Istanbul Essentials

 

Istanbul Food & Drink
Istanbul has a great range of restaurants to choose from featuring every conceivable cuisine and catering to every budget. However traditional Turkish food has much more to offer than merely kebabs. Try a filling Kuzu güveç - lamb casserole or extravagant Mahmudiye, a speciality consisting of chicken meat mixed with honey, apricots, almonds, currants and black pepper. Fish is popular in Istanbul tavernas and varieties include white grouper, red mullet, swordfish and much more. Cooking methods include salting, grilling, poaching or pickling and often served with eggplant puree, parsley and lemon and garlic and chilli sauces.

Tipping & Etiquette In Istanbul
Tipping is done modestly in Turkey and an amount of around 5% of the bill would be sufficient. For upmarket eateries 10-15% of the bill seems to be the norm although again it is down to your own personal judgement and quality of the dining experience. Taxis and hotel staff should be rewarded with a few coins as a thank you and any personal tour guides will expect a small gratuity. Turkish bath attendants however should be given around 15% of the total bill to share out amongst themselves.