From street eats to Michelin stars: How to eat your way around Istanbul

Every so often, you eat something that makes you stop in your tracks, perhaps even involuntarily sighing the words “Oh my God”, with not a thought as to who can hear you. open image in gallery Mackerel grilled on the street in Istanbul I eat mine on a little street in the old Istanbul neighbourhood of Karaköy, where tiny food stalls are interspersed with cafes serving up glasses of Turkish tea so strong it’ll put hair on your chest. open image in gallery Alaf Kuruçeşme is one of Istanbul’s hottest dining spots Sitting in a room lined with bare brick, tarnished mirrors and rubber plants that lean towards the sunny windows, it’s not hard to see why Michelin gave her that star. open image in gallery A five-star take on the traditional Turkish kebab While food is a big deal in Istanbul, this isn’t much of a drinking city. Over at the Conrad Istanbul, Summit Bar is one of the best rooftop spots in the city, highly rated by the folks at World’s Best Bars.