Editors who understand Istanbul Eight distinct editorial perspectives that read the city’s tables through food, neighbourhood, time, budget and the purpose of each visit.
Defne Aras Gastronomy Editor Explores contemporary Turkish cooking, chef-led restaurants and Istanbul’s changing culinary language.
Defne Aras Gastronomy Editor
Defne’s editorial lens focuses on the connection Istanbul’s cooking builds between past and present. She considers not only the plate, but also ingredient choices, service rhythm, the venue’s relationship with the city and the coherence of the full experience.
Areas of focus Contemporary Turkish cuisine Chef-led restaurants Tasting menus Special-occasion dining Editorial principles Never separate the plate from its context Pay attention to produce and seasonality Make restrained, reasoned recommendations
Neighbourhoods followed Karaköy · Beyoğlu · Nişantaşı · Kadıköy
Languages Turkish · English Editorial profile This profile is an editorial persona representing a specialist area within the Choose Istanbul content team. It does not represent a real person.
View profile Kerem Soyer Local Food Editor Covers traditional restaurants, everyday cooking, ocakbaşı culture and the city’s quick street bites.
Kerem Soyer Local Food Editor
Kerem values continuity over spectacle. His perspective follows busy lunch services, regulars’ habits, value for money and why a familiar dish can feel right at a particular moment of the day.
Areas of focus Traditional lunch restaurants Street food Kebab and ocakbaşı Good-value dining Editorial principles Consider price as part of the experience Observe turnover and service rhythm Avoid romanticising local habits
Neighbourhoods followed Fatih · Beşiktaş · Kadıköy · Üsküdar
Languages Turkish · English Editorial profile This profile is an editorial persona representing a specialist area within the Choose Istanbul content team. It does not represent a real person.
View profile Elif Taner Coffee & Pastry Editor Follows pastry shops, desserts, coffee culture and the many forms of an Istanbul breakfast.
Elif Taner Coffee & Pastry Editor
Elif looks at the small details separating an everyday coffee stop from a considered pastry experience. Freshness, pastry balance, coffee preparation and a venue’s rhythm through the day shape her editorial view.
Areas of focus Pastry and dessert Turkish coffee Third-wave coffee Breakfast Editorial principles Put freshness before appearance Evaluate sweetness and texture together State the right time of day to visit
Neighbourhoods followed Moda · Nişantaşı · Karaköy · Cihangir
Languages Turkish · English Editorial profile This profile is an editorial persona representing a specialist area within the Choose Istanbul content team. It does not represent a real person.
View profile Can Arel Meyhane & Seafood Editor Covers meyhane culture, fish, meze, rakı etiquette and long evenings along the Bosphorus.
Can Arel Meyhane & Seafood Editor
Can’s approach focuses on the way a table unfolds over time. Seasonality of fish, freshness of meze, service pace, sound level and billing clarity are all treated as parts of one experience.
Areas of focus Meyhane culture Fish and seafood Meze Bosphorus restaurants Editorial principles Ask about seasonality and the day’s catch Include the table’s rhythm in the review Check pricing clarity
Neighbourhoods followed Arnavutköy · Karaköy · Samatya · Kadıköy
Languages Turkish · English Editorial profile This profile is an editorial persona representing a specialist area within the Choose Istanbul content team. It does not represent a real person.
View profile Selin Erdem Plant-Forward Dining Editor Explores vegetarian and vegan cooking, seasonal produce and different dietary needs.
Selin Erdem Plant-Forward Dining Editor
For Selin, a strong plant-forward restaurant should build its own culinary language without feeling defined by omission. She considers menu range, seasonality, allergen clarity and how prepared the kitchen is for different needs.
Areas of focus Vegetarian cooking Vegan options Seasonal produce Allergen communication Editorial principles Judge choice together with quality Look for clear allergen information Consider seasonality and waste
Neighbourhoods followed Cihangir · Moda · Nişantaşı · Bomonti
Languages Turkish · English Editorial profile This profile is an editorial persona representing a specialist area within the Choose Istanbul content team. It does not represent a real person.
View profile Baran Ilgaz Neighbourhood & City Culture Editor Reads the daily rhythm of neighbourhoods, markets, walking routes and local dining habits.
Baran Ilgaz Neighbourhood & City Culture Editor
Baran approaches a neighbourhood through walking, transport and time of day before compiling restaurant lists. He considers how a venue relates to its surroundings, what it adds to a route and whether a visitor can build a realistic day around it.
Areas of focus Neighbourhood routes Market and street culture Walkable plans Local dining habits Editorial principles Treat the route as seriously as the table Keep travel times realistic Never reduce a neighbourhood to one cliché
Neighbourhoods followed Kadıköy · Karaköy · Balat · Beşiktaş
Languages Turkish · English Editorial profile This profile is an editorial persona representing a specialist area within the Choose Istanbul content team. It does not represent a real person.
View profile Lara Ekinci Evening & Refined Dining Editor Reviews refined restaurants, tables with a view, late-night dining and special-occasion experiences.
Lara Ekinci Evening & Refined Dining Editor
Lara’s editorial focus is whether an ambitious evening genuinely delivers on its promise. She does not treat the view as separate from food and service, assessing consistency from the reservation process to the final moment.
Areas of focus Refined restaurants Rooftops and views Late-night dining Romantic and special-occasion tables Editorial principles Measure the promise against the price Never separate the view from food and service Check the reservation experience
Neighbourhoods followed Beyoğlu · Karaköy · The Bosphorus · Nişantaşı
Languages Turkish · English Editorial profile This profile is an editorial persona representing a specialist area within the Choose Istanbul content team. It does not represent a real person.
View profile Deniz Vural Practical Istanbul Editor Develops practical guidance on reservations, tipping, transport and choosing the right table as a visitor.
Deniz Vural Practical Istanbul Editor
Deniz focuses on the idea that a recommendation is valuable only when it can be acted on. Reservations, transport, peak hours, payment and local etiquette are explained from the perspective of a first-time visitor.
Areas of focus Reservations and tipping Visitor guidance Transport and timing Dining etiquette Editorial principles Make every recommendation actionable Never present uncertain information as fact Explain local habits clearly and without judgement
Neighbourhoods followed Sultanahmet · Karaköy · Taksim · Kadıköy
Languages Turkish · English Editorial profile This profile is an editorial persona representing a specialist area within the Choose Istanbul content team. It does not represent a real person.
View profile The profiles on this page are editorial personas representing specialist areas within the Choose Istanbul content team; they do not represent real people. Verified profiles will be identified separately as real writers and specialists join the publication.
Defne ArasGastronomy Editor
Kerem SoyerLocal Food Editor
Elif TanerCoffee & Pastry Editor
Can ArelMeyhane & Seafood Editor
Selin ErdemPlant-Forward Dining Editor
Baran IlgazNeighbourhood & City Culture Editor
Lara EkinciEvening & Refined Dining Editor
Deniz VuralPractical Istanbul Editor