We are in Ankara, perhaps one of the most underrated cities in Turkey.
Although it is often compared to Istanbul and underappreciated, Ankara definitely offers a food and beverage adventure far above expectations.
From aspavas to taverns, from shabby döner shops to new generation pizzerias, from nostalgic restaurants to quality restaurants, you can find different, good flavor stops.
While making the discoveries for our guide, we couldn’t not mention Sarnii, whose buns we love, Kruvasante, where we are used to seeing queues at the door, Kakule, which brings together quality coffee and patisserie products, Mutlu Lokantası for döner, Poche, Karatavuk and Bagel-ı Manyak for quality street flavors and snacks.
Afitap Tunus, where we met for a daytime rakı, Yelken Balık, which serves successful seafood, MOZZ, Studio and Unica, three different places that cross borders in pizza, are just some of the places we loved in our guide.
We researched hundreds of places, tried each one over and over again, and worked for a long time to prepare the Ankara guidebook. In this guide, we could only fit those in our surroundings and Çankaya discoveries. You can also find our other guide to different parts of Ankara that are full of stories and offer unique experiences here.
In this list, you can find the good restaurants we love and the places that are identified with the neighborhood.
Restaurants:
Traditional restaurants serving good food:
Street food:
Döner:
Our favorite Breakfast & Bakery:
We love marzipan here; Ali Uzun Şekercilik
The places we visit for cocktails
With both healthy and delicious cuisines;
Our favorite parks
Our three favorite doner makers are in our immediate surroundings, in Çankaya. We will tell you about other favorites when we examine the different districts of Ankara.
‘Döner’, which is very popular in Turkey, is a very diverse product. This diversity comes from different meats, cuts and cooking methods.
Mutlu Lokantası comes first among our favorites. Prepared entirely from beef ribeye without the use of minced meat, the doner is flavored with the right marinade. Open since 1976, the restaurant has an established supply network and tradition. The quality of the meat is always the same, with the benefit that it has been serving here since the 70s. It ends before 3pm. So hurry up. There is more than one Mutlu on the same street, our favorite is Güvenlik Cd. No:69
Çankaya Lokantası is in second place. Located right next to Atakule, one of the iconic buildings of Ankara, this doner shop offers a really juicy and successful doner. Serving since 1974, it is also difficult to find a seat at lunchtime. The staff are very attentive. Their daily prepare home style food and liver are also very popular. We didn’t try them because we don’t give up döner.
In third place is Esat Mutlu Restaurant. There are also many different stews and stir-fries available. Since 1990 they have been open and the doner runs out fast. This place is located on Esat Street. It is not a branch with the other Mutlu Restaurant.
📃 The name Mutlu comes from a town near the Beyşehir district of Konya. It is mostly a cooking-lokantry town. The first Mutlu restaurants were opened by people who came to Ankara in ’65 and ’72. There is no definite information on the exodus of the recently opened Mutlu restaurants, as they could not get the pantent and naming rights.
🔍 Kebapçı Canbolat in Altındağ, Azim Beşiktaş Dönercisi & Hacıbayram Dönercisi Nazım Usta in Ulus and Peçenek Döner in İskitler are other prominent & favorite döner shops in Ankara.
Kalbur Balık, which has been serving in Or-An since 1990, was once one of the most famous fish restaurants in Ankara.
This small and cozy restaurant, which took the newspapers by storm in the early 2000s, is still an indispensable place for old Ankara residents. Kalbur, which was frequented by famous journalists and bureaucrats of the time, is not followed by a wide audience these days, but those who know still know.
Kalbur, which was included in Vedat Milör’s list a few years ago, is quite famous for its many appetizers and appetizers. In the past, many of the dishes that were first introduced in this restaurant, such as shrimp with kadayıflı, soon appeared on the menus of other fishermen.
Kalbur’s owners are as unique as its food. The couple, Mehmet and Bilen Tekmen, are quite interesting. First of all, it should be said that Mr. Mehmet goes from table to table and takes care of the customers, and hangs out with the customers in a sweet and grumpy way.
Just as leaving something on the plate is a nuisance, you can’t buy a second of a product you love so much. Not even if you insist, one for everyone 🙂 And if you eat a lot, like us, it gets a bit cranky. Other than that, he tries to meet whatever you need. This is a place where you can feel like a longtime regular even the first time. The service is like a sweet performance, the flavors are successful.
A small, self-contained business that closes early. Please note that credit cards are not accepted and reservations are essential.
We are one of the most ambitious seafood restaurants in Turkey. Yes, there is no sea in Ankara, but there are very good fish restaurants. 🙂
Founded in 2002, this restaurant offers an extensive menu of local, natural and fresh seafood.
The founder of Trilye is Süreyya Üzmez, who is also a gourmet-author. Trilye, which has been awarded many quality awards, pays close attention to hunting bans. Süreyya Üzmez also carries out projects to prevent untimely and illegal hunting. You can see him visiting the tables in the restaurant, he is very friendly and humble.
Let’s talk about our favorites from the menu!
Mezzes: Shrimp with Avocado, Rum Böreği, Sea Bass Marinade and Seafood Köpoğlu
Hot Starters: Seafood Kokoreç, Fish Adana, Keshkek with Calamari, Smoked Octopus and Coconut Shrimp
The fish varies according to the season.
Among the desserts, Ateş – Fire Dessert, Pumpkin Dessert with Walnuts & Profiterole with Tahini stand out. The service is high level. The staff are caring and friendly.
We recommend you to go with reservation.
Mozz, which opened in Beytepe, half an hour away from the city center in 2019, stole our hearts with its pizzas, as well as its glass space & and its garden that blows in the summer. Mozz. Last month he left his romantic place and moved to a new location; Here we are at the new Mozz that we have been eagerly waiting for. This venue has just as impressive an atmosphere as the old one. We can say that it is one of the best addresses for a cozy, pleasant dinner in Ankara.
We have mentioned it before, but let’s talk briefly about their pizza. Fermented for 48 hours, the homemade dough is quickly baked in 90 seconds at around 400 degrees. The result is a Neapolitan pizza with puffy edges.
In addition to the classics, pizzas are also made with different charcuterie, vegetables, sauces and cheeses according to the season. You can also create your own pizza by choosing your own toppings. In many ways it offers an experimental experience. Pizza prices on the menu for March 2023 range from 186₺ to 298₺.
One thing that sets it apart from most good pizzerias is the delicious starters on the menu. We recommend you to try the delicious and crispy Focaccia with Burrata or Muhammara as a snack.
Their desserts never disappoint. Mozz. Mess, which is quite delicious; Cardamom Brownie and Creme Catalana are our favorite desserts we have tried so far; So we love them all very much.
The team working at Mozz. always welcomes you with a smile, that’s one of our favorite things here.
It is also a cozy place for guests with dogs; Their hospitality is for everyone.
You can check our Ulus-Ankara guide here.
