Travel video guide
Abroad and Hungry in İstanbul, Beşiktaş: 6 Spots
This guide turns ISTANBUL Street Food - BIGGEST DONER KEBAB IN THE WORLD + STREET FOOD IN TURKEY from Abroad and Hungry into a practical restaurant map with 6 saved spots around Beşiktaş and İstanbul. The mapped places include a restaurant stop, a grocery store, and a market. Use it to understand the places, dishes, and trip context before saving the map in Varedelo.
What the creator captured
Abroad and Hungry was particularly impressed by the high-quality meat and creamy texture of the traditional Beşiktaş Köfte. Max was also mesmerized by the sheer scale of a massive döner kebab, describing the experience of eating it as 'illegal' and 'buonissimo' due to the fresh homemade bread. He concluded his journey by trying Gözleme for the first time, highlighting the vibrant atmosphere of the local Saturday market.
What this map is good for
- Planning a restaurant stop or short itinerary in Beşiktaş.
- Comparing food stops from a creator or saved local map before you commit time in the city.
- Saving 6 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
- Beşiktaş Pazarı (Manav)
Market in Türkali, Ihlamurdere Cd. 63/A, 34357 Beşiktaş/İstanbul, Türkiye, İstanbul, Beşiktaş, Türkiye
Hours: Hours available - Karadeniz Döner Asım Usta
Fast Food Restaurant in Sinanpaşa, Köyiçi Cd No:6, 34353 Beşiktaş/İstanbul, Türkiye, Sinanpaşa, Beşiktaş, İstanbul, Türkiye
Price level: Medium
Hours: Hours available - Şöhretler Beşiktaş Köftecisi
Restaurant in Sinanpaşa, Şair Leyla Sk. 5 C, 34353 Beşiktaş/İstanbul, Türkiye, Sinanpaşa, Beşiktaş, İstanbul, Türkiye
Price level: Medium
Hours: Hours available - Sokak pilavcısı
Restaurant in Sinanpaşa, Köyiçi Cd No:25, 34353 Beşiktaş/İstanbul, Türkiye, İstanbul, Beşiktaş, Türkiye
Price level: Cheap - Beşiktaş Derya Balık
Restaurant in Sinanpaşa, Köyiçi Cd 20 A, 34353 Beşiktaş/İstanbul, Türkiye, İstanbul, Beşiktaş, Türkiye
Price level: Cheap - Soydan Turşucu
Grocery Store in Sinanpaşa, Şair Leyla Sk. No:9 D:1, 34353 Beşiktaş/İstanbul, Türkiye, Sinanpaşa, Beşiktaş, İstanbul, Türkiye
Hours: Hours available
Food notes from the video
- Beşiktaş Köfte
- Piyaz (bean salad)
- Semolina Helva
- Pickle juice
- Ayran
- Döner kebab
- Gözleme (spinach and cheese)
- Salep
- 2 more included in the app.
Experiences captured
- Visited one of Beşiktaş's oldest restaurants
- Explored a 100-year-old pickle shop
- Observed a massive world-record sized döner
- Visited the Beşiktaş Saturday market
- Watched a lady make fresh Gözleme
- Bought local mangoes and avocados
- Explored a two-story local bazaar
- Dined at a combined fish market and restaurant
Planning notes for Beşiktaş
Located in the Beşiktaş district on the European side of Istanbul, Etiler is a residential and commercial neighborhood that transitioned from an unpopulated area to a planned urban settlement in the 1950s. Its name is the Turkish word for the Hittites.
Must-try foods nearby
- Hünkar Beğendi
A masterpiece of Ottoman palace cuisine, this 'Sultan's Delight' features tender, slow-cooked lamb or beef served over a smoky. - Tombik Döner
While döner is everywhere, the 'Tombik' (chubby) version at Karadeniz Döner Asım Usta in nearby Beşiktaş is legendary. - Lokum (Steak)
In the upscale steakhouse culture of Etiler, 'Lokum' refers to ultra-tender, butter-soft slices of beef tenderloin. - Bodrum Mantısı
A local favorite in Etiler, these tiny, hand-folded Turkish dumplings are typically stuffed with spiced meat. - Bal Kaymak Breakfast
The ultimate Turkish breakfast luxury. It consists of thick, clotted water buffalo cream (kaymak) drizzled with high-quality honey (bal), served with warm, crusty bread.
When to go: The best time to visit Etiler is during the spring (May to June) or autumn (September to October) when the weather is mild and perfect for enjoying the district’s upscale outdoor cafes and parks. Summer can be uncomfortably humid and crowded.
Local tips
- Use the M6 metro line to reach Etiler efficiently and avoid the heavy traffic typical of the Beşiktaş district's narrow, hilly streets.
- Dress in smart-casual attire when dining in Etiler, as it is one of Istanbul's most affluent neighborhoods where locals often dress formally for social outings.
- Expect to pay a service charge at high-end restaurants, but it is still customary to leave an additional 5-10% cash tip for exceptional service.
- Always use a metered taxi or a reputable ride-hailing app like BiTaksi to ensure fair pricing and safety when traveling late at night.
What travelers are noticing
- Arkestra: This Michelin-recognized 'listening room' and restaurant in a restored Etiler villa remains a top viral spot for its fusion of high-end gastronomy and curated vinyl music culture.
- Luxury EV Dining Services: High-end establishments like TURK Fatih Tutak are trending by offering private chauffeur services in Turkish-made luxury electric vehicles for a seamless 'door-to-door' fine dining experience.
- Ulus 29 & Sunset Grill: These classic hilltop venues are seeing a 2026 resurgence as 'destination retail' hubs, blending panoramic Bosphorus views with exclusive fashion pop-ups and immersive brand experiences.
Extra place context
- Karadeniz Döner Asım Usta
A legendary institution in the heart of Beşiktaş, this spot is widely considered to serve the best traditional meat döner in Istanbul. Locals and food critics alike flock here for the massive, hand-stacked vertical spit that usually sells out by mid-afternoon.
food and Tombik Döner
Official tourism resource
The official visitor portal of the Beşiktaş Municipality, providing information on historical sites, museums, and local services for tourists in Istanbul.
Planning questions
Where did Abroad and Hungry eat in İstanbul, Beşiktaş?
This guide maps all 6 spots featured in the video, with names, addresses, and neighborhoods, so you can plan where to eat in İstanbul, Beşiktaş.
What are the must-try foods in İstanbul, Beşiktaş?
Creator picks from the video include Beşiktaş Köfte, Piyaz (bean salad), Semolina Helva, Pickle juice. Open the map in Varedelo to see which spot each one is at.
Can I save these spots to use on my trip?
Yes. Open the map in Varedelo to save every spot, get directions, and revisit the guide from your phone while you travel.
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.