Join us on a flavorful journey through Istanbul’s best wine bars—where local grapes, bold culinary offerings, and distinctive atmospheres come together in perfect harmony.

In my previous piece, I shared a vision of what my dream wine bar would look like. Naturally, the next step was to explore how closely Istanbul’s wine bars align with that ideal. I embarked on an in-depth search to curate this list, scouring every source I could find. I dove into social media pages, studied customer reviews, and asked prominent voices in the wine world the all-important question: “What truly defines a wine bar?”

After thorough research, we landed on eight venues that genuinely earn the title of “wine bar”—each doing justice to the craft. Four of them are located in Taksim and will be the focus of our next article. Today, we turn our attention to one standout on the Asian side and several gems scattered across the European side. So without further ado, here are the best wine bars in Istanbul


Wayana Wine Bar

With its cozy and memorable name, Wayana is the sole representative from the Asian side on our list—but it certainly doesn’t play second fiddle. In fact, its remarkable and diverse wine selection has citywide impact. The story begins in Moda, where the team behind Wayana took over the beloved Beppe Pizzeria. Seeking a new adventure, they transformed the space entirely, reopening it in the summer of 2022 as a wine-focused destination. Today, Wayana boasts an impressive menu featuring around 450 wines from over 100 local producers—all exclusively Turkish. And here’s the real headline: every single one of those wines is available by the glass, thanks to the ingenious Coravin system. Globally, there are few places—let alone in Istanbul—that offer such a vast selection by the glass.

Istanbul's Best Wine Bars

Standard pours come in 15cl, but the real magic lies in the flexibility: you can opt for half or even quarter glasses, allowing you to taste and explore endlessly. In fact, while chatting with the staff, we heard about a British tourist who sampled 27 different wines during his visit. Hats off to that adventurous palate! Wayana shines with its open, playful format—inviting you to discover local varietals, old vintages, and an array of whites, oranges, rosĂ©s, and reds from across Turkey. A true wine bar in every sense, Wayana serves only wine—no other drinks. You’re welcomed with a delicate “Hello Wine” pour as soon as you’re seated, setting the tone as you dive into their dizzying menu. Wines are served at the perfect temperature, sometimes chilled with precision instruments, and aerated with the help of modern tech to bring them to you exactly “as they should be.”