A Turkish meyhane is about shared plates, rakı and conversation. Although seafood, cheese and yogurt often dominate the table, several sit-down venues offer vegetable-based meze suitable for vegans, provided ingredients are checked carefully.
📍 Where to go
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Müsaade Meyhane - Kadıköy: Traditional meyhane with clearly identified vegan and vegetarian options.
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Aheste - Beyoğlu: Modern meze restaurant with vegetarian dishes and tasting menus. Confirm which options can be prepared vegan.
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Mahkeme Lokantası - Karaköy: Sit-down restaurant that turns into a meyhane in the evening. Ask about dairy-free vegetable meze.
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Prinkipo - Büyükada: Island meyhane serving seafood alongside vegetarian options. Check whether its olive-oil dishes contain dairy or fish.
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Ali Baba Balık Restaurant - Büyükada: Fish restaurant with vegetarian meze. Vegan choices may be limited, so ask before booking.
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Heyamola - Heybeliada: Waterfront restaurant and bar serving meze and rakı. Confirm which vegetable dishes are entirely plant-based.
🫒 What to order—and what to avoid
✅ Ask about fava, şakşuka, barbunya pilaki, deniz börülcesi, enginar and acılı ezme. These are often vegan but may include yogurt, butter or other unexpected additions.
🚫 Skip haydari, which contains yogurt, and check eggplant salads, hummus and stuffed vegetables for dairy, meat stock or seafood.
🗣️ “Veganım. İçinde süt, yoğurt, tereyağı, yumurta, bal veya balık var mı?”
“I’m vegan. Does this contain milk, yogurt, butter, eggs, honey or fish?”
📞 Reserve ahead and ask whether the kitchen can prepare several vegan meze.
📌 Save this for your Istanbul trip. Tag another vegan or vegetarian traveler who needs it.
Last reviewed: August 24, 2026