We enjoy some fabulous meals in Istanbul. Many restaurants we visit are located on rooftops and the views are even more spectacular than the food!

On the first afternoon we eat fish at a lovely spot on the water, near the Conrad Hotel.

That night we have dinner at the rooftop restaurant in the Conrad Hotel with our friends Andy & Brian.

YUM…

A group shot after dinner:

But our favorite view is from the restaurant at the Seven Hills Hotel.

It overlooks Hagia Sophia in one direction:

The Blue Mosque in another direction:

And the Bosphorus River in yet another direction:

Not a bad way to spend lunch hour!

Here’s our group:

Plus the food is fantastic. We eat a lot of fish during our time here.

Plus some caffeine and apple tea, a staple of Turkey.

That night we splurge at Sunset Grill & Bar, a truly swanky place.

I feel out of place in my travel clothes but that doesn’t stop me from enjoying the food or these views.

The following night, we dine at Sur Balik Restaurant with MORE outstanding rooftop views. Clearly I am getting spoiled, by both the panoramic cityscapes and outstanding seafood.

And how can I leave out the impressive breakfast and snack spread at the Conrad Hotel? This is my morning set-up:

Below right is a shot of our afternoon snack at the Conrad. Below left is a cheap and tasty kabob lunch near the Hagia Sophia.

I’ll do a comprehensive food post to wrap up my 2+ weeks in Turkey, but for now Istanbul is off to a great start.

Tomorrow I move on to the ruins at Ephesus…