Matbah Restaurant

A short walk from the Basilica Cistern lies Matbah, which serves dishes that follow authentic recipes served at the Tokapi Palace during the Ottoman era.

The cuisine is an intriguing fusion of Middle Eastern, Middle Asian, Balkan and nuts and spices.

Try the baked lamb shank on a bed of puréed aubergine served in a pastry bowl (TL52/$25) – it is prepared the same way as it was in the 1400s. Take a seat on the open-air, summer garden terrace to enjoy views over a sea of rooftops and domes in the heart of the city.