The Perfect Vegan Weekend in Istanbul
From how to order local cuisine to meeting the famous museum cat, here’s how to enjoy a few cruelty-free days in Istanbul, Turkey
Istanbul’s seven hills and sea views, ornate palaces and minimalist skyscrapers, historic mosques and modern malls, hipster boutiques and covered bazaars draw more than 13 million visitors annually.
Turkey’s culinary heritage is equally eclectic, with influences from around the Ottoman Empire, which included parts of Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. While the Turkish diet is omnivorous, travelers to Istanbul still have quite a few vegan options. Many vegan dishes appear in conventional eateries, and a number of plant-based restaurants have cropped up in recent years. Here’s how to eat your way through a weekend in Istanbul.
Take the conventional route
A temperate climate means high-quality fruit and vegetables are available in Istanbul year round. Traditional recipes let regional, seasonal ingredients shine through straightforward preparation, so there are few “hidden” animal products.
Robyn Eckhardt, author of the acclaimed cookbook, Istanbul and Beyond: Exploring Turkey’s Diverse Cuisines, confirms that many favorites, including simit…
