 2006, and is the only five star hotel in the Eminönü area. It boasts 153 rooms and 19 suites along with a restaurant and bar.

Fourth Vakıf Han
Fourth Vakıf Han

 

Tomb of Abdülhamid I

The Tomb of Abdülhamid I (I.Abdülhamid Türbesi) is the final resting place of two Ottoman sultans, Abdülhamid I and Mustafa IV. It’s across the street from Fourth Vakıf Han.

Tomb of Abdülhamid I in Eminönü, Istanbul, Turkey
Tomb of Abdülhamid I
Entrance to the Tomb of Abdülhamid I
Entrance
Dome above the entrance to the Tomb of Abdülhamid I
Dome above the entrance

The Tomb of Abdülhamid I was built in 1790 by architect Mehmed Tahir Ağa as part of an almshouse built by Abdülhamid I in 1777. The almshouse was destroyed in the 19th century and only the tomb remains.

Tomb of Abdülhamid I in Eminönü, Istanbul, Turkey
Tomb of Abdülhamid I
Chandelier of the Tomb of Abdülhamid I
Chandelier
Decorations in the Tomb of Abdülhamid I
Decorations

The tomb is topped by a dome. It’s made entirely of marble and has 26 windows. It contains 20 burials in total as well as a supposed footprint of the Prophet Muhammad. There’s also a small cemetery next to the tomb.

Dome of the Tomb of Abdülhamid I in Eminönü, Istanbul, Turkey
Dome
Windows of the Tomb of Abdülhamid I
Windows
Burials of princes and princesses in the Tomb of Abdülhamid I
Burials of princes and princesses
Footprint of the Prophet Muhammad
Footprint of the Prophet Muhammad
Cemetery at the Tomb of Abdülhamid I
Cemetery


 

Biography of Sultan Abdülhamid I

Abdülhamid I (b. 1725, Constantinople – d. 1789, Constantinople) was the 27th Sultan of the Ottoman Empire (r. 1774-1789). He was very religious and giving to his subjects, but unsuccessful in war. Although he was a pacifist, he was forced to renew a long war with Russia started by his predecessor, Mustafa III. This drove him to reform the Ottoman armed forces. Abdülhamid I was known as the most gracious of all the Ottoman sultans.

Sarcophagus of Abdülhamid I
Abdülhamid I
Sarcophagus of Abdülhamid I
Abdülhamid I

 

Biography of Sultan Mustafa IV

Also in the tomb is Mustafa IV (b. 1779, Constantinople – d. 1808, Constantinople), the 29th Sultan of the Ottoman Empire (r. 1807-1808). He had a very short but turbulent reign, with riots caused by the Janissaries and threats from Russia. Mustafa IV came to power by deposing his cousin, Selim III, on May 29, 1807.

Sarcophagus of Mustafa IV at the Tomb of Abdülhamid I
Mustafa IV

In an attempt to secure his position as the only surviving heir to the House of Osman, he ordered the execution of Selim III and his brother, Mahmud II. The assassination of Selim III on July 28, 1808, was successful, but his brother was kept hidden. After Mustafa IV saw the body of Selim III, he ascended the throne, but Mahmud II emerged out of hiding and forced him to abdicate. Mustafa IV was killed on his brother’s orders on November 16, 1808.

 

Hidayet Mosque

Heading north towards the water on Yalı Köşkü Street are two more historic buildings. On the west end of the street is the Hidayet Mosque (Hidayet Camii). It was originally built out of wood in 1813 under Sultan Mahmud II. At that time, the area was infamous for murderers, prostitutes, and other unsavory characters. Mahmud II ordered the demolition of the neighborhood and built the mosque to clean up the area. He named it “Hidayet”, which means “seeking the right path” in Arabic.

Hidayet Mosque
Hidayet Mosque

Ottoman French architect Alexander Vallaury (1850-1921) rebuilt the Hidayet Mosque in 1887 under Sultan Abdülhamid II. It’s two stories high with the prayer hall on the second floor.

Hidayet Mosque in Eminônü, Istanbul, Turkey
Hidayet Mosque


 

Liman Han

On the east end of the street is Liman Han, which was built by Vedat Tek (1873-1942) between 1907 and 1915. It’s a large building with a beautiful façade featuring turquoise tiles.

Liman Han in Eminönü, Istanbul, Turkey
Liman Han
Liman Han
Liman Han
Entrance to Liman Han
Entrance
Liman Han
Liman Han

Restoration began in March 2021 and was completed in September 2022. It reopened as an education and research center operated by the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (İstanbul Ticaret Odası).

Liman Han in October 2018 (before restoration)
Liman Han in October 2018 (before restoration)
Upper floor of Liman Han (during restoration in May 2022) in Sirkeci, Istanbul, Turkey
Upper floor
Windows of Liman Han
Windows
Eaves of Liman Han
Eaves

 

Germanya Han

Heading south down Şeyhülislam Hayri Efendi Street is a five-way intersection. On the south end is Germanya Han, which was built in the early 1900s by Prussian architect August Jasmund (1859-1911). Deutsche Orientbank began operating in the building on August 16, 1909. The bank closed between January 25, 1919, and October 1, 1923, while the city was occupied by the Allied Forces. It closed again briefly in 1944 during World War II, and reopened until it was liquidated in late 1959.

Germanya Han in Eminönü, Istanbul, Turkey
Germanya Han
Deutsche Orientbank inscription on Germanya Han in Eminönü, Istanbul, Turkey
Deutsche Orientbank inscription
Germanya Han
Germanya Han

Germanya Han was restored between 1990 and 1991 and operated as a branch of Yapı Kredi Bank from the early 1990s to the early 2000s. The building was restored again in 2018 and reopened as the Orient Bank Hotel in 2020.

Copula of Germanya Han
Copula
Germanya Han
Germanya Han


 

Sadıkiye Han

Moving clockwise around the intersection, the building occupying the next block is Sadıkiye Han. I can’t find much information about the building’s history, but it contains a faded advertisement in Ottoman Turkish, Armenian, and French for İsagulyan, an important tea importer in the early 20th century.

Sadıkiye Han in Eminönü, Istanbul, Turkey
Sadıkiye Han
Ornamental stonework on Sadıkiye Han
Ornamental stonework
Faded advertisements on Sadıkiye Han in Eminönü, Istanbul, Turkey
Faded advertisements

 

First Vakıf Han

Across the street is First Vakıf Han (1.Vakıf Han), which was built in 1918 by architect Mimar Kemaleddin (1917-1927). Also known as the Yapı Kredi Building (Yapı Kredi Binası), it housed a branch of Yapı Kredi Bank. The building is one of Istanbul’s most impressive structures in the First National Architecture movement.

First Vakıf Han in Eminönü, Istanbul, Turkey
First Vakıf Han
First Vakıf Han in Eminönü, Istanbul, Turkey
First Vakıf Han

 

Sümerbank Building

On the opposite corner is the old Sümerbank Building (Sümer Bank Binası), which is thought to have been built in 1867 by Italian architect Antoine Tedeschi. It first hosted Credit General Ottomane, then Deutsche Orientbank. Sümerbank occupied it in 1933 and operated there until around 2002. Nowadays, there’s a restaurant on the ground floor. Heading south from there, you can explore the Sultanhamam area.

Sümerbank Building in Eminönü, Istanbul, Turkey
Sümerbank Building
Sümerbank Building
Sümerbank Building


 

Where to Eat in Eminönü

If you’re not full from picking on samples at the Spice Bazaar, there are a few decent places to eat in Eminönü.

 

Hamdi Restaurant

Hamdi Restaurant is a popular kebab place with three locations in Istanbul. I’ve visited the branch in Eminönü several times, and both food and service has always been excellent. The other locations are in central Şişli and Tepebaşı. I haven’t tried either of them but expect them to have the same quality.

Hamdi Restaurant
Hamdi Restaurant

Hamdi Restaurant can get quite crowded with both tourists and locals no matter the season. We’ve visited in the middle of summer as well as the less crowded months of October and November. However, the longest we’ve had to wait for a table is only five minutes. We usually end up sitting on one of the upper floors, but a table with a view isn’t always easy to come by. If you’re lucky, you’ll eat your meal with a wonderful view of Eminӧnü Square and Galata across the Golden Horn.

Hamdi Restaurant
Hamdi Restaurant
View from Hamdi Restaurant
View from Hamdi Restaurant

 

Main Courses

For our first visit, we took a large tour group there for lunch. We ate a pre-determined menu featuring içli köfte, lahmacun, salad, and döner. I was surprised the döner was as good as it was. The flavor was great and it wasn’t dry like döner from other places I’ve tried.

Döner at Hamdi Restaurant in Eminönü, Istanbul, Turkey
Döner

On another visit with Marisol, we ordered kebabs off the menu. I had the haşhaş kebab and Marisol had the kuzu şiş. Both were delicious and we agreed they were some of the best kebabs we’ve had in Turkey.

Haşhaş kebab at Hamdi Restaurant
Haşhaş kebab
Kuzu şiş at Hamdi Restaurant in Eminönü, Istanbul, Turkey
Kuzu şiş

On a third visit with a small tour group consisting of a family of four, we shared the beyti kebab and oruk kebab as well as some other dishes I had previously tried. Again, the group enjoyed their meals and left with a good impression of the restaurant.

Beyti kebab at Hamdi Restaurant in Eminönü, Istanbul, Turkey
Beyti kebab
Oruk kebab at Hamdi Restaurant in Eminönü, Istanbul, Turkey
Oruk kebab

 

Desserts

For dessert, after our first group meal we each got two pieces of pistachio baklava. We’ve also tried the künefe and katmer. While everything is good, I prefer other dessert spots in Istanbul.

Baklava at Hamdi Restaurant
Baklava
Künefe at Hamdi Restaurant in Eminönü, Istanbul, Turkey
Künefe
Katmer at Hamdi Restaurant
Katmer


 

Pandeli Restaurant

Historic Pandeli Restaurant is an Istanbul institution. It gives visitors the unique experience of eating on the upper floor of the Spice Bazaar.  The restaurant may be well past its prime, but it was once one of THE places to eat in town. The entrance is just inside the main gate to the Spice Bazaar facing the Golden Horn.

Pandeli Restaurant in Eminönü, Istanbul, Turkey
Pandeli Restaurant

 

History

Pandeli Restaurant was founded by Pandeli Çobanoğlu (d. 1967), a Greek originally from Niğde. He moved to Istanbul at a young age and worked as a dishwasher, barber, grocery apprentice, and porter. He opened his first köfte shop in Çukur Han followed by the very popular Hamal Lokantası before World War I. Pandeli went back to Niğde during the war and returned to Istanbul after, opening a three-story restaurant on Yağcılar Pier (Yağcılar İskelesi) in Eminönü that was frequented by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (1881-1938).

After his restaurant was looted during the anti-Greek pogrom on September 6-7, 1955, Pandeli quit the restaurant business. He was lured back into business when the government, led by admirers President Celâl Bayar (1883-1986) and Prime Minister Adnan Menderes (1899-1961), allocated the second floor of the Spice Bazaar to him as the Pandeli Restaurant. He also reopened the restaurant on Yağcılar Pier and ran it until it was demolished in 1958 due to urban planning.

Pandeli passed away in 1967. His son, Hristo Çobanoğlu, and Cemal Biberci, who started working at the restaurant at a young age, assumed the responsibility of operating the restaurant.

Stairs up to the restaurant

 

Celebrity Visitors

Visitors might notice some autographed photos lining the walls of the restaurant. During its heyday, it hosted both Turkish and international dignitaries and celebrities. They included American Ambassador George McGhee (1912-2005), Queen Elizabeth II, King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofía of Spain, Audrey Hepburn (1929-1993), Peter Ustinov (1921-2004), Burt Lancester (1913-1994), Melina Mercouri (1920-1994), and Sean Connery (1930-2020).

Even in more recent times, celebrities still pay a visit once in a while. Some visitors include Robert De Niro, John Malkovich, Roman Polanski, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Daniel Day-Lewis.

Dining room at Pandeli Restaurant in Eminönü, Istanbul, Turkey
Dining room

 

My Experience

I visited Pandeli Restaurant for a late lunch in the middle of the week. There were no tables available with a view so I sat in the half-empty dining room just inside the entrance. I ordered the lamb kebab with roasted eggplant and a side of cacık (tzatziki).

Lamb kebab with roasted eggplant at Pandeli Restaurant in Eminönü, Istanbul, Turkey
Lamb kebab with roasted eggplant
Cacık

For dessert, I had a delicious tirit cherry bread with clotted buffalo cream. Overall, my meal was good but it wasn’t amazing. I’ve definitely had better meals in Istanbul but it was still a good experience. I’m sure it was fantastic back in the day and it felt great just to be there. Also, service was friendly and prices are fair.

Tirit cherry bread with clotted buffalo cream

 

Map of Eminönü

Author

Owner of Paisadventure. World traveler. Chicago sports lover. Living in Colombia.

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