Along with the Karaköy metamorphosis, a handful of good-quality restaurants have attracted local foodies.

Karaköy Lokantası

Housed in a beautiful tiled building that used to be the Estonian embassy, the family-run Karaköy Lokantası was established in 2000, and has long been a favorite with in-the-know Istanbulites. Karaköy Lokantası is known for offering consistently delicious Turkish cuisine at reasonable prices. Among local businessmen, this is one of the most popular lunch spots in the neighborhood, while in the evening the atmosphere is more like a meyhane (Turkish tavern), attracting an elite crowd from all over the city. Kemankeş Caddesi No. 37 A, Karaköy; P: (0212) 292 44 55

Tarihi Karaköy Balıkçısı

Despite its rather unassuming façade, Tarihi Karaköy Balıkçısı greets diners with a phenomenal view of the Old City, just across the Golden Horn. Open since 1923, this restaurant is deservedly famous for its hearty fish soup, considered by many to be the best in the city. Just be careful not to fill up on soup and meze, for the fish mains are not to be missed, particularly the sea bass cooked in paper, which is perfectly steamed and succulently flavored. Kardeşim Sokak No. 45 Grifin Han, Karaköy; P: (0212) 243 1371 

Julius Meinl (Karabatak Karaköy)

Julius Meinl, also known as Karabatak Karaköy, reverberates cool. The funky café features retro-style décor and an atmosphere that really invites you to spend hours chatting away with friends over a cup of coffee or settling into a long read. This comfortable coffee shop features a menu with a short list of snacks, sandwiches, and desserts, but the real draw is the coffee and the atmosphere. Julius Meinl is an Austrian-based coffee roaster and coffee house that is known for the quality of its coffee products. Kemankeş Karamustafa Paşa Mahallesi Kara Ali Kaptan Sokak No.7, Karaköy; P:(0212) 243 69 93

Lokanta Maya

Lokanta Maya is a very popular Karaköy establishment, thanks to its concise and creative menu, which features Turkish cuisine at its newest and freshest. The restaurant’s accomplished chef, Didem Şenol, has traveled extensively around the country’s Aegean coast, and has in-depth knowledge of the region’s products. The menu, which changes daily and is different during lunch and dinner time, is a combination of contemporary Turkish and Mediterranean dishes, like mücver (crunchy vegetable patties served with a yogurt-mint-cucumber sauce), marinated chicken, caramelized sea bass, and linguini. The restaurant features a simple and minimal décor, keeping the focus just where it ought to be – on the food. Kemankeş Caddesi 35-A, Karaköy; P: (0212) 252 68 84  

Namlı Gurme

For meat lovers there is no better place than Namlı Gurme, which is a restaurant as well as a food market. The venue offers a casual dining option, especially enjoyable during warmer months when outdoor seating allows customers to watch the ferries arrive at the Karaköy dock. Particularly popular for their brunch buffet, Namlı produces a wide range of meat products, including sausages and cured meats, as well as their own cheeses, olives, and breads. Rıhtım Caddesi Katotopark Altı No.1/1, Karaköy; P: (0212) 293 68 80

Karaköy Güllüoğlu

Karaköy Güllüoğlu is considered by many to make the best baklava in the city. Güllüoğlu still uses its original 1871 recipe, although now there are many varieties available, including chocolate-covered baklava, and şöbiyet, a flaky, triangle-shaped pastry stuffed with pistachios and cream. Mumhane Caddesi No. 171, Karaköy; P: (0212) 243 13 76 

Ops Cafe

Decorated much like a lounge area, with its center featuring an inviting couch and a coffee table, it’s the details that make Ops Café special, like the succulent plants that adorn each table, the small bookcase by the couch, and the rope ladder hung to the ceiling with a hook. You’ll also see artworks adorning the walls. We suggest you take a good look (and ask for the price if you like what you see) because they’re not the permanent décor but a short-term exhibition of works by creatively inclined, passionate people. Mumhane Caddesi Nimet Han No.45B, Karaköy; P: (0212) 245 02 88

Istanbul Modern

Located in Istanbul Museum of Modern Art, Istanbul Modern Café befits its location with a contemporary design. Located on the second floor of the museum, the café offers a breathtaking view of the Bosphorus and the Old City. Its inventive menu features hot and cold appetizers, seafood, pasta, and meat dishes. Meclis-i Mebusan Caddesi Antrepo No. 4 Salıpazarı, Karaköy; P: (0212) 334 73 00  

Fasuli

Flocked by locals as well as tourists, Fasuli is a humble tradesmen’s restaurant that serves as an ideal stop for a quick and budget-friendly lunch. Fasuli specializes in kuru fasulye and pilav (beans and rice); the beans are slowly cooked in a special sauce in copper pots, and served sizzling hot, perfectly paired with a serving of rice and a dollop of yogurt. The menu focuses on Eastern Black Sea Region specialties, such as hemşin mıhlaması (a hot dish made of melted cheese, corn flour, and butter) and karalahana sarması (stuffed kale). İskele Caddesi No. 10-12, Tophane; P: (0212) 243 65 80