Neolokal

Overview

Neolokal stands on Bankalar Caddesi in Karaköy, inside SALT Galata. Chef Maksut Aşkar and his young team cook old Anatolian dishes in a modern way, and the restaurant holds one MICHELIN Star.

The Idea Behind Neolokal

A bridge between old and new

The team studies traditional recipes down to the smallest detail. Then it brings back ingredients that have almost disappeared because no one uses them anymore. The aim is to be a bridge between the old food of this land and the future.

From the earth

The kitchen buys its ingredients first-hand, from nearby producers, and pairs them with Turkish wines. Respect for Turkish cooking traditions is its base, and on it the kitchen keeps renewing itself, reworking flavors from the past with new ideas and techniques. There is also a vegetarian menu.

What to Eat at Neolokal

The menu changes, but it follows the same thread. On one evening, for example, haddock arrives seared on the skin with a caramelized celeriac purée and a sauce of olive oil and mussel broth. The baklava, too, is the kitchen’s own: very crisp and full of pistachio. Throughout, Chef Aşkar puts his own light, playful stamp on old recipes.

Who Neolokal Suits

We suggest it for the big dinner of your trip, when you want food with a story behind every plate. It also suits vegetarians and anyone curious about the roots of Turkish cooking.

Our suggestion

Walk our Beyoğlu tour from Karaköy up to Galata in the afternoon, then come back down to Bankalar Caddesi for dinner. For the city's other starred tables, read Michelin Star Restaurants in Istanbul: All Eight Tables.

We reserve your table at Neolokal.

Updated: November 1, 2026.

Dining in Istanbul with Us

Pick your evening, and we will reserve Neolokal and send a driver for the ride back.