The Istanbul Kitchen in Cheltenham

Great little Turkish restaurant in slightly unprepossessing street. Lovely food and friendly staff. Would recommend trying.

Gone downhill. Been in the past and the food has always been good. This time houmous starter was nice with warm pitta bread. Staff friendly and the place half full. What was disappointing was the price and quality of the Sultans Delight. Went for the chicken option and previously this has always been nice . It’s now overpriced at £24.50 I think used to be £18ish. Tasted microwaved warmed up. Some chicken was not warm, thin fries were soggy and not much else apart from some yoghurt and 1 pepper . Disappointed with this meal this time . Didn’t taste fresh … won’t be going back unfortunately as a result

Unfortunately, the worst dining experience I've had in a long time. The flavour is bad, the portions are too small, the waiters are very grumpy, the prices are expensive and my stomach hurt after the meal, which was a bonus😰 Never again, sorry

Went for a birthday treat, we decided to go for a mixture of lovely delights and we were not disappointed. Everything was so fresh, tasty and cooked to perfection. Staff were lovely and very attentive

There's a building in Winchcombe Street that has hosted a number of hospitality businesses over the years. Originally a pub, then a series of restaurants offering different cuisines. The latest incumbent is the Istanbul Kitchen, offering authentic Turkish cuisine, according to their website. The layout of the restaurant is fresh and modern, with an open kitchen at one end. If you're familiar with Turkish food, all the old favourites are there, together with some unusual dishes that call out to be sampled. Despite it being midweek, the place was almost full and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. The staff are polite and helpful, offering advice if you're not sure what to try. We went for a starter (lahmacun) and a main (mixed grill and Sultan's delight) and these were both freshly prepared and delicious. The only downside (if it is a downside!) was that we were extremely full after eating these. Evidently, they have reduced the size of their portions following similar customer "difficulties". A most enjoyable place to discover or reacquaint yourself with good quality Turkish cuisine.

Not often we buy Turkish food, so we tried something new. The barbecue skewers were very good and they gave us good service. They helped us find food that was free of milk and egg allergies.

Ikke ofte vi kjøper tyrkisk mat, så vi prøvde noe nytt. Grillspydene var veldig gode og de ga oss god service. De hjalp oss med å finne mat som var fri for melk og eggallergi.

Took over 70 minutes from ordering before the food arrived and even then one dish was missing. No explanation, no apologies, no complimentary drinks while you wait. And they still added a service charge (removed after complaint) We were a group of 10 but we had booked and the restaurant was not full when we arrived. Vegetarian dish was uninspiring and overpriced.

Absolutely fantastic. The food was surprising and very very very good. The service was friendly and welcoming and it was very busy but it didn't feel overcrowded!

A little gem, the staff were very friendly and the food was lovely, well balanced and very tasty.

The restaurant was lovely, staff were warm and welcoming and the food was incredible! We will definitely be back as a couple or with friends and family!

Fantastic food with really attentive and kind staff. I know little of Turkish food (other than kebabs) but the advice and tips given were spot on. Thank you very much.

Wonderful place with really attentive and friendly waitress. The Mixed Grill for two was phenomenal. I am Mr Fussy but no complaints. Get all over this place. Top notch.

Absolutely beautiful food, very nice staff, great experience, would highly recommend. We went on a Saturday lunchtime and it was quiet, but the service and surroundings are superb.

The food taste is awesome, and the staff is very polite and friendly. Inside atmosphere reminded me hotels in Istanbul. And most of it the Istanbul tea in the end helped for digestion. 😁

Great food and lovely people. I'm now full!

Fantastic food and attentive service. Mixed grill for 2 was superb and everything on it cooked to perfection. Our three children also enjoyed trying something new. We will definitely return.

Good quality and well-cooked variety of dishes with a warm service. I wasn’t sure what to expect but this was a far cry from kebab houses! The portions were very generous and beautifully presented.

This is a very excellent restaurant food is well cooked and delicious, the staff are friendly and welcoming well worth a visit

Great food and staff who were able to look after a big group without any hiccups. Not my first time bringing friends here and it won't be my last.

Amazing find - flawless service, great design/atmosphere even though it was a Wednesday night, amazing food and generous portions. Can't fault it!

Lovely food and staff. Highly recommended.

A great night, impromptu get together for my birthday Buzzing atmosphere, great attentive service, food was wonderful and SO much of it! Thank you for making my birthday special

Not sure what I was expecting, but my expectations were exceeded, food was lovely, well cooked and well priced.

Great welcoming space ! Wonderful food and friendly staff!

Friendly staff and stunning authentic Turkish food. Little gem in the heart of Cheltenham!

Some of the best Lamb Shish I've had!

It was my second time dining there during my business trip to Cheltenham in April 2024. The menu was a bit pricey but worth it as the food was really delicious. The staff were very polite and friendly.

Amazing place, very nice staff, very good food, for sure we will back there

This spot is an amazing place for authentic Turkish food, good value and wonderful service. I can’t recommend enough. Good wine list as well

So delicious, I loved shakshuka and chicken shish

Fantastic food and service, my favourite restaurant!

We had the most wonderful evening - the food was delicious, we feel like it’s the kind of place where you can order anything off the menu and know it will be delicious. The lamb was exceptional, seasoned beautifully and very tender. We barely had room for dessert but we managed and were not disappointed! The staff were very attentive and kind, we felt very welcome especially as we were visiting on holiday.

Excited to go based on all the reviews - it was OK. Are you going to have an OK time, yes - will your meal be OK - yes, is the service OK - yes will you wince slightly at the bill (when you think about what you had, and how tasty it actually was) - yes. It's OK - if someone booked here I'd happily go along, but would I choose to go again - no. Plenty of people on here disagree so they must be doing something right, just couldn't really work out what it was.

Just finished a very tasty lunch thank you. Had a kofta wrap, asked for humus to replace the chips, and they substituted it free of charge. The salad was very fresh. All in all a great quality good value lunch. Excellent service too thanks

This was hands down one of the best meals we have had in a very long time! The staff are absolutely wonderful, so attentive, yet give you space to enjoy your meal without interfering. The food was absolutely beautiful, couldn’t fault it at all - we shared the ‘Istanbul Combination’ platter, which was honestly the most delicious food I’ve ever tasted. Music was the right volume, the decorations are spot on and the ambience was perfect, and also really enjoyed the complimentary sours shot at the end! Myself and my mum are only visiting Cheltenham for a couple of days, but we will definitely be back to enjoy more! Thank you!

Fabulous food and great service. Sharing plates are tasty and good value. Also added some main course meat dishes that had great flavours. Staff are always welcoming and helpful

Absolutely perfect. We were treated to a first class meal and treated exceptionally well. We felt welcomed and the service was very attentive. No negatives.

What they call the breakfast is a sort of all day meze. Very good indeed, fresh crispy veg, delicious olives, several sorts of cheese, the goats cheese is very good. Sausage, bread, honey. We both enjoyred it a lot and were well stuffed at the end. Staff very friendly. Recommended

Great choices. Freshly cooked. First class service. Exceptional. Surprise birthday celebration. Staff very attentive.

What an amazing experience. Service was spot on and food was exquisite. My husband and I chose to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary with a meal here and we were not disappointed. We were even surprised with a complimentary drink as it was our anniversary. We will definitely be returning.

Very tasty food and great portion sizes gets busy so must book, food taste amazing quality is fab

The owner of the restaurant is very nice and smiling.. We will come back again for him 👍🏻

This place is one of my favourite places for food. Ive been here multiple times over a range of occasions. And yes some things have changed slightly but the quality has not. The price is a little high. So we usually only go here for special occasions. Not much else to say apart from please visit this place.

Thank you to the team I had invited freinds over and had a good time

I would give this more than 5 stars for food and service if I could. Race-week, pre-booked on a busy Friday night and the food was served quickly with generous and very tasty portions. Fresh, hot bread accompying was delicious. I had a mixed meat grill with very soft meat despite the grill-char outside. Partner had aubergine and chicken dish.

The restaurant was lovely, staff were warm and welcoming and the food was incredible! We will definitely be back as a couple or with friends and family!

This restaurant really does live up to its reviews: delicious food, lovely spice combinations and top notch service. We had the mixed grill to share: very generous portions and the lamb chops were huge! Definitely one to revisit when we’re next in Cheltenham.

Fabulous food, served by courteous and friendly staff. The mixed grill was outstanding and our daughter highly praised her vegetarian choice. We tried the Turkish wine and weren't disappointed. Will definitely be returning.

This place was recommended to us by the hosts of our accommodation and we were not disappointed. We spend several weeks a year in Turkey and this was authentic Turkish cuisine. Great welcome and service, wide menu and interesting chefs specials. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

We were visiting our daughter so booked this after seeing the great reviews and confirming they were dog friendly. The 4 of us and the dog really enjoyed the food! We shared a hot sharing platter, cold sharing platter and a chicken kebab with salad and rice. Absolutely delicious and we will definitely be returning. Our servers were friendly and food arrived promptly. Definitely recommend.

I ate here recently with a large group of ladies. It was middle of the week and all tables were full. We all received a platter of dips and various starter nibbles between 2 people. It was way too much for two we thought it should have been for 4 !!! Main courses were also very filling !!!! I had a mixed grill. I could manage all of it !!! Well worth every penny. Service was impeccable by all the staff. Lovely decor and atmosphere. Will definitely return.

The Istanbul Kitchen is an amazing experience!! Visited for the 1st time to celebrate my wife’s birthday. Superb food served by attentive and helpful staff in a beautiful restaurant. We will definitely return very soon!! 5 stars

Wow, what a culinary journey I just had at this charming Turkish restaurant in Cheltenham! From the moment I stepped inside, I was transported back to Turkey. The atmosphere was alive with the tantalizing aromas of authentic Turkish cuisine, and I couldn't wait to dive into the experience. First off, let me talk about the staff. From the friendly greeting at the door to the attentive service throughout the meal, the staff here truly went above and beyond to make us feel welcome. Their professionalism and genuine smiles added an extra layer of warmth to the dining experience. Now, let's talk about the food. Every dish we ordered was a masterpiece of flavour and presentation. The Humus Kavurma was a delightful starter, with creamy hummus perfectly complemented by tender, flavourful lamb. And don't even get me started on the Mixed Grill! Expertly seasoned to perfection. And last but not least the beverage selection here is top-notch, with a variety of options to suit every taste. As someone who has fond memories of past holidays in Turkey, I can attest that the flavors here are truly authentic. It's like taking a trip down memory lane with every bite. And for those who haven't had the pleasure of visiting Turkey, this restaurant offers a perfect introduction to the country's rich culinary heritage. Overall, dining here was an absolute delight, and I can't wait to come back for another taste of Turkey. If you're looking for a dining experience that's as memorable as it is delicious, do yourself a favor and pay this gem of a restaurant a visit. You won't be disappointed!

Fantastic food here, highly recommended.

Dropped in for lunch and were delighted to get a delicious authentic good value meal served with courtesy. Lovely decor in this large restaurant in central Cheltenham. My husband ordered a half of beer and a lunch wrap and I had two traditional Turkish dishes -both starters. We were given warm bread and dips on the house as we waited and both meals came with fresh tasty salads. Good portion sizes and very fresh delicious food and the whole lot came to £34 with service (included in the bill). We were given Turkish delight and liqueurs after our lunch so it all felt very Turkish! Will definitely recommend and return.

Outstanding food and service, would literally travel to be here, highly recommend. Words are not enough to describe how the flavours and food are. Fantastic

The food, the staff, everything is 100% i definitely recommend it!!! Will be here every week! Prices are much better now! Go and enjoy yourselves, you won't regret it 🎉

Everytime I have been here it is always amazing food!!! First time for collection and it was as great as in the restaurant. Every time I come to Cheltenham I make a point to go here.

Amazing food! Amazing service! The restaurant is beautifully decorated with traditional lights etc.. You get a very decent amount of food! Warning... don't eat too much of the free bread they bring you at the beginning if you want to fit your meal in ! (Even though it's delicious!) Will definitely be going back!

Delicious meal for New Year’s Eve. Starters excellent then we had the sharing grill. Amazing. No room for desserts but lovely coffee. Excellent service. Thank you.

The food was nice and there was a good variety of authentic Turkish dishes. The meals seemed a little unbalanced - mine was a full dish of melt-in-the-mouth lamb in oil with a sprinkle of potato pieces and a couple of slices of carrot, while my daughters was a huge dish of bean stew, enough for two people - so put together we had a much more interesting meal! I would have expected a little more attention to flavours given that this is not a cheap-eats, but each dish was nicely presented, the decor is modern with beautiful Arabian lighting and the staff are great.

The food is good but overpriced in my opinion.

We sought this place out because we were looking for great food, authentic flavours, and a family feeling. It was great. Firstly, the restaurant itself is tastefully decorated, it is comfortable and pleasant to be inside. We felt welcome, and the friendly light touch service was spot on. We were offered the Christmas, lunch and main menu and we're able to mix and match from each. Choice is huge and there is something for even the fussiest eater. A starter and main filled us right up, and everything on all our plates was delicious.

Had breakfast/lunch today, amazing service. Lovely to meet the owner too. Definitely a must when in Cheltenham.

Just crazy. Seems like none of the food was freshly made. The rice was like uncle Bens and the falafel was from frozen. The audacity to charge those prices for such mediocre food that isn’t even real Turkish is just insane

Great atmosphere, friendly helpful staff and super tasty food, what more could you ask for! I have a feeling we'll definitely be coming back soon

Super menu and great service, all with a good atmosphere. Will definitely visit again when we are next in the area.

Lamb chops are yummy! Friendly and lovely staffs. Meats are halal.

Food was amazing, really tasty and fantastically presented. Incredibly fast service. Very very attentive waitresses who ensured everything was perfect. Probably the best service I've ever had at any restaurant. Beautiful decor that's subtle. Prices are a little pricey but I can see why with the quality of the experience and it's worth the money. Will absolutely be going again.

Went here for my birthday dinner as I walk past it often and it always seems busy so I figured it must be good! Food was absolutely delicious, had a lovely evening and left feeling full and happy! I’d recommend getting the hot sharing platter for starters if you’re not sure what’s good to try.

My favorite restaurant in Gloucestershire! Everything I ate was delicious. The staff is very friendly and helpful.The atmosphere is very authentic. This time I ate "mitite kofte" as a starter and then "kuru fasulye". It was delicious as always. I definitely recommend it! Next time I'll try the wraps on the lunch menu. I've already made reservations for Christmas dinner. Thanks for your warm hospitality!🌸

The restaurant was very clean, the staff was polite and very professional all the time. The food did come very fast and it was delicious, with fresh ingredients, very well cooked and a great taste. The portions they are great for the price and quality. Lots of starters, a great place to go for a nice shared meal, a good variety of them vegetarian.

Having visited Istanbul many times I wanted to share Turkish cuisine experience with my friends and my family and this restaurant was my choice on my birthday! The waitress was just so lovely and so welcoming, she was really helpful in choosing our dishes. All 6 of us thoroughly enjoyed our food, that included a cold starter to share and lovely hot dinners. An unexpected happy birthday song was sung by the team and the visitors and a candle was lit up on Pahlava! The little things make these experiences very special. Misafirperverliğiniz için teşekkür ederim

I recently visited The Istanbul Kitchen, a Turkish restaurant located in Cheltenham, with some friends. Overall, our experience was quite enjoyable. The staff was friendly and attentive, making us feel welcome from the moment we walked in. The food, for the most part, was delicious and satisfying. Portion sizes were quite generous, and we left the restaurant with satisfied appetites. The flavors of the dishes were authentic and well-prepared, and we particularly enjoyed the variety of kebabs and mezze options on the menu. However, the only drawback was the pricing. We found the menu to be a bit on the expensive side, which was a bit of a disappointment. While the quality of the food and service were commendable, the higher prices left us with a somewhat mixed impression. In summary, The Istanbul Kitchen offers a pleasant dining experience with friendly staff and tasty, generously portioned Turkish cuisine. If the pricing were more reasonable, it would easily earn a 5-star rating from us. Nevertheless, we would still recommend it for those looking for a delightful Turkish dining experience in Cheltenham, and we award it a solid 4-star rating.

Good quality food from the kitchen but delivery is often slow and so it's cold when it arrives. Or no longer great quality. For example we ordered Sea Bass and by the time it arrived it was rather over-cooked. Not ideal when it's a £25 dish. A bit too expensive in my opinion. Order was placed directly with restaurant Order #4846] (October 21, 2023)

Not only the best Turkish food but the best restaurant in Cheltenham

Amazing food, super tasty lamb. Would highly recommend!

Had an amazing first experience! Food, service, cost and ambience was 100% ! I will definitely be coming back and recommending ! Thank you for a lovely evening !

We had such a lovely evening here , we went for a early dinner with our 5 month old daughter to celebrate my husbands promotion at work, we were made to feel very welcome,the staff were super friendly and attentive. The food is delicious, I especially enjoyed my lamb main course 😋 Thank you for a lovely evening, we will definitely be reccomending to friends and family and we will be back 😊

Good food but one of the most expensive restaurants in the country. Be prepared to pay ££££££ for little food. They charge too much for the food they give you.

Great vibe, great food, great experience; we’ll be back for another spin of the menu. Highly recommended for decent Turkish food at a reasonable price.

Would give it a 4 but is now very expensive. £24 for falafel and rice! Food was still good though. Service was generally fine although the overall feeling is not that welcoming from the staff as they don’t really smile much and not the best...

We came here on a Saturday night and had the best time! Such lovely staff and the atmosphere was fantastic xx They do a great bday celebration lol. I loved the lamb shish as well - highly recommend this place

Amazing food, generous portion sizes, lovely staff and beautiful atmosphere.

My spouse and I were walking the Cotswold Way and had dinner here. We booked relatively early and were warmly greeted. We were offered delicious bread to start. For dinner we had the Anatolian Lamb Shank (Slow-cooked shank of lamb in a rich homemade vegetable...

Having walked pass on several occasions it Always seems rammed. Took an Welty lunch during shopping and was not dissapointed. Went for the chefs special

Very large portions Staff very friendly and efficient

So expensive food and they don't have air conditioner !!!!!!

What a great restaurant and staff. Thank you for a great meal.

We had a nice time here whilst visiting the cotswolds. The staff are friendly and welcoming. We had bread and tzatziki as a complementary starter, which we enjoyed. We asked for the chicken shish and lamb adana kebab, but were given lamb pieces instead. We didn't mind too much as we enjoyed the food. We also ordered the beyti, which was delicious and I enjoyed the tomato sauce that was drizzled on top. To finish we had the rice pudding for dessert, which was also nice and not overly sweet.

I loved the atmosphere, the food and the attention from the staff. Finished off with turkish coffee which was a perfect end to the meal. Highly recommended.

Tasty food,cooked well. Just a tad on the expensive side.

Nice place, excellent food and service. Very warm in the restaurant, could do with aircon and tbh not in the nicest area but food is well worth it. I would say it’s a bit pricey but we had a nice meal and service.

Food and service was excellent. It was a little quiet when we visited on late on a Sunday afternoon, but I would definitely recommend!

Good food, cooked to perfection. After having starters we shared a main course which was more than adequate. Would certainly eat here again as it was a thoroughly enjoyable evening.

We have been to the restaurant a couple of times whilst visiting friends in Cheltenham. Always serves great food, efficient staff and great atmosphere. I would highly recommend.

Lovely food, fast friendly service.

Food is great here and very tasty. Oh my gosh lamb liver in chef's special was yummy. Food portions are also big here. One of the best Turkish restaurants in West/South-west UK. Service is very good

Im from Sweden 🇸🇪, visit first time Cheltenham in UK, see "The Istanbul Kitchen" look good out. I choose trying "4 bits Lahmance" 8 pound is expensive for stingy food 🤦. That was should 4 pound for 4 bits.