I visited Istanbul in June 2025, and it was the most beautiful trip I have ever taken. The city is magical, full of contradictions, of light and shadow, of spirituality, pain, and joy. It feels alive and happy, yet also deeply melancholic. Only those who have seen it can truly understand.
But let’s get to the point. Before leaving, I searched to see whether I would be able to eat vegan in Istanbul and, honestly, I did not have very high hopes. There did not seem to be many places. And yet, I ate, and I ate well.
In this article, you will find all the vegan restaurants in Istanbul that I personally tried, along with a list of places I did not manage to visit but still wanted to include for anyone planning a vegan trip to the city. You will also find a section dedicated to eating gluten-free in Istanbul.
Vegan Restaurants in Istanbul I Personally Tried
Of course, Istanbul is not like London, where the vegan restaurant scene is truly vibrant and almost everywhere you go, you can find something plant-based without too much effort.
It is also not exactly like other cities where the vegan scene may not be as abundant as London’s, but is clearly growing and becoming more visible, such as Madrid. By the way, if you are planning a trip to either city, you can also read my guides on where to eat vegan in London and where to eat vegan in Madrid.
Istanbul felt different. The vegan restaurants I tried were not many, and not all of them were entirely vegan. In some moments, I did have to plan a little more carefully. But the places I found were still meaningful, and one of them — I will tell you already — became one of my favourite restaurants I have ever tried anywhere in the world.
Vegan Dükkan Lokanta: One of the Best Vegan Restaurants I Have Ever Tried
I will not create too much suspense: I am starting with my favourite vegan restaurant in Istanbul, and honestly, one of my favourite vegan restaurants I have ever tried anywhere in the world.
It was the first vegan place I visited during my trip: first day, first lunch. In reality, it happened almost by chance. I had found it before leaving, saved it on my list, and then, by some lucky accident, I ended up nearby and decided to sit down. The place is very charming, located in a beautiful area of the city. It is small and intimate, and I sat outside among the cats, which already made the experience feel special. The weather was also perfect, so everything started in the best possible way.
Then I opened the menu. I realized that most of the dishes were inspired by Turkish culinary tradition, which I did not know well at all. So, honestly, the first dishes I ordered were chosen almost randomly, more out of curiosity than real knowledge. And what arrived at the table was an incredible explosion of flavour.
I truly do not understand why this place does not have Michelin recognition, because in my opinion, it absolutely should. The cooking felt incredibly professional. There was technique, balance, depth, and a masterful use of spices. Every flavour was present, alive, and distinct, but nothing was confused. Everything worked together without becoming heavy or chaotic. And I am certain that even someone who is not vegan would not feel that anything was missing.
The first dish I tried was the smoked eggplant, but over the following days I ended up trying almost everything I could order within the gluten-free option, which, by the way, were many. And honestly, not a single dish disappointed me.
Every plate was perfect in its own way: flavourful, deeply umami, beautifully made, and full of character. There was always that rare combination of comfort and complexity, where the food feels generous and familiar, but also carefully studied.
So this is exactly what I recommend you do if you go there: try as much as you can. I stayed in Istanbul for ten days, and for at least six or seven of those days, I chose to have lunch or dinner at Vegan Dükkan Lokanta. That probably says more than anything else I could write. When a place makes you want to return again and again, especially in a city full of things to discover, it means something.
Eating Gluten-Free at Vegan Dükkan Lokanta
Vegan Dükkan Lokanta had many gluten-free options. I would say that more than half of the menu could work gluten-free, which made the experience incredibly easy. The staff were also particularly qualified and well informed. They knew what they were talking about, understood the ingredients, and were able to guide me through the menu with confidence. This is the kind of attention that immediately makes you feel safer when eating out with dietary needs.
Because of this, I think Vegan Dükkan Lokanta is very likely to be a good option for celiacs too. Of course, as always, you should ask clearly before ordering and explain your needs, especially if cross-contamination is a concern. But overall, this was one of the easiest and most reassuring places I tried in Istanbul for eating both vegan and gluten-free.
Vegan Masa: Vegan Turkish Food in Beşiktaş
Vegan Masa is a vegan restaurant in Beşiktaş, and the place itself is really beautiful. It is especially known for its vegan version of traditional Turkish pizza, which I unfortunately could not try because it was not gluten-free. Still, the restaurant is well known in the vegan scene, and I really wanted to visit it. Getting there was also part of the experience. I took a beautiful walk through the city, which made the meal feel even more connected to Istanbul itself.
The restaurant was very charming and full of people, really full, which is always a good sign. The atmosphere felt lively, warm, and welcoming, with that sense of a place people clearly enjoy returning to.
I ordered a soup and a mushroom main dish. The food was good: tasty, comforting, and full of flavour. Like many of the vegan restaurants I tried in Istanbul, the menu felt connected to Turkish culinary tradition, rather than trying to imitate a generic international vegan style.
And this is something I really appreciated. Vegan Masa does not feel like a vegan restaurant that could be anywhere. It feels rooted in the city, in its flavours, and in a specific food culture. For me, it is a very good place to try if you are in Beşiktaş and want vegan Turkish food in a lively, beautiful setting.
Eating Gluten-Free at Vegan Masa
Unfortunately, Vegan Masa was the vegan restaurant in Istanbul where I had the fewest gluten-free options. The two dishes I ordered were basically the only ones I could eat. Most of the rest of the menu contained gluten, and there did not seem to be much possibility to adapt the dishes or make substitutions.
On the positive side, the staff seemed quite competent, especially when it came to cross-contamination. They understood the issue and were able to guide me clearly, which at least made me feel safe. Still, for someone who is celiac, gluten-intolerant, or simply avoiding gluten, I would not say this is one of the best vegan restaurants in Istanbul. The food I could eat was good, but the choice was definitely very limited.
- WHERE: Mısırlıbahçe Sok. No: 8/A
Community Kitchen: Vegan Comfort Food in Istanbul with a Social Soul
Finding Community Kitchen became a little adventure of its own. I somehow managed to get lost for almost three hours while trying to reach it. I wandered through the streets of Istanbul and even ended up in areas that felt a little unsafe, and that I later discovered actually were not the best areas to walk around without knowing where I was going.
It was daytime, so it was not really a problem, and I want to be clear: this was absolutely my mistake. The restaurant is not exactly in the most central tourist area, but it is actually easy to reach if you follow the right directions. I simply did not. That said, it became an experience I will remember.
The place is a few steps below street level, so it is not immediately visible from the road. When you walk in, it feels like entering someone’s home kitchen. It is very simple, quite rustic, and not particularly polished, but you immediately smell the food cooking.
Then a very kind and sociable lady welcomed us. She even spoke Italian, because she had lived in Italy, which made the whole experience even warmer and more unexpected. She explained what was available that day, and I was able to eat excellent vegan dumplings. Everything was cooked personally by her, and that is what made the experience so special.
It felt exactly like eating in a Turkish home. The food is homemade, but not in the sense of being approximate or careless. Quite the opposite. It is genuine, warm, honest food, made with care and personality.
Of course, the offer is limited. The menu is not long, and I am quite sure it changes depending on the day, the season, and what she decides to cook. But this is also part of its charm. Community Kitchen is not the most polished vegan restaurant in Istanbul, but it is one of the most human. And sometimes, when you travel, that is what stays with you the most.
Eating Gluten-Free at Community Kitchen
The gluten-free offer at Community Kitchen was limited, partly because the menu itself is quite small and changes depending on the day.
That said, I think this is the kind of place where it is absolutely worth contacting the restaurant before going, especially if you are celiac or need to avoid gluten strictly. Since the food is homemade and prepared personally, I am quite sure the owner would be able to accommodate specific requests if she knows in advance.
I would not describe it as the easiest vegan restaurant in Istanbul for gluten-free eating, simply because the menu is not extensive. But with a little planning and communication, I think it could work very well.
The Vegan Regime: A Casual Vegan Fast Food Spot in Istanbul
The Vegan Regime is the name I see now, although when I visited it, the place was called Vegan Food Cartel. It is located in a very nice area of central Istanbul, and I ate there one evening, sitting outside. The atmosphere was relaxed and informal, more like a quick vegan fast food spot than a proper restaurant.
The menu was based on simple, casual food: salads, burgers, fries, and easy plant-based dishes. I remember ordering a pasta dish with vegan meatballs, while the person who was with me tried one of their burgers with fries.
It was not a place with big culinary ambitions, and I would not describe the flavours as especially memorable. The food was good enough, but not extraordinary. That said, it does its job. If you are in the area and want a quick vegan meal without too much planning, The Vegan Regime can be a useful option. It is simple, casual, and practical: the kind of place you keep in mind when you need something fast, filling, and fully plant-based.
Eating Gluten-Free at The Vegan Regime
The Vegan Regime did have gluten-free options, although they were not many. I was still able to find something to eat, so it can work if you are vegan and gluten-free, but I would not say this was one of the easiest places in Istanbul for that combination.
It is more of a casual fast food spot, so I would also be careful if you are celiac. I am not completely sure how safe it is when it comes to cross-contamination, so I would recommend asking clearly before ordering and checking what can actually be prepared gluten-free. For gluten intolerance or someone simply avoiding gluten, it can be an option. For celiacs, I would approach it with more caution.
Vegan Istanbul: A Family-Style Vegan Restaurant with Generous Homemade Food
I arrived at Vegan Istanbul and immediately felt as if I had entered something closer to a home than a restaurant. There was even a small terrace overlooking an inner courtyard, which made the place feel intimate and quiet, almost hidden from the rhythm of the city.
The food is displayed like in a small canteen, and you choose what you want to put on your plate. If I remember correctly, you can choose a plate made of three or more different dishes.
It felt family-run, and I only saw locals eating there. That immediately gave me the impression that the food was appreciated by people who actually live in the city, which is usually a very good sign. It also made everything feel more genuine and trustworthy. I had lunch on the little terrace, and it was a beautiful experience.
The food was good: nothing especially experimental, but simple, genuine, healthy, and very flavourful. It really felt like eating in the home of a Turkish family. And honestly, that made it special.
Eating Gluten-Free at Vegan Istanbul
I would be careful with gluten-free eating at Vegan Istanbul. I was able to eat there, and there were a few gluten-free dishes available, enough to put together a complete plate. However, the options were limited, and I would not say the place felt especially prepared when it came to gluten-free needs.
The staff were very kind, but I did not have the impression that they were highly informed about gluten or cross-contamination. And because the food is displayed and served canteen-style, cross-contamination is definitely possible. For this reason, I would not recommend Vegan Istanbul for celiacs. If you are gluten-intolerant or simply avoiding gluten, you may be able to find something to eat, but I would still suggest asking carefully and paying attention to how the food is served.
Other Vegan Restaurants in Istanbul to Keep on Your List
I did not manage to visit every fully vegan restaurant in Istanbul, and I admit it: partly because I became attached to the ones I tried. So I kept going back.
It is a little bit of a shame, but also a good reason to return to the city.
Below, I am leaving a list of other vegan restaurants in Istanbul that I did not personally try, but that may be useful if you are planning your own plant-based trip. If you know any of these places or have tried them yourself, feel free to contact me. I would be very happy to update this guide with more experiences and make it even more useful for other vegan travelers.
- Asian Vegan Kitchen – Cihangir, Akyol Sk. No:53/B
- Falafel Zone – Istiklal cad öğüt sok 4 Taksim
- Ethique Plant-based – Fikirtepe Mh, Volkan Sk, No: 1, Kadıköy (at Pırlanta Sitesi Göztepe)
- Kumin Vegan Lezzetler – İzzettin Sk 55/1, Istanbul, Turkey
- Ayrışım Kitabevi Kafe – Rasimpaşa Mh. Beydağı Sk. No:54/A (at Yeldeğirmeni)
- Salpa Bar – Osmanağa, Piri Çavuş Sk. No:3
Vegan and Gluten-Free Pizza in Istanbul
As always, after a few days of traveling, I started craving pizza. Yes, I am Italian. It happens.
Istanbul is full of incredible food, and I was more than happy to explore Turkish flavours, especially in their vegan versions. But after a while, the desire for pizza arrived anyway, very specific, very dramatic, very Italian.
So I started looking for a place where I could find gluten-free pizza, and I eventually found one. It was not a 100% vegan restaurant, but they did offer few pizzas that could work for me, which made it worth including in this guide.
This was actually the only place I tried in Istanbul that was not entirely vegan, which is why I decided to place it in a separate section rather than include it with the fully vegan restaurants above. When you are vegan and gluten-free, finding pizza while traveling is never something I take for granted. It is not always easy, and when it happens, it deserves its own little chapter.
Pizza Locale: A Pizzeria with Vegan Options in Istanbul
Pizza Locale has few locations in Istanbul, and it honestly saved me when I was desperately craving pizza. They have six vegan pizza options, which, for a non-vegan pizzeria, is a lot. And they are not random or lazy options either. The vegan section of the menu feels thought through, with interesting ingredients and flavours that are not banal. In other words, this is not the classic pizzeria that puts two random vegetables on a pizza and calls it vegan. Their vegan menu feels intentional.
The pizza itself was not incredible, at least not for a palate used to Italian pizza. But it was tasty. I remember it with pleasure, and I would recommend it if you are looking for vegan pizza in Istanbul.
The weakest point was probably the location I visited. It was close, actually, almost attached, to a kind of club in the narrow streets of Beşiktaş, and the music was so loud that it was completely impossible to have a conversation. But honestly, I did not care that much. I was hungry, and I wanted pizza.
- WHERE: Few locations
My Experience Eating Vegan in Istanbul
What surprised me the most in Istanbul was the quality of the places I did find. Some of them were simple and homemade, others more casual, and one of them — Vegan Dükkan Lokanta — became one of my favourite vegan restaurants in the world.
Istanbul is a city of layers, and I think its vegan food scene reflects that. It is not always loud or immediately visible, but when you find it, it can be deeply meaningful. Especially when plant-based cooking meets Turkish tradition, spices, vegetables, legumes, smoke, herbs, and all those flavours that already belong so naturally to the culture.
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