🌿 Galataport for Vegans: Where to Eat at Istanbul’s Waterfront Destination

Looking for a place in Istanbul where you can walk along the Bosphorus, visit a museum, do some shopping and find vegan or vegetarian food without travelling across the city?

Galataport is worth putting on your itinerary. 🚢🌊

Located on Istanbul’s European side, between Karaköy and Tophane, Galataport occupies part of the city’s historic port area. The waterfront development combines a roughly 1.2-kilometre promenade with restaurants, shops, cultural venues and Istanbul’s main cruise terminal. (Galataport)

Don't expect a fully vegan dining destination, though. The restaurants here are predominantly mixed-menu establishments. However, the veganistanbul.com database includes several restaurants at Galataport with vegan-friendly or vegetarian options.

Here are the Galataport venues currently listed on veganistanbul.com 👇

🌱 BigChefs Galataport

📍 Karaköy / Galataport 🌿 Vegan-friendly ⭐ Vegan Score: 3.0

BigChefs is a large, all-day restaurant serving everything from breakfast to dinner. Its broad menu covers Turkish and international dishes, burgers, pasta, salads and other casual restaurant staples.

It is listed as Veg Friendly on veganistanbul.com. (veganistanbul.com)

👉 This can be a practical option when travelling with a group whose members have different dietary preferences.

⚠️ When ordering, make your dietary requirements clear and check ingredients such as butter, milk, cheese, eggs and sauces.

🥗 COOKSHOP Galataport

📍 Beyoğlu / Galataport 🥬 Vegetarian ⭐ Vegan Score: 3.0

COOKSHOP is an all-day café and restaurant with a broad menu ranging from breakfast to salads, bowls and other main dishes. It is listed under the Vegetarian category on veganistanbul.com, with vegan and vegetarian alternatives as well as some gluten-free choices. (veganistanbul.com)

🌾 Travelling gluten-free? Remember that this is not a dedicated gluten-free kitchen. If you have coeliac disease, ask staff not only whether a dish contains gluten but also about possible cross-contact during preparation.

🍔 Akali Galataport

📍 Beyoğlu / Galataport 🥗 Vegetarian ⭐ Vegan Score: 2.0

Akali is primarily a burger restaurant. It is listed as Vegetarian on veganistanbul.com and has a Vegan Score of 2.0. (veganistanbul.com)

That distinction matters: a restaurant offering a vegan option isn't necessarily a vegan-friendly restaurant. If you're visiting specifically for vegan food, check what is currently available before ordering.

🍟 Burger buns, sauces and frying oil are particularly worth asking about.

🍆 Muutto Anatolian Tapas Bar

📍 Beyoğlu / Galataport 🥗 Vegetarian ⭐ Vegan Score: 4.0

Muutto can be an interesting stop if you are visiting Türkiye for the first time and want to explore different elements of Anatolian cuisine. The restaurant takes inspiration from dishes and culinary traditions from different parts of Anatolia and presents them in a contemporary tapas-style format.

It is listed under the Vegetarian category on veganistanbul.com. (veganistanbul.com)

You may encounter familiar plant-based dishes and ingredients such as hummus, stuffed vine leaves and aubergine-based plates. But don't assume that a vegetable dish in Türkiye is automatically vegan.

🥛 Yogurt, cheese and butter can appear in dishes that otherwise look plant-based, while some traditional preparations may use meat or chicken stock. Always ask.

🌾 veganistanbul.com also has positive user information regarding gluten-free choices at Muutto. If you have coeliac disease, check preparation methods and cross-contact risks directly with the restaurant.

🍣 ROKA Galataport

📍 Beyoğlu / Galataport 🥗 Vegetarian ⭐ Vegan Score: 3.0

ROKA is a Japanese restaurant known for robata-style cooking. It is listed under the Vegetarian category on veganistanbul.com with a Vegan Score of 3.0. (veganistanbul.com)

This isn't a vegan or vegetarian restaurant, so check individual dishes when ordering sushi, rice or vegetable-based plates.

🍣 One thing to remember with Japanese food: mayonnaise, egg, fish-based sauces and dashi can turn an apparently plant-based dish into a non-vegan one. Ask before ordering if the menu isn't clear.

🖼️ Restoran Modern

📍 Istanbul Modern / Galataport 🌿 Vegan-friendly ⭐ Vegan Score: 3.0

Planning to visit Istanbul Modern while you're at Galataport? Restoran Modern makes it possible to combine your museum visit with a meal without leaving the building.

Located inside Istanbul Modern, the restaurant serves contemporary Turkish and Mediterranean-inspired food and is classified as Veg Friendly on veganistanbul.com. (veganistanbul.com)

🌾 If you're looking for gluten-free food, check the current menu and ask about preparation and cross-contact before ordering.

🚢 Why visit Galataport?

Galataport isn't simply a shopping centre. It occupies a large section of Istanbul's redeveloped historic port and has opened up a long stretch of the Karaköy waterfront for walking.

The area brings together a roughly 1.2-kilometre waterfront promenade, restaurants and cafés, shops, cultural attractions including Istanbul Modern, and an underground cruise terminal. (Galataport)

That makes it easy to turn Galataport into a half-day stop rather than visiting just for a meal:

🚶 Walk along the Bosphorus waterfront 🖼️ Visit Istanbul Modern ☕ Stop for coffee or a short break 🌱 Have a vegan or vegetarian meal 🌊 Continue on foot towards Karaköy or Tophane

Galataport is also Istanbul's major cruise port, so for many international cruise passengers it can literally be their first stop in the city. (Galataport)

⚠️ A note for vegan travellers

None of the restaurants in this guide should be assumed to have an entirely vegan kitchen.

A “Vegetarian” or “Vegan-friendly” label does not mean everything on the menu is plant-based, and meat, fish, dairy and eggs may be prepared in the same kitchen.

When in doubt, these questions can help:

🌱 “Is this dish completely vegan?” 🥛 “Does it contain milk, yogurt, cheese or butter?” 🥚 “Does it contain egg?” 🍲 “Is meat or chicken stock used?” 🍟 “Are the fries cooked in the same oil as meat products?”

If you have coeliac disease or another serious dietary restriction, also ask specifically about cross-contact in the kitchen.

📌 Check before you go: Restaurant menus, opening hours and ingredients can change. Always check the latest vegan, vegetarian or gluten-free options directly with the venue before visiting.

Last reviewed: September 9, 2026