Istanbul Cafe & Bistro in City of London, Westminster

This is such a great place to eat, or even just have a coffee. Traditional and wholesome food. Well cooked and lovely. Service is friendly and efficient, every server looks after you do you never have to wait to ask for what you want. The dishes are large. Value for money is great.

Food was perfect, the servers are very nice and there is a very short wait for the food. Personally I like the French breakfast and Turkish coffee, but TRY THE TURKISH DELIGHT it’s the best Turkish delight in London.

It was my first meal in London and I was satisfied. The staff were also friendly.

Initially just came here to sit in the sun and have some drinks but ended up ordering the hummus kavurma and garlic prawns which totally exceeded my expectations. Really really good, would come here again just for the hummus kavurma!

We go here each time we're in London. A hidden gem with terrific food for a solid value. The cold mezze sampler is a delight and the 2 course dinner deal is a terrific value.

Can’t remember when had such good service. Food was great, friendly and attentive staff. Will definitely be back

I have been twice and it is always great, the service, the food and all the staff are very attentive, I recommend the Istanbul pasta because it is very good

Lovely little Turkish food joint.clean freshly cooked food.Plenty vegetarian options.Priced somewhat reasonably for Central London.Softest bread and juicy olives too.Forgot to click the Falafels.

This is the best meal I've eaten in London. Their lamb is cooked to perfection. The staff is some of the friendliest I've ever met. They treat you like your long time friends or family here. I wouldn't hesitate to find this place whenever I am in London again.

Great breakfasts, excellent service,

Nice, small bar with a pleasant atmosphere and excellent service

It’s a great experience every time I go there, the staff is very friendly and caring. I strongly recommend. My favourite dish is the roasted vegetables and halloumi wrap.

Very nice turkish restaurant. Delicious kebab. Smiling and fast service. Cosy atmosphere. Good pricing.

We loved it. Group of 6 and they were quick to accommodate us. All the food was delicious and home made. I loved the fresh mint tea and Mediterranean breakfast. I’d like to return for dinner another time.

Wow! Great food, very reasonably priced. Went here for a business meeting. Friendly service, lovely table with sun pouring in through the windows. Super restaurant with closely spaced tables, continuous flow of customers and good chatter. The food was really really good. Fresh, authentic, good portions, super tasty and very reasonably priced. I originally thought the big pile of vegetables and fruits near the door was a (very good) artificial display but no this was real. Lovely ingredients, we made a small dent in it over lunch and I guess the evening service finished them off, ready for a fresh delivery tomorrow. Apparently it’s been there for 23 years, I can see why. Only wished I’d discovered it earlier.

The food is fresh and tasty. The staff is friendly and helpful. Plenty of healthy options too. Highly recommend.

Perhaps some of the nicest Turkish food I’ve ever eaten

I love this place! I go to Istanbul often and have lived there too and believe me the food and service here, feels like I am back in Istanbul. The staff are beyond lovely, friendly and polite. Very warm towards guests even as a solo diner, I am always made to feel welcome. I normally stop by for a meal if I am in London for work as I travel a lot. I stopped by this evening and again had a lovely meal. I was warmly welcomed, service was very good and I happily polished off everything! I love coming here. The food is beyond delicious. Big portions so nicely presented and freshly made. I have tried a few dishes and never had a bad meal. I love the grills which are usually served with rice and a mixed salad. Even the dressing on the salad is nice. They give complimentary bread and a bowl of olives. The home-made chilli sauce is really nice too. Lovely intimate and cosy restaurant. Clean. Located right outside Great Portland Street underground station. Very reasonably priced given the area. Highly recommend.

Nice little restaurant. Very good value for money. Extraordinary staff (phone forgotten and put aside). We will keep this address for our next visit. Those who are curious, go there, you will eat well.

Very tasty food, nice people. Order the borek as a starter and you won't regret it.

Love this place! My local work spot for lunch.

The service was outstanding, with warm and attentive hospitality. The food was beautifully presented and full of incredible flavors. We had a fantastic experience and will definitely be back!

Cozy & Welcoming Great coffee, simple menu, and friendly service. Perfect for a relaxed meal or a quiet break.

Staff were friendly and warm, service was speedy but not rushed, all 5 dishes chosen were exceptionally delicious and well presented, plenty of vegan choices. Handy location 2 stops from Kings cross and only yards from GT Portland Street underground.💕

Authentic Turkish breakfasts! And I ate a delicious kunefe!

A quiet oasis in a busy part of London. Very tasty coffee. The desserts we had were delicious. A little pricey but very much worth it. Friendly and welcoming. When I’m in the area again I’ll definitely eat here again.

Very nice place. Had a very tasty wrap and a great coffee.

Wonderful atmosphere, really friendly staff and beautiful food. Can't believe our luck dropping on this gem. Highly recommended!

We always have an amazing array of choices on the menu for vegan, vegetarian and meat dishes. Fast, friendly and extremely tasty food. Been coming here for years. Thank you so much.

I love Turkish food, but unfortunately this wasn’t for me. 👎 Probably the most I’ve ever paid for a skewer of grilled chilled and rice than any other restaurant and probably the smallest ever portion too. You can’t get grilled chicken wrong. It was OK, lacked flavour so I had to ask for chilli sauce. None of the desserts appealed to us. I don’t understand why the waitress kept asking for a tip. She was very very persistent. First she asked if I wanted to give a tip whilst hovering over me with her card machine. I said pay by the bill by cash. She then assumed the remainder of the change would be for her as a tip. I told her to bring me the change and let me decide how much tip she can have. Staff should NOT pressure any of there customers to give a tip. To me this place is a no no 👎👎👎

One of the best restaurants I have visited in London, not pretentious or gimmicky, just excellent food and excellent service in lovely building, don't miss this place if you are in the area!

Food was very tasty, meat was tender and portion sizes were reasonable. The place is quite small and gets a bit hectic on a weekend, I think the servers were doing their best to manage. Had to be reminded to bring some items that were ordered, a couple never came. The food was tasty, the servers were nice, the place itself felt a bit cramped and chaotic.

A very enjoyable evening with good food and attentive and friendly service. Great atmosphere.

Great genuine food, friendly atmosphere, great value family restaurant

My side of restaurant was sorta cold ; discovered other side (around corner) was nice and warm. Seemed liked best time to go (specials) lunch early afternoon for best deal.

I've been visiting Istanbul for many years now, the food is of excellent standard, very fast service and such lovely and welcoming staff, I highly recommend!

A perfect spot for breakfast near Madame Tussauds, the food was astonishing and the service was excellent. 5 stars !!

Stopped by for a quick bite. The coffee was really good. We ordered avocado toast topped with a fried egg, a fried egg sandwich, and smoked salmon on toast with a fried egg and mushrooms. The food was really good and the staff were very friendly!

Delicious food, large quantities and very friendly and attentive staff. Very tasty vegetarian dishes. Very good value for money.

I really enjoyed the breakfast, Everything was perfect for my taste, I really liked it, Honestly, I recommend this restaurant!

Everything was great. I sat alone and drank the alcohol and it was very enjoyable.

Amazing food and amazing service

Visited with friends prior to attending gig at nearby 229 Music Venue, 2 min walk so ideally located. Really nice atmosphere, intimate and welcoming venue, the food was fantastic as were the drinks with Efes on tap. Excellent customer service and would not hesitate in recommending, 5*

Myself and some friends had dinner here before attending a gig at 229 London. We all had dishes off the Turkish menu and all thought the food was great. Service was excellent. Very attentive and friendly. We would definitely go back.

Turkish breakfast remains the best breakfast

As a tourist coming from Istanbul, the food here is as good as back home, Lamb casserole, Adana kebab and Çoban Salad

It is the cutest cafe!! The staff are sooo nice and welcoming. The atmosphere is super cozy and chill. We only stoped for a coffee and some dessert and those were great!! Next time we’re definitely going to try some of their food too

Came here for a breakfast sandwich to takeaway. The options were limited (brown or white bread but no roll or baguette) and I was not offered sauces. Price was typical for London. I think this venue is far better as a sit in restaurant for Turkish food than it is for breakfast takeaway.

Excelent place, amazing mezze platter and sakshuka. Service was top. I will definitely come back

One of the best restaurants I have been to in a long time. Had the set menu with the avocado and tomato salad and the Chicken Ali Nazek, both amazing, especially accompanied by their chilli sauce which was maybe the best I’ve ever had. Even the orange juice was amazing! My wife just had the Humous which was also top draw. The staff were also lovely and very accommodating.

Fantastic food. I will always recommend people go here for something to eat

We had a lovely Sunday breakfast here. Nothing bears a proper Turkish spread. The food was delicious, prices reasonable and the service was top notch.

Excellent service, polite staff, delicious food

Lovely cosy restaurant with delicious and different menu. Fabulous food. Would highly recommend. We've eaten here twice now and both were 5 star.

I ordered a sandwich and coffee, a big dish of salad has been added to my table I though it was included in the dinner and surprisingly it cost me 9 pounds just for this huge plate of salad which I didn’t order. Too expensive

Very successful reccomending for everyone

This cozy, beautifully decorated restaurant was a wonderful find! From the moment I walked in, I was met with warm, friendly, and attentive staff who made the experience even more enjoyable. The ambiance was inviting, setting the perfect scene to dive into the flavors of Turkish cuisine. But this wasn’t just typical Turkish fare! Each dish was thoughtfully crafted, showcasing a fresh, creative take on traditional flavors while maintaining authenticity. If you’re looking for a unique twist on Turkish cuisine in a welcoming atmosphere, this is the place to be. Highly recommended for anyone seeking great food with a touch of originality! 🍽️

Their food is delicious and fresh I tried their chicken shish kebab with rice and vegetables £15

Lovely food and staff, I just wish it was more meyhane and less london cafe

Good food, Nice atmosphere, good staff.

Wasted my time on the interview

very tasty food and professional staff

Visited today at around 1 and decided to try English breakfast halal. It was by far best halal English breakfast I have tried in london. We also ordered smoked salmon panini. Portion size was generous and justified with price. Ambiance was cosy and clean.

WOW! What a sensational meal. Hats off to the chef & kitchen. We have travelled consecutively through Dubai, Greece, Italy, Malta, Spain, France and now in London, and we have had some amazing meals. But Istanbul takes the top position of the best meal we've eaten. So much flavour, tender, and the best hummus, tzatziki and tabbouleh we have EVER eaten. We are from Australia and feel so lucky we picked to eat dinner at Istanbul Cafe & Bistro. The service was impeccable and the atmosphere beautiful. The entire business deserves so many accolades and awards. I hope I can return soon. 100/10 !!

I recently visited with my parents, and unfortunately, the experience was far from pleasant. We wanted to order breakfast and noticed they had a meal option advertised for two people, priced at £50. Before ordering, I specifically asked our server if this meal would be sufficient for three people, and she assured us it would be. However, when the bill arrived, we were shocked to see an extra charge of £35. The server had failed to mention any additional costs for serving three people instead of two, which felt misleading and deceptive. What was even more disappointing was the feeling that we were being taken advantage of because of our background as Arabs. It seemed like the server assumed we wouldn't question the charges and took advantage of that assumption. I left the restaurant feeling not only overcharged but also disrespected. Transparency and honesty are crucial in customer service, and unfortunately, this establishment failed on both fronts. I cannot recommend this place and will not be returning.

Food was absolutely delicious 😋

Great mezze, better than the food in regents park.

Gorgeous food with wonderful happy attentive staff

Four of us went for mid-week lunch and had a great meal. The food was delicious and varied; the service was good; the atmosphere was lively; and with the lunch special (2 courses for £19 with free bread and olives), it was excellent value. We'll definitely go back.

Soft light and terrific ambience, deliciously fresh and tasty dinner. The service was spot on - friendly and attentive. Finished off with the soothing Turkish tea served on a brass tray with little flowers in a vase. Nice touch. Thank you so much. Five stars all around. Indoors and outdoors seating. Good vegetarian choices.

I like the food here, but I am very disappointed that the owner does not have an honest approach to running a business. They include a service charge on their bill but their paymen machine also prompts you to leave a tip. So, if someone does not pay attention, they will pay double tip. I find this very unethical and not the right way to run a business and treat your customers.

Wow! Loved this place! Great service, lovely decor and absolutely fantastic food and drink! Highly recommended

Just by great portland Street station and great place to get lunch or dinner and drinks

Such a good restaurant that we went there for dinner twice in a row! Delicate cooking, great quality of products, really nice atmosphere. We'll come back for sure!

Turkish coffee is excellent. Half the food

The food was amazing 10/10 the service and atmosphere was impeccable

The best place in the neighborhood in terms of quality of food, price for the range of dishes and type of service. It deserves a stop.

I was greeted by very friendly owner. Selection was great from the menu. I ate delicious food. Restaurant was impressively clean. It was really reasonable and affordable prices. I was delighted with excellent service from waitress.

Always nice food, lamb cutlets were delicious

I have driven passed this restaurant for years and have always wanted to visit - finally that has happened! Our pre-theatre dinner was so lovey. Big portions. Authentic Turkish food. Excellent service. I would definitely visit again.

Great find at the back of Great Portland St tube station. It was a busy evening here, service was excellent though. Lovely, hot, fresh kebabs, delicious hummus and breads. Cold beer. What’s not to like?

Very good restaurant with Turkish food. The staff is very accommodating and professional. We had dinner with family and had a great evening. The food was very tasty.

Not actually eaten here , but will do ... but just wanted say that they were really kind when i had my phone stolen outside the station and they helped me immensely. They are genuine, decent and hardworking and deserve their custom , food looks good too !

Absolutely love this place. Great wraps and starters. Very generously served. Can’t wait to come back!!

This place was fantastic for lunch and dinner, the wraps are heaven and the kofte and halloumi salad was the business. Staff are helpful, friendly and very accomodating

Reall tasty Turkish food, nice atmosphere and very good service. Highly recommended.

This turkish cafe was great. My husband and i fancied different food on our trip to London and stumbled on this gem. Service was quick & friendly. The food was outstanding. Best lamb dish i have tasted and i eat lamb a lot in different resturants. The staff were so lovely and welcoming. Definately be back on our next visit.

I ended up at Great Portland Street due to an unanticipated diversion on public transport after what was a rather long journey into and day in London. Seeing this place just across the road from me and as I like Turkish food, I decided to try it out, a decision that I sadly soon regretted! The place wasn't busy at the time so I failed to understand the 'very' poor and inattentive service received after being seated. It took a while for the menu card to be brought to me or to be asked what drink I'd like. And inspite of asking the two server girls to talk me through what was on the menu and to recommend a 'lamb' dish, I was left to navigate the menu myself. I actually found the Turkish server quite dismissive and patronising, possibly 'cos I was eating in on my own and 'less' business ?? ! ?? Whatever the reason I found her 'very' inattentive and dismissive. Tho' I'd just ordered iced water with lemon, it was never ever topped up, even tho' she'd passed my table a few times. Other customers dining in pairs or a group definitely were served better around me. The food per say when it arrived was nice enough tho' I'd have liked a lot more of a spicy flavour which I'd requested at the start. The '4 of the 5' lamb cubes on my plate were tender and nice enough to have. The side salad also was enjoyed. However, for the price paid, I have to agree with other reviews here, 'too small and stingy' a portion! I'd have paid a third less for what was served me. The man who I assume is the Manager who brought me a complimentary Turkish tea and sweet after I'd asked for the bill, 'finally' seemed to extend a sliver of Turkish hospitality that was markedly missing from when I first walked in! Had to wait 'ages' for the bill .... I mean ages! I did feel others were being served better on account of me dining alone, which just made it a rather acutely less than pleasant dining experience for me! I left still a tad bit 'hungry' ... so do agree with some of the other reviews on here, 'Small portions, unjustifiably expensive and poor service'. The man with something of a smile who brought me the Turkish tea ... kinda saved the moment/day and hence gave 2* or it'd just been been a 1* for the service received, when I pretty much felt ignored all through.

Freshly cooked turkish food. cosy and beautifully done homely feel setup , lit up bright by the windows around

Their Ice latte was so awesomeee. I also tried their Turkish Coffee in the past. It was awesome. Their freshly squeezed Orange Juice is also nice. I recommend it. It is so close the Regents Park. Tesco is opposite if you are looking for a cheap drink 😅🤣🤣🤣In the park the non alcoholic drink is £6 , water is £2.15 🥴😁😂 Thank me for the tips🤣🤣🤣

Amazing experience at Ararat cafe, lovely food and tea, special thank you to Mauro for the kind service as always 😄 the beautiful view of the Blue Mosque is a bonus!

Love this place food is amazing and Sara is simple attentive and will look after you.

I think the reviews are made by friends of the owners, Abominable food, has no connection with Turkish food. Bad atmosphere, bad service, exaggerated price Read the unfavorable reviews, these are the real reviews. Deserves a 0

Overall 4/5 Location: central and close to station, easy to spot and reach. Ambiance: warm atmosphere, clean and well lit interior setup. Service: host greeted us well and made sure to give us recommendations and Infact also guided us through the menu. Food : had hummus and falafel: great portion size and taste. Chips on the side were tasty and the salad was fresh. Turkish tea: warm and refreshing. Limited but tasty vegetarian options.

Amazing!! The food and the service 😍 great vibe!

lovely food and the nicest staff! they were friendly and answered all my questions. Thank you!

You feel warm and food quality and taste are amazing

Very nice, delicious food and friendly and nice staff

Sat down after fancying a bite to eat. Ended up getting two course meal and some beers. Food was exemplary and staff were lovely.

Dropped in Saturday night after a concert at the 229 Club opposite. The food was delicious, can't fault it.... bit on the pricey side for the starters but all delicious.