Cappadocia Becomes The Next Turkish Region To Welcome The Michelin Guide
Culinary-minded travelers are spoiled for choice when exploring the food and restaurant culture in Türkiye—and it's not just big cities like Istanbul or Izmir that offer unforgettable meals. The Michelin Guide has this week announced that it will be expanding its reach in Türkiye, adding Cappadocia to its roster of recommended Turkish destinations alongside Istanbul, Izmir and Muğla.
Although Cappadocia is best known internationally for its daily hot air balloon rides, cave hotels, and otherworldly 'fairy chimneys,' the Central Anatolian region also has a distinct food culture that is finally getting the recognition it deserves.
Cappadocia and the broader provinces of Nevşehir, Kayseri, Aksaray, Kırşehir, Sivas and Niğde boast the same world-renowned hospitality that Türkiye is known for as well as a variety of regional dishes like sealed clay pot preparations, Cappadocia-style mantı (Turkish ravioli), slow-cooked meats in Tandır, and more.
'The culinary identity of Cappadocia is deeply rooted in local agriculture and traditional ingredients,' Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Michelin Guide, said in a press release, adding that the region, having already left its mark on inspectors, should be recognized as a culinary destination as well as a historic one.
Although the Cappadocia region won't officially hit the Michelin Guide until it unveils its 2026 Michelin restaurant selection at a ceremony in Istanbul later this year in December, the Michelin Guide first arrived in Türkiye in 2022 and has since become a north star for gourmands visiting the country.
The Michelin Guide is now in Istanbul, Izmir and Muğla with a total of 14 Michelin-starred restaurants across the three cities. The guide was formerly criticized for omitting other big cities in Türkiye, like the capital city Ankara and the coastal city Antalya, but still provides a decent snapshot of some of the best chefs in the city.
The restaurant that has earned the highest star ranking is two-Michelin-starred Turk Fatih Tutak in Istanbul—which offers up just thirty seats per night for its multi-course tasting menu. The restaurant is rooted is historic Turkish cuisine with a modern twist and all ingredients are sourced directly from Türkiye and purchased from local farmers and butchers on a daily basis.
If you can't get a table at Turk Fatih Tutak (a reservation can be very hard to come by), Araka in Yeniköy and Nicole in Beyoğlu are one-Michelin-starred and also offer an incredible example of modern Mediterranean cuisine.
It might also come as a surprise to know that Istanbul is also home to a vegan Michelin green star restaurant. Telezzüz in Üsküdar is a totally plant-based kitchen that strives for zero waste while offering vegan-curious diners creative and modern takes on plant-based cuisine.
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