Best Places to have Breakfast in Istanbul

For Istanbulites, a good weekend breakfast equals therapy to undo the week’s exhaustion. We asked Ayşegül Şener, the creator behind @benimkahvaltim on Instagram, about her favorite spots for breakfast in Istanbul. Bon appétit!

Mahmure Akustik Lezzetler: Black Sea breakfast

The place gets its name from owner and musician Oktay Usta’s mother, Mahmure Hanim, who is from Rize. Almost everything on the menu has been chosen with love and sent by her with love from Rize. A typical breakfast will comprise of jam, butter, cheese, helva, kavurma, corn bread, mıhlama and a huge salad. If you like, they have kavurmalı mıhlama and eggs as well. If Oktay is in the mood, he might play his kemençe and bağlama and that’s when you’ll know pure joy.

Walter’s Coffee Roastry: American breakfast

The second place on our list of best places to have breakfast in Istanbul goes to Walter’s Coffee Roastry, which draws its inspiration from the famous TV show Breaking Bad and its endless energy from its freshly brewed coffees. It is designed as a true coffee lab and functions as such but it is one of the few places in Istanbul where you can find an American breakfast. Who can say no to a plate full of pancakes, bacon, eggs, sausage, potatoes, honey and chocolate accompanied by a great cup of freshly brewed coffee? Plus – it’s a great place for those in Moda who want to take their laptops with them and work outside on a small balcony in the back that provides some much needed quiet.

Bazlama Kahvaltı Evi: No one leaves without getting full

After feeding the Alaçatı crowd, Bazlama Kahvaltı Evi is doing the same for Istanbulites now. It became quite popular on instagram with their blue dishes and cups. Their superb service and menu is the reason why the venue always has a line outside. Butter from Trabzon, homemade sucuk from Kayseri, homemade jams, an unbeatable duo black mulberry and lor cheese, salad, menemen, gözleme, and bazlama keep making their way to the table. Tea is brewed in a colorful porcelain pot right on your table so you can refill as you wish. This is definitely one of our favorite places in Istanbul for a full weekend brunch. You can see owner Sinem Tuncer and her mother offering their newly made jams for customers to try every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 3pm. Bazlama will be at Alaçatı this summer for those who are a fan!

Marmelat Cafe: Regional foods

A tiny door opens to a cozy venue on Camekan Street in Galata where blue-white chairs from the Aegean and wonderful butter smells fill the place. Regional cheese, olives, mezes and cooked dishes are some of the best on the menu as are the special marmalades. Breakfast begins with toasted bread, salty yogurt, humus with olive oil and continues with olives and cheese varieties. Fried sucuk and çakallı menemen are must tries.

Kirpi Cafe: Best of the Asian Side

A list of the best places to eat breakfast in Istanbul would not be complete without Kirpi Cafe. Everybody knows of a Kirpi in their neighborhood as they have branches in Koşuyolu, Kozyatağı, Bağdat Caddesi, Buyaka, Maltepe Park and Akasya. There are two options for breakfast on the Kirpi menu: Kirpi kahvaltısı and kahvaltı tabağı (plus a kahvaltı tabağı for kids). Kahvaltı tabağı is pretty rich and filling. Pancake, cereal, omelet, cheese sandwich and gluten-free breakfasts are also available. Although the gluten-free breakfast demands applause, their közde patlıcanlı menemen is still the best. For me, olive oil and zahter from the Mediterranean and the East require special mention because zahter can’t be found unless brought from its region or bought at the Grand Bazaar. It must be noted that their summer menu also has zahter salad and çökelek salad.

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Mahmure Akustik Lezzetler
Şahkulu Mah.ŞahkuluSok. No:14/A Beyoğlu – (0212) 256 2053

Walter’s Coffee Roastry
Caferağa Mah. Badem Altı Sok. No:21/B Moda – (0532) 200 9892

Bazlama Kahvaltı Evi
Osman F. Seden Sok. Teşvikiye – (0531) 833 9199

Marmelat Cafe
No:/A, Bereketzade, Camekan Sk. No:8, 34421 Beyoğlu – (0212) 244 4533

Kirpi Cafe
Mehmet Akvan Sokak 31, Koşuyolu – (0216) 339 0905