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Café Istanbul, Manchester,

Café Istanbul

4.2 (30)
£26 to £40
Turkish
79/81 Bridge Street, Manchester, M3 2RH

Make a reservation

A photo of Café Istanbul restaurant

Café Istanbul

4.2
£26 to £40
Turkish
Manchester

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 2 times today

About this restaurant

  • Neighborhood gem
  • Good for special occasions
  • Great for brunch
Café Istanbul is Manchester’s longest established quality Turkish restaurant. Whether you’re a familiar face or a new guest, we’re positive you’ll find something different and exciting on our menu.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    £26 to £40
  • Cuisines
    Turkish, Mediterranean
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Thu, Sun 12:00 pm–10:30 pm Fri, Sat 12:00 pm–11:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    JCB, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive chef
    Ibrahim
  • Neighborhood
    Manchester
  • Parking details
    NCP car park down the Bridge Street 100 yards from the restaurant. House of Fraser car park round the corner.
  • Public transit
    Salford Central train station is a 7 minute walk away
  • Additional
    Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Wheelchair Access

Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

What 30 people are saying

Café Istanbul reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.2
4.2 based on recent ratings
  • 4.4Food
  • 4.4Service
  • 4.1Ambience
  • 4.0Value

NoiseEnergetic

30 Reviews
  1. Tracy

    Manchester1 review

    2.0

    Dined on April 4, 2026

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 1
    We have been coming to this establishment for a number of years and never had a problem, on this occasion there was base vibe music playing to the point the floor was jumping we asked the waitress what was going on and she said a nightclub had opened up downstairs! It really spoilt our evening we couldn’t hear ourselves speak so a conversation was out of the question! The menu’s are worn out and tatty and there was a lot of food on the floor that wasn’t being swept up after each person had finished with their table ! The food is OUTSTANDING please go back to how you used to be nice clean and tidy but it’s a no from us with all the speaker noise. And on top of all this they add a service charge ! Service charge in England should be optional as we work on minimum wage for everyone.

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  2. Colette

    Manchester3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 15, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Stunning food always to a high standard highly recommended

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  3. Chi

    London1 review

    5.0

    Dined on February 12, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We have visited Cafe Istanbul before and it’s our go to for Mediterranean food in Manchester. The service, quality and value for money is excellent.

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  4. Soliana

    Manchester1 review

    1.0

    Dined on January 31, 2026

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 1
    They rushed us to leave even though we wanted to spend time with friends after eating. They said they had a table reservation and kept telling us it was time to go, which felt very rude. The food was not good or tasty at all. Overall, it was a bad experience and I would not recommend this place.

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  5. Stacie

    Manchester7 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on January 10, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    A lovely family meal. Food is delicious and the staff are so helpful and friendly. We will definitely go back.

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  6. Pauline

    Manchester1 review

    3.0

    Dined on January 2, 2026

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 2
    It was a very cold day and it was extremely cold in the restaurant. The price of the lunchtime deal has increased quite steeply. Perhaps this was just for the Christmas period? We were given free coffees but it was still very coId. I suggest building an enclosed 'hall' near the door to keep the cold out and switching on/up the heating. I usually enjoy visiting Cafe Istanbul and will return. I hope heating issues will have been addressed by then.

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  7. Danny

    Edinburgh4 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on December 14, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    Benn here 4 or 5 times before, the chicken wings are always good.

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  8. Simon

    Derbyshire1 review

    5.0

    Dined on November 25, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Top quality food, cooked to perfection and served with a smile. What more could you ask for !

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  9. Kevin

    Manchester3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on November 1, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Thoroughly enjoyed our impromptu visit here. The staff were fabulous and friendly and spent time suggesting the perfect meal for us. The restaurant is bright, warm and welcoming and the food was packed with flavour. We thought that the bill was more than reasonable. Great place, just up from the train station and virtually opposite my favourite pub.

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  10. Daniel

    London1 review

    2.0

    Dined on October 17, 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    The restaurant has a nice interior and good ambience. Service was good and prompt. However, we found all of the dishes we ordered to be quite bland. Whilst the meats were all cooked well, there was no real flavour in anything we tried, other than the small plate of sauces which we ended up having to spread over our main meals. The restaurant feels incredibly expensive given the quality of food.

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Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    £26 to £40
  • Cuisines
    Turkish, Mediterranean
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Thu, Sun 12:00 pm–10:30 pm Fri, Sat 12:00 pm–11:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    JCB, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive chef
    Ibrahim
  • Neighborhood
    Manchester
  • Parking details
    NCP car park down the Bridge Street 100 yards from the restaurant. House of Fraser car park round the corner.
  • Public transit
    Salford Central train station is a 7 minute walk away
  • Additional
    Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Wheelchair Access

FAQs

Yes, Café Istanbul can make a lovely date-night spot thanks to its warm, bright interior and consistently praised Turkish dishes. Guests often highlight the friendly service and packed-with-flavour plates, which create a good shared-dining experience. Note that the atmosphere can vary: some guests report lively or very noisy evenings (a nightclub downstairs was mentioned), and staff occasionally rush tables when there are reservations. For a relaxed evening, pick an earlier midweek seating or call ahead to request a quieter table.

Café Istanbul is open for daytime and evening service. Regular hours are Mon–Thu and Sun 12:00–22:30, and Fri–Sat 12:00–23:00. Because evenings can be busy, especially on weekends, it’s a good idea to book ahead if you plan to visit for dinner. If you need specific holiday hours or special-service times, call the restaurant to confirm.

Midweek days (Tuesday–Thursday) or a Sunday lunchtime are often the best choices for a relaxed visit, you’ll find the restaurant’s warm atmosphere without the same weekend bustle. Friday and Saturday evenings tend to be livelier and can be noisy, so pick a weekday or earlier service if you prefer quieter dining and more time to linger.

Family-friendly: yes, guests frequently visit with family and describe friendly, helpful staff and enjoyable family meals. Accessible seating: not specified in the available information, so call ahead if you need step-free access, wheelchair space, or other accessibility accommodations. The team seems helpful based on guest feedback and will likely assist with seating requests if you phone before you arrive.

Café Istanbul offers casual indoor seating in a bright, welcoming dining room rather than private dining rooms. The owner information lists no private-party or private-dining option, so larger private events aren’t available on-site. For standard bookings you can reserve tables; if you need a specific layout or table for a celebration, call ahead to discuss options and availability.

Busiest: Friday and Saturday evenings are most likely to be busy and lively, guests report weekend crowds and occasional noise. Quietest: midweek evenings and lunchtime (Mon–Thu, early weekday evenings) are generally calmer and better for a relaxed meal. Because several guests noted being hurried for later reservations, aim for off-peak hours if you want a longer, unhurried visit.

Yes, families dine here and guests often celebrate family meals at Café Istanbul. The staff are frequently described as helpful and friendly, and the dining room suits family gatherings. There’s no menu information indicating a dedicated kids’ menu, so for very young children consider an earlier seating, and call ahead to check whether the team can tailor portions or dishes for kids.

The best time is typically weekday lunchtimes or early weekday evenings when the restaurant feels more relaxed. Guests praise the food and service on regular visits, but several reports note busy or noisy Friday–Saturday evenings and occasions when staff need tables back for reservations. If you want a quieter, unhurried meal, aim for a Monday–Thursday evening or a lunchtime slot and book ahead to be safe.

Smart casual is the recommended dress code, so aim for neat, comfortable clothing rather than sportswear or beachwear. This fits the restaurant’s relaxed yet tidy atmosphere, a good choice whether you’re visiting for a casual date, family meal, or an evening out.

Yes, it’s best to call ahead for special requests. Guests report helpful staff who will suggest dishes and accommodate preferences, so ring the restaurant to ask about dietary needs, seating location, or to note any celebration. The restaurant accepts major cards (Visa and Mastercard) but not Amex, which is helpful to confirm for large parties or specific billing requests.

Overall the ambience is warm and welcoming with a bright interior and friendly staff, making it a comfortable spot for meals near the train station. That said, guest experiences vary: many praise the flavour and service, while a few mention the restaurant becoming very noisy (noise from a downstairs nightclub) or feeling rushed when tables are needed for later bookings. Expect authentic Turkish dining with a lively, casual vibe most evenings.

How FAQ content is generated

  1. Home
  2. United Kingdom
  3. Manchester/Greater Manchester
  4. Manchester
  5. Manchester

Make a reservation

A photo of Café Istanbul restaurant

Café Istanbul

4.2
£26 to £40
Turkish
Manchester

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 2 times today
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