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Near Sirkeci railroad station, the ferry docks, Egyptian (Spice) Bazaar and Galata Bridge, only a 10-minute stroll from Sultanahmet (and an even shorter tram ride), the best restaurants are—surprisingly—in hotels.

The hotels of the Sirkeci Group (map) make a point of providing high-quality food and service at moderate prices in order to "raise the standard" of hospitality in the Sirkeci district, and to compete with the often-overpriced restaurants right around Sultanahmet.

In general, you receive much better meals at more reasonable prices in Sirkeci than in Sultanahmet, and yet Sirkeci restaurants are only a 5- to 10-minute walk, or a 3-minute tram ride, from the Hippodrome (map).

İmbat Terrace Restaurant
Specializing in Mediterranean cuisine and seafood, this restaurant is on the rooftop terrace of the Orient Express Hotel, so it enjoys panoramic views of the Bosphorus and the historic Old City of Istanbul. More...

Paşazade Ottoman Cuisine
Paşazade (PAH-shah-zah-deh) means "of the family of the Pasha [noble]," an apt name for a restaurant serving Ottoman-style dishes not found on most Turkish restaurant menus. The location is as attractive as the food: it's on quiet, pedestrian İbni Kemal Caddesi (No. 5/A) at Mehmet Murat Sokak (map), with tables and chairs set out on the street in good weather. Good food, excellent service, moderate prices, good value for money experience. More...

Neyzade Regional Turkish Cuisine
The ground-floor restaurant of the refined Sirkeci Konak Hotel (map) is a good place to try what might best be described as updated Turkish regional/fusion cuisine. These dishes from all over Turkey are not quite what a Turkish mama used to make—they're better. Service is top-notch, and prices are reasonable, with a full meal often costing only about TL40 to TL60 per person, wine included. More...

Sirkeci Balıkçısı Seafood Restaurant
Seafood is an Istanbul specialty, but it can be expensive, and disappointing (which makes it particularly expensive). The "Sirkeci Fisherman" seafood restaurant in the Sirkeci Konak Hotel (map) is one of the better, more reasonably-priced places to dine on seafood near Sultanahmet. More...

Istanbul Terrace Restaurant & Bar
Panoramic views of Old Istanbul, including Topkapı Palace, Ayasofya, the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus, are only one of the draws here, but they're an important bonus. The food and service at this Turkish-cuisine restaurant atop the Erboy Hotel are excellent and value-priced, and why not have fine views as well? More...

Red River Pub
Yes, the name is from the John Wayne movie, the theme is American West, the beer is cold, but the menu provides more variety than did any saloon in Wayne's day. Red River is a good place to relax informally any time of day (map). More...

Hamdi Restorant
Among Istanbul's most famous places for roasted and grilled meats, with views of Eminönü, Galata Bridge and the Golden Horn. More...

Pandeli
In the Egyptian (Spice) Bazaar itself (Mısır Çarşısı in Turkish), the Pandeli restaurant is in the small, exquisitely tiled rooms above the main entrance portal. Open for lunch only (closed Sunday), it is among Istanbul's oldest continuously operating restaurants. The setting is historic and interesting.

Inexpensive Meals

Balık-Ekmek Fish Sandwiches
The cheapest seafood in the city is under the Galata Bridge, on the western (Golden Horn) side, where you can have a great, cheap traditional Istanbul fish sandwich. More...

Hocapaşa Restaurants
For cheaper, easier, enjoyable fare you should also wander south of the station to a great little neighborhood packed with simple, cheap, good eateries called Hocapaşa. More...