Restaurant
Turk Fatih Tutak
Chef Fatih Tutak's Bomonti tasting-menu restaurant, holding two Michelin stars and a Green Star, reworking Turkish culinary traditions with modern technique.
Develi Samatya
The original Samatya branch of Develi, a family kebab house founded in 1912 and now in its fourth generation, known above all for its kebabs.
At a glance
- Type
- Kebab restaurant
- Area
- Samatya, Istanbul, Türkiye
- Price
- $$$ · Upscale
- Official site
- develi1912.com
Good to know
- Family-run since 1912
Why we recommend it
Develi traces its story to 1912 and is now in its fourth generation of family ownership. The group has opened branches across Istanbul and beyond, but it began in Samatya, an old neighbourhood on the Marmara shore south-west of Sultanahmet, and the original restaurant there remains the one with the most character.
The focus is firmly on kebabs, backed up by mezes and salads; ordering a few different kebabs to share is the best approach. Samatya is easy to reach on the Marmaray suburban line to Kocamustafapaşa, and the neighbourhood's square, cafés and fish restaurants are worth a wander before or after dinner.
Develi Samatya FAQs
When was Develi founded?
The family business dates to 1912 and began in Samatya.
How do I get to Samatya?
Take the Marmaray line to Kocamustafapaşa station, a short walk from the restaurant.