Editorial policy
Choose Istanbul is designed to reduce restaurant-search noise. A place is published only after its location, essential contact channels and the core character of the experience have been reviewed. Instead of listing everything, we select places with a concrete reason to recommend them.
How restaurants are selected
Selection is based on usefulness for a specific moment, consistency of experience, location and a clear reason to recommend the place. We do not claim to provide a ranking or an exhaustive inventory of Istanbul.
Source hierarchy
For practical details such as address, phone, hours, reservations and menus, we prioritize the restaurant's official website and official social account. When those are unavailable, we compare the official hotel or operator page, verified map listing and reliable editorial sources. Information that cannot be verified is not guessed and remains unpublished.
Writing and images
Restaurant descriptions are written originally in Turkish and English by the Choose Istanbul Editorial Team. Images must represent the venue accurately; promotional, menu, award or text-heavy images are not used as the main discovery image.
Authorship and editorial responsibility
Blog stories and guides are published under the name of the editor responsible for the content and link to that editor’s profile. When another editor has reviewed the work, that person is shown separately; when no individual reviewer is confirmed, responsibility is attributed to the Choose Istanbul Editorial Team. The ‘Recommended by’ line on a restaurant page identifies the editor responsible for that listing.
First-hand experience and desk verification
When a recommendation is based on an editorial visit or direct experience, the visit and review date are retained in the internal record. For content verified through official sources without a visit, desk research is kept distinct from first-hand experience and the copy never implies an experience that did not take place.
Freshness and last checked dates
The “Last checked” date on a venue page shows when its essential information last passed editorial review. A listing is reviewed again when a change is reported or a new official source becomes available.
Commercial relationships
Payment, invitations or complimentary hospitality do not determine an editorial recommendation on their own. Sponsored placements are always clearly labelled and a commercial relationship is never presented as independent editorial content.
Corrections
Restaurants and visitors can report closures, changed details or factual errors from each venue page. Reports are reviewed by the editorial team. For a sourcing or correction request, email hello@chooseistanbul.com.