Zübeyir Ocakbaşı (Taksim)
Istanbul, Türkiye; Şehit Muhtar Mahallesi, İstiklal Caddesi, Bekar Sokak No:28, Beyoğlu, Istanbul, Türkiye
At Zübeyir Ocakbaşı, the grill provides both the food and the centre of attention. The Bekar Sokak restaurant near Taksim belongs to the ocakbaşı tradition, in which charcoal cooking and the company around the table are closely connected. A substantial copper hood and the visible work of the grill give the room much of its character. Brothers Hamit and Zübeyir built the business from longstanding experience in the restaurant trade. Meat is the central subject, with skewers and grilled preparations supported by salads and accompaniments that bring freshness and acidity to the meal. The appeal is immediate: the relationship between heat, timing and flavour is easy to follow from the dining room. Condé Nast Traveler has included the restaurant in its coverage of eating through Türkiye, providing independent recognition beyond local familiarity. This selection refers specifically to the Beyoğlu address, rather than another branch. It completes the Istanbul ten because the city’s culinary identity also depends on places where dinner is direct, sociable and grounded in a focused craft. Choose it for an informal evening built around the grill and shared plates, with enough time to enjoy the atmosphere.