Antiochia Asmalımescit is a restaurant on General Yazgan Sokak, a side street near the Tünel end of İstiklal Caddesi. It serves the food of Hatay, the southeastern region around Antakya, which was known in antiquity as Antiochia.
The menu centres on meze, grilled meats and the Antakya dürüm, a crisp wrap cooked on the grill. The restaurant also has a small shop section with regional products and large soap sculptures, which makes it feel like a short trip to Antakya in the middle of Beyoğlu.
Quick Facts
| Turkish name | Antiochia |
|---|---|
| Address | Asmalımescit Mahallesi, General Yazgan Sokak No: 3, Beyoğlu, İstanbul |
| District | Beyoğlu |
| Metro | Şişhane (M2, A short walk uphill towards Tünel) Tünel (F2, Leave the funicular, walk through Tünel Geçidi and turn left) |
| Best time to visit | Weekday lunch is calmer. Evenings are busiest, and the restaurant is closed on Sundays. The kitchen may close earlier than the restaurant, so arrive before about 22:00. |
| Recommended duration | 1–1.5 hours |
| Cuisine | Hatay (Antakya) meze, grills and desserts |
| Reservations | Several listings recommend reservations; the restaurant has a booking page on its site. |
| Website | antiochiaconcept.com |
Reservations and Ordering at Antiochia
Several listings recommend reservations, and the restaurant has a booking page on its site.
- Booking: reserve ahead for evenings and groups.
- Walk-in: possible on weekdays, especially at lunch.
- Delivery: a map listing mentions food delivery; check the current service.
Check the venue directly for current details.
Why Visit Antiochia?
Antiochia gives a clear, focused introduction to Hatay cooking. The meze table shows the region’s spiced, herb-rich flavours, and the grilled dishes are served in forms you rarely see on a standard kebab menu.
It also sits in a convenient spot. The restaurant is a short walk from the Tünel funicular and the Şişhane metro, and close to Galata and İstiklal, so it fits easily into an evening in Beyoğlu.
Highlights of Antiochia
The Antakya dürüm
The best-known dish is the Antakya dürüm. A flatbread is spread with an oily red pepper paste from Hatay, filled with meat and folded, then grilled until crisp.
Visitors often say it tastes close to the version served in Antakya.
Tip: Order a dürüm to share if you want to leave room for meze.
Hatay meze
Meze include cevizli biber, a pepper and walnut salad with pomegranate sauce, muhammara and a thyme salad with green olives and olive oil.
The flavours reflect the region's Levantine influences and the local olive oil and thyme.
Tip: Order several meze for the table and add bread.
Paper kebab and katıklı ekmek
Other dishes on the menu include kağıt kebabı, meat baked in paper, and katıklı ekmek, a bread with a yoghurt-based topping, as well as grilled skewers.
These show the variety of Hatay cooking beyond the usual kebab.
Tip: Ask the staff which grill dish they recommend if you are unsure.
Künefe
Dessert is künefe, the hot cheese pastry soaked in syrup, which is a speciality of the Hatay region. It is a popular way to finish the meal.
Portions are generous enough to share.
Tip: Order the künefe as you finish your main course so it arrives hot.
A shop with soap sculptures
Part of the restaurant is a shop selling regional products, engravings and large sculptures made of soap. It reflects the restaurant's aim to keep Antakya's culture alive.
It is worth a look before or after your meal.
Tip: Look for olive oil soap and regional products as souvenirs.
A first-floor dining room
The restaurant is on the first floor, with a small entrance that is easy to miss. Inside, the rooms are cosy and the atmosphere is lively.
The room can be noisy at busy times.
Tip: Look for the entrance on General Yazgan Sokak and ask for a quieter table when booking.
What to Order
- Antakya dürüm
- Cevizli biber (pepper and walnut salad)
- Muhammara
- Thyme salad with green olives
- Kağıt kebabı (paper kebab)
- Künefe
Atmosphere
Antiochia is small, busy and decorative. Warm lighting, regional objects and the soap sculptures give the rooms a distinct character, and the tables are close together. At busy times it can be loud.
Lunch is calmer, with a mix of locals and visitors, while evenings fill up with groups and couples. The kitchen is focused on Hatay dishes, and the staff are used to guiding guests through unfamiliar items.
History of Antiochia
Antakya, the capital of Hatay province, stands on the site of ancient Antiochia, one of the great cities of the ancient world. Its cooking draws on Levantine, Ottoman and Mediterranean traditions, with local olive oil, thyme and spices.
The restaurant named after the ancient city opened in Asmalımescit, and a feature by yemek.com says its recipes have been on the menu since 2008. The chef is Bülent Özkurt.
Asmalımescit itself is a small district near the Tünel exit, full of cafes, restaurants and bars in 19th-century buildings.
How to Get to Antiochia
Antiochia is on General Yazgan Sokak in Asmalımescit, close to the Tünel exit.
- Funicular: take the Tünel funicular (F2) from Karaköy, walk through Tünel Geçidi and turn left.
- Metro: take the M2 to Şişhane and walk a few minutes uphill towards Tünel.
- On foot: from İstiklal Caddesi’s Tünel end, turn into the side streets of Asmalımescit.
The entrance is small and on an upper floor, so use a map app to find it.
Food Nearby
Asmalımescit and the Tünel area have many restaurants and meyhanes. Fıccın on Kallavi Sokak serves Circassian and Turkish home cooking nearby, and Cafe Privato near Galata Tower is known for breakfast.
What to Bring
Comfortable shoes for the cobbled streets around Tünel and a reservation on busy evenings.
Family Suitability
Sharing plates and grilled dishes suit families, and the menu includes vegetarian and vegan options. The restaurant is on an upper floor with a small entrance, so check stairs and stroller access with the venue.
Istanbul Vibes Tips
- Book a table for evenings; the restaurant is small and popular.
- Start with several meze, then share a dürüm and a grill.
- Remember that the restaurant is closed on Sundays.
- Browse the shop section for regional products before leaving.
- Use a map app; the entrance on General Yazgan Sokak is easy to miss.
- Pair the meal with a walk around Tünel and Galata.
Explore Nearby Antiochia
Restaurants and cafes near Antiochia
FıccınMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Cafe PrivatoMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
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FAQ: Antiochia
What kind of food does Antiochia serve?
The cuisine of Hatay, the southeastern region around Antakya: meze, grilled dishes, the Antakya dürüm and desserts such as künefe.
Where is it?
On General Yazgan Sokak in Asmalımescit, Beyoğlu, close to the Tünel exit of the funicular and about 150 metres from Şişhane metro.
What are the opening hours?
The restaurant's own site shows weekday opening from 12:00 to 24:00 and Sunday closed. Other listings differ, so check with the venue.
Do I need a reservation?
Several listings recommend reservations, especially for evenings. The restaurant has a booking page on its site.
Is it expensive?
It sits at a moderate level (₺₺). Costs depend on how many meze and grills you order.
Are there vegetarian options?
Yes, the meze and salads include many vegetarian dishes, and listings mention vegan and gluten-free options. Ask the staff what suits you.
What is the Antakya dürüm?
A flatbread wrap spread with Hatay red pepper paste, filled with meat and grilled until crisp. It is the restaurant's best-known dish.
Is there a shop?
Yes, part of the restaurant sells regional products, engravings and soap sculptures from Antakya.
Istanbul Vibes is a one-person project. A coffee keeps it going
Local Dishes to Try Here
DurumMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
KebabMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
KunefeMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
MezeMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
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This guide is created with the help of AI and is based on official sources where available. Mistakes can still happen. Opening hours, prices, rules and other details are given to the best of our knowledge as of the date shown and can change without notice. It offers general recommendations only, not professional, legal or travel advice. Please confirm important details with the official source before you travel; you are responsible for your own plans and decisions.
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