Travel video guide
Where to Eat in Çayeli, Rize: Mıhlama From Kartal Gökberk | Varedelo
This guide turns RİZE LEZZETLERİ (PART 2) from Kartal Gökberk into a practical restaurant map with 4 saved spots around Rize Merkez and Çayeli. The mapped places include a restaurant stop and a tea house. Use it to understand the places, dishes, and trip context before saving the map in Varedelo.
What the creator captured
Kartal Gökberk explored the culinary side of Rize, specifically noting that the mıhlama at Ziraat Çay Bahçesi was superior to previous versions due to its rich cheese and cornmeal balance. He was particularly impressed by the freshness of the local produce and the unique experience of visiting a tea workshop to see hand-harvested leaves. Despite missing the famous Rize simidi, he found the specialized Çaykur tea and the scenic botanical garden setting to be a highlight of the trip.
What this map is good for
- Planning a restaurant stop or short itinerary in Rize Merkez.
- Comparing food stops from a creator or saved local map before you commit time in the city.
- Saving 4 mapped spots into Varedelo so the list stays usable on the ground.
- Using the original video as context, then turning it into a clean place-by-place map.
Featured spots on this map
- Hüsrev Lokantası
Restaurant in Büyüktaşhane, Amiral Hasan Sarıoğlu Cd. No:51/A, 53200 Çayeli/Rize, Türkiye, Büyüktaşhane, Çayeli, Rize, Türkiye
Price level: Medium
Hours: Hours available - Huzur Pide Ve Kebap
Restaurant in Çarşı, Cumhuriyet Cd. No:109/B, 53020 Rize Merkez/Rize, Türkiye, Çarşı, Rize Merkez, Rize, Türkiye
Price level: Medium
Hours: Hours available - Ziraat Tea Garden
Tea House in Atmeydanı, Narenciye Sk. No:16, 53020 Rize Merkez/Rize, Türkiye, Atmeydanı, Rize Merkez, Rize, Türkiye
Price level: Cheap
Hours: Hours available - LALE 1973
Restaurant in Yenipazar, 9 Mart Cd No:121C, 53200 Çayeli/Rize, Türkiye, Yenipazar, Çayeli, Rize, Türkiye
Price level: Medium
Hours: Hours available
Food notes from the video
- Mıhlama
- Menemen
- Pufidik ekmek
- Çaykur özel çay
Experiences captured
- Visited Ziraat Çay Bahçesi botanic garden
- Missed out on Rize simidi due to late arrival
- Compared different regional styles of mıhlama
- Explored the tea production process at Çay Atölyesi
- Observed hand-harvested tea leaves
- Learned about Orthodox tea production methods
Planning notes for Rize
Rize is a coastal province in northeastern Turkey, situated between the Black Sea and the Kaçkar Mountains. Historically, the area was settled by Milesian Greeks and later became part of the Kingdom of Pontus, the Roman Empire, and the Byzantine Empire. In 1461, it was incorporated into the Ottoman Empire. The architectural heritage of the region is characterized by stone and timber construction. Traditional houses, such as those in the Fındıklı and Çamlıhemşin districts.
Must-try foods nearby
- Muhlama (Kuymak)
The quintessential Rize breakfast dish, this is a rich, stretchy fondue-like mixture made from local cornmeal, high-quality butter, and 'kolot' cheese. - Çayeli Kuru Fasulyesi
Named after the Çayeli district, this is arguably Turkey's most famous white bean stew. - Rize Kavurması
A celebrated meat dish consisting of beef slow-cooked in its own fat and juices. The result is incredibly tender. - Laz Böreği
Despite its name (börek usually implies savory), this is a unique dessert. It features layers of thin, buttery phyllo dough filled with a thick. - Hamsili Pilav
A visually stunning dish where a mound of aromatic rice (seasoned with herbs, onions, and currants) is completely encased in a 'shell' of fresh Black Sea anchovies.
When to go: The best time to visit Rize is from June to August, when the weather is warmest and relatively drier.
Local tips
- Always accept the first offer of tea (çay) as it is a fundamental sign of local hospitality and rejecting it can be seen as dismissive.
- Dress modestly by covering your shoulders and knees to respect the conservative local culture, especially when visiting rural villages or highland pastures.
- Use your right hand for eating, passing food, or shaking hands, as the left hand is traditionally considered less clean.
- Carry sufficient cash in Turkish Lira, as many small shops and local transport options in the mountainous regions do not accept credit cards.
What travelers are noticing
- Ayder Plateau Eco-Transformation: The completion of a major renovation project featuring a new thermal hotel, underground parking for 1,500 vehicles, and a ban on cars to preserve the natural landscape.
- GastroRize 2026: A city-wide push into gastronomy tourism, highlighting local Black Sea delicacies like Mıhlama and Karalahana Sarması following the nationwide expansion of the Michelin Guide.
- Rize-Artvin Airport Expansion: Increased international connectivity and the rise of 'meaning-making' tourism, with travelers seeking authentic tea plantation stays and high-altitude plateau experiences.
Extra place context
- Hüsrev Lokantası
Located in Çayeli, Hüsrev is a national institution dating back to 1928. While world-famous for their butter-rich dried beans (kuru fasulye), their Rize Kavurması is considered an equal specialty.
food - Lale Lokantası
A fierce rival to Hüsrev in Çayeli since 1973, Lale Lokantası specializes in the 'Big Three' of Rize cuisine: Kavurma, Kuru Fasulye, and Sütlaç.
food
Planning questions
What is this video map?
It is a crawlable guide to the mapped places from RİZE LEZZETLERİ (PART 2), with the creator video, a static map preview, and selected spots from the trip.
Can I save these spots?
Yes. Open the map in Varedelo to save the places, keep planning notes, and revisit the guide from your phone.
Does this replace watching the video?
No. The video remains the source, and the map makes the places easier to scan, compare, and save while planning.
Use it on your trip
Save this restaurant map before you go
Keep the mapped spots, creator context, food notes, and planning details together. Varedelo turns the page into a phone-friendly map you can revisit when you are choosing where to go.