The 5 Best Restaurants in Şanlıurfa, From Sıra Nights to Künefe

The best restaurants in Şanlıurfa gather around Balıklıgöl and the old bazaars, in stone houses and an old han. In some of them, dinner comes with a sıra gecesi, an evening of folk songs and conversation. Our five picks cover two old buildings with music, a kebab house, a restaurant with its own oven and a sweet shop. The cooking and the setting count most here, from a meal with music to a quick lunch in the old town.

How We Chose the Best Restaurants in Şanlıurfa

We looked for kitchens that cook the dishes of Urfa, and for places where you can hear its music. Most of them stand within walking distance of the old town. For the city itself, start with our guide to Şanlıurfa.

The Best Restaurants in Şanlıurfa With Music

1. Çardaklı Köşk

Çardaklı Köşk (a pavilion or villa) stands right across from Balıklıgöl, in a building that keeps the style of an old Urfa house, with a stone courtyard and terraces. Its menu covers the dishes of Urfa, from kebabs to mezes. In the evening, musicians sing folk songs at its sıra gecesi, a night of music, talk and local food. It also has rooms to stay in. Save your first evening in the city for it.

2. Cevahir Han

Cevahir Han is a restaurant in an old han on Vali Fuat Caddesi. Here, a sıra gecesi group sings türküs and gazels live. The menu starts with breakfast and runs through local dishes such as çiğ köfte, pencer boranisi, masluka and söğürme, a dish of eggplant with minced meat. Plan on a long evening of food and music. For more on the tradition, see our Şanlıurfa sıra night tour.

The Best Restaurants in Şanlıurfa for Kebab and Sweets

3. Gülhan Restaurant

Gülhan Restaurant opened in 1999 on Atatürk Bulvarı, and it seats 300 guests. Its kitchen covers kebabs, ocakbaşı grills, lahmacun and oven dishes. To finish, order şıllık from the dessert menu. Families and groups fit well here.

4. Altın Tabak Fırınlı Restaurant

Altın Tabak is a restaurant with its own oven on Balıklıgöl Caddesi, in the old town. Between the sights of the old town, it is a quick lunch.

5. Miroğlu Kadayıf & Dondurma

Miroğlu has made sweets in Şanlıurfa since 1997. Its counter holds peynirli künefe, fırın kadayıfı, billuriye and pistachio burma kadayıf. Also on the menu are şıllık with kaymak and its own ice cream. Peynirli kadayıf, the cheese-filled kadayıf of the city, is a registered geographical indication of Şanlıurfa. So come after dinner, or for an afternoon sweet.

Eat at the Best Restaurants in Şanlıurfa With Us

Our Göbeklitepe and Şanlıurfa tour and our Halfeti and Harran tour fit well around these tables. For the night, read the best hotels in Şanlıurfa, and see Mardin or Şanlıurfa to plan the wider route. Send us your evenings in Şanlıurfa, and we will book the tables.