Istanbul is a city of many layers—and that holds true at the table, too. While traditional Turkish cuisine has long leaned heavily on grilled meats, dairy, and breads, the city’s evolving food scene has opened its doors to a vibrant, creative, and deeply satisfying world of vegan dining. From backstreet lokantas serving up nostalgic staples made plant-based, to experimental cafes blending Anatolian and international flavors, Istanbul is—quietly but definitively—becoming one of the best cities in the region for vegan travelers.
Unlike Antalya, where vegan options exist but are sometimes buried, Istanbul’s vegan scene is bold, explicit, and expansive. You’ll find fully vegan restaurants tucked into neighborhoods both trendy and traditional, with chefs re-imagining Ottoman classics alongside globally inspired comfort foods. There’s also a rising culture of neighborhood café kitchens doing their own small-batch ferments, sourcing locally, and taking care with their plating—without the pretension.
What stood out most to us here wasn’t just the variety, but the warmth. The restaurants on this list weren’t just good—they were welcoming. Many are run by passionate owners who know their regulars, remember your order, and are genuinely excited to share a meal with you. They’re places where you can linger for hours, and often do.
This is not meant to be an exhaustive list of every vegan restaurant in Istanbul (there are many), but rather a curated guide to the spots we personally loved—places we returned to, or would if we had the chance. From cozy neighborhood kitchens to historic locations with nostalgic menus, these are our favorite vegan eats in the city.
Vegan Dükkan Lokanta
If we had to pick one favorite vegan spot in Istanbul, it would be this one. Tucked on a quiet street, this fully vegan lokanta brings a bold, flavor-forward approach to Turkish food—reinterpreting tradition with imagination and heart.
Vegan Dükkan Lokanta’s standout mains—a rich smoked eggplant and their signature börek topped with cashew yogurt
We loved the smoked eggplant served with vegan meatballs, roasted peppers, and a generous ladling of tomato-herb sauce. It was rich, savory, and deeply comforting. The spinach börek, wrapped in crisp pastry and topped with a velvety fermented cashew yogurt, was another highlight—perfectly flaky, tangy, and satisfying.
Cozy corners and curious cats at Vegan Dükkan Lokanta
The interior is warm and vibrant, full of plants, light, and small thoughtful details. On our visit, a tabby cat perched contentedly on a yellow stool—adding to the homey, lived-in atmosphere. It’s the kind of place that doesn’t just serve great food, but radiates a kind of ethos. You feel the care in every bite.
Veganarsist Kadıköy
Bright, quirky, and full of personality, Veganarsist Kadıköy channels a kind of low-key vegan punk energy that feels perfectly at home in Istanbul’s most youth-forward neighborhood. The tiny interior is stacked with character—walls painted with slogans, a curious cat lurking near the counter, and a menu that’s bold, hearty, and unashamedly comfort-oriented.
The Narcissist Wrap and stuffed dolma at Veganarsist Kadıköy
Our go-to order was the Narcissist Wrap, a dense, flavor-rich bundle of lentils, chickpeas, roasted vegetables, and pickles, all tied together with tangy cashew sauce and spice. If you’ve been craving something fast and filling without compromising on nutrition, this wrap hits every note.
Veganarsist is also a great choice for solo travelers—its casual setup and open street-facing seating make it feel easygoing and unpretentious. With its central Kadıköy location and crowd-pleasing menu, it’s one of the best spots to grab a quick, affordable vegan meal on the Asian side.
Mr. Dumpling
For a taste of comfort food with a cross-cultural twist, Mr. Dumpling is a standout. This cozy spot specializes in mantı—Turkish dumplings—and has gone the extra mile to craft vegan versions that don’t compromise on texture or flavor. It’s a great way to try a traditional dish in its plant-based form, without missing out on any of the indulgence.
We tried the vegan spinach mantı, which was stuffed with lentils and served in a generous pool of vegan yogurt sauce and spiced oil. It was hearty and satisfying, with a soft, handmade feel to the dough and just the right amount of bite. Alongside it, we ordered the pumpkin-stuffed momos—fragrant, lightly spiced, and shaped into the kind of dumplings you want to eat by the handful.
Everything is made fresh to order, and the space itself is bright and welcoming—perfect for a relaxed lunch or a slow, savory dinner. If you’re looking for something beyond the usual wraps and mezze, Mr. Dumpling is a flavorful, filling detour worth making.
Buuzecedi
Buuzecedi is one of those quiet, no-frills places that surprises you in all the right ways. Nestled into a modest storefront in Fatih, it’s a fully vegetarian Syrian restaurant that draws in a loyal local crowd. The staff are friendly, the space is casual, and the food is the kind you remember.
A pyramid of pickles at Buuzecedi, a vegetarian Syrian spot
Everything is made in-house, and you can feel it—from the rich, creamy hummus to the mountains of freshly prepped chickpeas stacked in the back like small monuments to slow cooking.
Falafel wraps, sumac-drizzled herbs, and creamy hummus made fresh at Buuzecedi
We started with a plate of hummus that was topped with olive oil, paprika-dusted chickpeas, tomatoes, and a scattering of fresh herbs. It was perfectly balanced: nutty, silky, and bright. The falafel wrap was the real highlight—crispy rounds of falafel packed into warm flatbread with pickled vegetables, mint, cucumber, tahini, and sumac. It was equal parts tangy, crunchy, and deeply satisfying. Every bite was full of texture and spice without being overpowering.
Balkan Lokantası
If you’re looking for a quick, reliable, and affordable vegan meal in central Istanbul, Balkan Lokantası is hard to beat. This classic self-service spot (known as an esnaf lokantası) offers a large display of home-style Turkish dishes, many of which are naturally vegan. Trays slide down the counter as you point to what you’d like, and within moments you have a full plate of warming, nourishing food.
Artichoke and slow-roasted eggplant—staples of Istanbul’s vegan lokanta culture
Our go-to order included a silky mercimek çorbası (lentil soup), fasulye (white beans in tomato sauce), pilav (rice), and patlıcan güveç (eggplant stew). Other vegan-friendly dishes we spotted were zeytinyağlı enginar (artichoke hearts braised in olive oil), dolma (stuffed vine leaves), and a variety of seasonal vegetables stewed in olive oil and spices.
Vegan lokanta spread: white beans, lentil soup, roasted eggplant, olive oil vegetables, and pilav
The food is fresh, the service is fast, and the prices are among the most reasonable you’ll find in the city. It’s a favorite among students, locals on their lunch break, and travelers seeking an easy vegan option that doesn’t feel like a compromise. Go hungry—the portions are generous and satisfying.
Sefa
Another staple in our vegan rotation was Sefa Restaurant, a lokanta-style eatery with a calm, canteen-like atmosphere and a display case full of steaming Turkish classics. While not exclusively vegan, Sefa reliably offers a wide selection of zeytinyağlı (olive oil-based) dishes that highlight the subtle complexity of vegetables cooked slowly and simply.
Lokanta classics at Sefa: olive oil artichoke, white beans, rice, and seasonal vegetables
We especially loved their artichoke hearts braised with peas, carrots, and dill—a classic Turkish dish that celebrates seasonal produce with freshness and light acidity. Alongside that, we regularly picked up plates of white beans in tomato sauce, green beans stewed with onions, and soft, tender broccoli served warm over rice. Each meal came out fast, full of flavor, and remarkably affordable.
Postane
Just a few minutes’ walk from Galata Tower, Postane is part café, part cultural center—and a peaceful place to pause in the heart of the city. With its community-rooted mission, sustainable ethos, and slow pace, it’s a favorite for freelancers, creatives, and travelers seeking a break from Istanbul’s more frenetic zones.
The small seasonal menu rotates frequently, but we were lucky enough to arrive on a day when they were serving a hearty sunchoke and chickpea stew. Earthy, fragrant, and deeply nourishing, the dish was perfectly balanced with a side of plain white rice and served with a smile. It felt like comfort food—just a little more elevated.
Çiğköfteci Ali Usta
For a quick, affordable, and totally plant-based bite, Çiğköfteci Ali Usta is a solid go-to. Çiğ köfte (pronounced “chee-kuft-eh”) is one of those beautiful accidents of Turkish cuisine: a street food classic that’s naturally vegan. Traditionally made with raw meat, modern versions like this one skip the meat entirely and instead use a spicy, hand-mixed blend of fine bulgur, tomato paste, olive oil, and aromatic herbs.
Served in a wrap with crisp lettuce, pomegranate molasses, and a squirt of lemon juice, it’s rich, tangy, and just a little bit fiery. The texture is dense and satisfying, with the wrap offering just enough chew to hold it all together. It’s a handheld flavor bomb that hits all the right notes—especially after a long day of walking.
Eating vegan in Istanbul
Istanbul is one of the most vegan-accessible cities in the region. While traditional Turkish cuisine still centers meat, yogurt, and cheese-heavy dishes, Istanbul’s scale, diversity, and modern culinary energy mean that plant-based dining is no longer an afterthought—it’s a movement.
Across the city, you’ll find an impressive mix of fully vegan restaurants, contemporary cafes with clearly labeled menus, and traditional lokantas offering time-honored vegan staples like zeytinyağlı (olive oil–based vegetable stews), lentil soups, stuffed vine leaves, and seasonal legumes. Whether you’re looking for comfort food or something more globally inspired, the options are genuinely abundant.
We still leaned on HappyCow to help us navigate neighborhoods we were new to—but more often than not, we found ourselves stumbling across vegan-friendly spots while simply walking around. In areas like Kadıköy, it’s not uncommon to find entire blocks with more than one plant-based option.
A vegan brownie and oat latte from a cozy café and a vegan food market spotted in Kadıköy
If you’re used to having to compromise on food while traveling, Istanbul may surprise you. This is a city where eating vegan can feel joyful, local, and completely integrated into daily life.
