Top Places to Eat in Ankara
As the capital city of Türkiye, Ankara is one of the best locations in the country to taste the best food and get a unique and unforgettable dining experience. The city contains the best examples of traditional and modern dining locations reflecting the capital’s multidimensional atmosphere. It also captures the spirit of local and universal dishes and combines them in a way that requires you to try them out during your visit to Ankara. So here is a list of some restaurants, pubs and bakeries that are sure to highlight your trip and elevate your visit to the city.
Aspava
Inarguably the most popular local restaurant in Ankara, Aspava is at the top of the must-visit restaurants list in the city. The menu contains local dishes focused on meat, such as kebab and doner, and offers them for a reasonable price. The free treats given before and after the dish are one of the elements that make Aspava as popular as it is, and they definitely make for a fuller dining experience than usual. The restaurant is so favored by the people that it has spread quickly from Ankara to all parts of the country. You can find Aspava in all parts of the city, but the most popular ones are Gülçimen Aspava in Emek and Yıldız and Özçelik Aspavas in Esat. You can get to these places quickly by taking a bus from Kızılay Square. The restaurant is open from nine to two in the morning and is available for reservations. The restaurant also has takeout service.
To get in contact with Gülçimen Apava, call (0312) 543 06 06.
Quick China
It would not be far-fetched to claim that Quick China is the most popular Asian restaurant in Ankara. The extensive restaurant menu offers you the opportunity to taste different dishes from China, Japan, Thailand, and South Korea for a reasonable price. The restaurant proves its popularity with nine branches open in all parts of the city, from Çayyolu district and Arcadium Mall to Gaziosmanpaşa Street and Kuzu Effect Mall. The Çayyolu branch, in particular, provides you with a beautifully decorated atmosphere, so you can pick it for the best first-taste experience. The restaurant is available for reservations. It is open from 11 am to 9.45 pm, and if you don’t have the time to sit and take your time eating, it also has a takeout service. To get to Quick China in the Çayyolu district, take the subway first and then hop on the bus for a short ride.
To get in contact with Quick China Çayyolu, call (0312) 241 14 14.
Afitap Tavern
Sure to become one of your favorite places in the city, the famous Afitap Tavern in Ankara gives visitors the best dining experience. The menu includes dishes from Turkish cuisine to Mediterranean cuisine, and before serving the main dishes, the table is adorned with countless appetizers the customers have difficulty choosing from. Some people even come to the tavern solely for its delicious appetizers. In addition, you can always have a cocktail or drink raki, the traditional alcoholic beverage of Türkiye. The tavern is open from 11 am to 1 am every day, but you should make reservations because the place is almost always busy with people. You can get to all three branches of the tavern by taking the subway and then the bus.
To get in contact with the Tunus branch of the tavern, call (0530) 797 26 67.
Kıtır
Kıtır has been among the most favored pubs in Ankara since its establishment more than thirty years ago and continues to add to its popularity with great food, service, and atmosphere. You can taste the best street food in this pub, but the most popular one has been kumpir for years, which is a type of baked potato with different kinds of appetizers added to it. It goes exceptionally well with beer. With three branches open in the city, the pub continues to serve people with a buzzing energy. Even if you don’t have sufficient time to sit and take your time eating and drinking, you can use the takeout service of the pub and eat at home. It is open from 12 pm to 12 am. To get to the Tunalı Hilmi branch of the pub, you can take the bus from Kızılay or walk for about 20 minutes.
To get in contact with the Tunus branch of Kıtır, call (0312) 427 44 44.
Last Penny
Of all the pubs mentioned on the list, Last Penny is the one that provides the most diverse experience. The pub opens at 10 am with a delicious buffet breakfast where you can eat the mouth-watering Turkish breakfast on the weekends. In the evenings, musical artists, stand-up comedians, magicians, and various artists accompany the pub and enrich its already colorful atmosphere. There are also frequent workshops you can attend during the day. Some of these events require a reservation, but you must usually come early and find seats to be able to attend them. You can eat dishes ranging from burgers to pasta and enjoy the signature cocktails of the pub until it closes at 1 am. The pub has three branches, but the most popular one is the one on the Büklüm Street. You can take a bus from Kızılay Square or walk for about 15 minutes to get there.
To get in contact with the Büklüm Street branch, call (0312) 926 07 21.
Coffee Craft Town
Coffee Craft Town is the local’s go-to place for a quality coffee experience. It is known for its beautifully crafted coffees and vivid atmosphere. You can eat all kinds of freshly baked pastries with your drink of choice. Located in the Ümitköy district, the coffee shop is open from 10 am until 11.30 pm, and you can always use the takeout service if you don’t have time. With skilled baristas and delicious coffees and pastries, Coffee Craft Town stands out in Ankara as one of the most preferred coffee shops. You should use the subway to the Ümitköy district and take a minibus from there to get there.
To get in contact with Coffee Craft Town, call (0532) 455 31 62.
Kakule Bakery
Kakule Bakery is a popular destination for locals and tourists because of its delicious baked products. You can have the best cakes and cookies in this bakery in Ankara for a reasonable price and enjoy them in its pleasant atmosphere. But be warned, the bakery gets really crowded, and there is no reservation option at the moment. The bakery also provides takeout service. It is open from 9 am to 10 pm, and you can take a short walk from Kızılay Square or take a bus if the weather is not up for it.
To get in contact with Kakule Bakery, call (0532) 111 09 04.
Ekşi Maya Bakery
With three branches in Ankara, Ekşi Maya is a popular restaurant/café providing quality sourdough products. You should definitely try the bakery bread, which is made of unadulterated materials, as well as other baked products such as cookies and croissants. The bakery is open from 8 am to 10 pm except for Sunday, on which day it closes at 7 pm. There is no reservation option, but the bakery offers takeout services. To get to the Tunalı Street branch of the bakery, you can take a bus from Kızılay Square or take a 15-minute walk.
To get in contact with the Tunalı branch of Ekşi Maya, call (0312) 466 17 77.
Luigis Ristorante & Bar
Luigis Ristorante & Bar is an Italian restaurant located in Ankara’s famous observation tower, Atakule, which also operates as a mall center, and it is the best place to try out Italian dishes in the city. The restaurant’s interior design combines Renaissance and Sicilian elements and creates a great dining atmosphere. You can eat delicious pizzas, pasta, and other Italian dishes while enjoying the view of Ankara. The restaurant is on the upper floor of the tower, and it is open from 11 am to 11 pm every day, but make sure to make a reservation beforehand. You can take the subway or the bus, which stops right in front of the tower, to get there.
To get in contact with Luigis, call (0542) 131 51 00.
Kebap 49
One of the oldest kebab restaurants in Türkiye, Kebap 49 serves visitors the best kebab since the 1960s and proves the reasons for its longevity. With the meat used in the meals produced and procured by the restaurant, you can dine at Kebap 49 comfortably and enjoy the excellent service of the waiters and waitresses. The restaurant opens at noon and closes at 10 pm except for Mondays, on which day it opens at 11 am. There are two branches of the restaurant, and one of them is located at the heart of Istanbul, Tunalı Hilmi Street, so you can quickly get there by taking a bus from Kızılay Square or simply walking. But be warned, the restaurant gets crowded in no time. Don’t forget to make a reservation beforehand so you don’t miss out on this spectacular experience.
To get in contact with Kebap 49 in Tunalı Street, call (312) 467 48 49.
If Sokak
If Sokak is one of the most dynamic and frequented pubs in Ankara, it will surely give you a fun and unforgettable dining experience. Starting from its opening at 11 am, the pub becomes vibrant with people and blasts music full of energy. You can choose from various food options, including crispy chicken, burgers, pasta, and sushi, which are many people’s reasons for coming to the pub. It has three branches in Ankara, but keep in mind that hours vary from branch to branch. While the Çayyolu and Tepe Prime branches open at 11 am and close at 1 am, and the happy hour is until 4 pm, the Tunus branch closes at 2 am and 2.30 am on Fridays and Saturdays, and the happy hour lasts until 6 pm. The pub has no takeout service, but you can make reservations in advance. You can get to all of the branches of If Sokak by taking the subway, except for the Tunus branch, where you must take an additional bus ride or a short walk to get there.
To get in contact with If Sokak, call (0312) 870 17 56.
As you can understand from the list, Ankara is a radiant city not only because it is a capital city but also because it provides countless options to satisfy your culinary needs. So, use this list as a guide and prepare yourself for an unforgettable dining experience you cannot find anywhere else.