Kahvalti (Turkish Breakfast)

If you’re used to a grab-and-go kind of breakfast, kahvalti will take you by surprise. Kahvalti is not just a dish; it is an experience to savor. Let’s start with the Instagram-ready presentation of a pot of tea, little plates of olives, cheeses, delicately-cooked eggs, tomatoes and cucumbers, cream and honey, an assortment of jams, yogurt, and fragrant, freshly baked bread. The culmination is a wonderful cup of local coffee.

Kahvalti is a meal of grandeur, but what’s even grander than the breakfast spread is the tradition of family gathering enclosed in the experience. When in Istanbul, strike a conversation with the locals and invite them to a traditional breakfast.

Here are the best places to have kahvalti in Istanbul:

• VAN KAHVALTI EVI | Cihangir
  For traditional Anatolian breakfast
  What to order: Eggplant pancake, Kahvalti, Kavut
  Price range: 20 to 30 TRY ($5.83 to $8.75)
  When: 08:00 – 17:00 Daily
  Where: Defterdar Yokusu, No. 52/A, Cihangir, Istanbul
• RUMELI KALE CAFE | Rumeli Hisar
  For a quiet breakfast with breathtaking views of Bosphorus
  What to order: Kahvalti, Manti, Pastirma (Cured beef)
  Price range: 20 to 65 TRY ($5.83 to $18.96)
  When: 05:00 – 21:00 Daily except Wednesdays
  Where: Yahya Kemal Caddesi No. 16, Rumeli Hisari, Sariyer, Istanbul
• BACKYARD | Bebekoy
  For eating breakfast with a picturesque backdrop
  What to order: Grilled halloumi salad, Kahvalti, Backyard lasagna
  Price range: 20 to 50 TRY ($5.83 to $14.59)
  When: 07:30 – 23:00 Daily
  Where: Etiler, Otlukbeli Cad, Bebekoy Sok No. 4, 34337 Istanbul