Mardin is a breathtaking hilltop city in southeastern Turkey, perched at 1,000–1,300 metres above the Mesopotamian plain. Its old city of honey-coloured limestone houses, ancient churches, mosques, and monasteries reflects centuries of coexistence among Syriac Christians, Kurds, Arabs, and Turks. Narrow bazaar lanes, ornate Artuqid-era stonework, and sweeping views over the Syrian border plain make Mardin one of Turkey's most distinctive and rewarding destinations.
Mardin cuisine blends Turkish, Kurdish, Arabic, and Syriac culinary traditions. The cornerstone dishes are oruk (bulgur and meat croquettes), kaburga (slow-cooked lamb ribs), içli köfte, and a wide range of mezze. Pomegranate molasses (nar ekşisi), dried herbs, and chickpeas feature heavily. The city is also famed for meyan şerbeti (liquorice root drink) and high-quality baklava.
Must-try dishes
Iconic dishes that define Mardin.
Top restaurants
Handpicked picks for the best dining experiences.
Cercis Murat Konağı
This restaurant occupies a restored 19th-century Mardin stone mansion on Birinci Cadde, with the honey-coloured limestone facade and vaulted interior typical of the old town's houses. The kitchen serves Mardin-Kurdish home cooking rather than a shortened tourist menu, built around slow-cooked lamb and stuffed dumplings. Seating spans several small vaulted rooms and an upper terrace looking over the plain toward the Syrian border.
Known for: Mardin kaburga (slow-cooked lamb ribs), local mezze spreads
Birinci Cadde No.517, Mardin 47100, Turkey
Devr-i Alem Restaurant
Set in another converted stone house on Birinci Cadde in the Şehidiye quarter, this restaurant focuses on Mardin-Turkish dishes served family-style rather than as individual plated courses. Kuymak, the stretchy cheese-and-cornmeal fondue, is cooked to order and brought bubbling in its own pan. The dining rooms keep the low stone arches of the original house rather than being modernised.
Known for: Rooftop terrace with panoramic plain views
Şehidiye Mah. Birinci Cadde No.440, Mardin 47100, Turkey
Tarihi Mardin Kahvaltı Evi
Popular Turkish Breakfast restaurant in Mardin.
Known for: Mardin-style breakfast spread with local cheeses, olives, and herbs
Çarşı Mah., Mardin 47100, Turkey
Halil İbrahim Sofrası
Popular Mardin-Kurdish restaurant in Mardin.
Known for: Home-style Mardin cooking, lunch specials
Hamam Sokak No.7, Mardin 47100, Turkey
Özlem Kahvaltı
Popular Turkish Breakfast restaurant in Mardin.
Known for: Family-run; homemade jams and village butter
Birinci Cadde, Mardin 47100, Turkey
Dönercim Mardin
Popular Turkish restaurant in Mardin.
Known for: Iskender-style döner, lahmacun, pide
Ana Cadde No.5, Mardin 47100, Turkey
Bazarın İçi Lokantası
Popular Turkish-Kurdish Home Cooking restaurant in Mardin.
Known for: Bazaar worker lunches; cheapest sit-down meal in old city
Çarşı Sokak No.12, Mardin 47100, Turkey
Taş Ev Restoran
Popular Mardin fusion restaurant in Mardin.
Known for: Candlelit stone-room dining with city and plain views
Şehidiye Mah. No.22, Mardin 47100, Turkey
Restaurants by cuisine
Browse picks grouped by cuisine type.
Turkish
Mardin Çarşı Kebap Salonu
Known for: Adana kebab, beyti, şiş
Çarşı Cad. No.8, Mardin 47100, Turkey
Kervansaray Restoran
Known for: Open to non-guests; historic courtyard setting
Artuklu Kervansarayı, Birinci Cadde No.74, Mardin 47100, Turkey
Cumhuriyet Pastanesi
Known for: Mardin baklava with pistachios, kadayıf, Turkish tea
Cumhuriyet Meydanı No.2, Mardin 47100, Turkey
Şehir Lokantası
Known for: Cheap daily specials for local workers and students
Atatürk Bulvarı No.12, Mardin 47100, Turkey
Mezopotamya Café & Restaurant
Known for: Good coffee, Wi-Fi, and plain views — popular with travellers
Birinci Cadde No.120, Mardin 47100, Turkey
Ciğerci Mehmet Usta
Known for: Şanlıurfa-style fried liver, a local morning favourite
Pazar Yeri, Yenişehir, Mardin 47100, Turkey
Gülbahçe Restaurant
Known for: Garden barbecue popular with local families on weekends
Savur Yolu Km.3, Mardin 47100, Turkey
Bizim Fırın (Local Bakery)
Known for: Freshly baked lavash, simit, and Mardin-style stuffed pide
Çarşı Mah., Mardin 47100, Turkey
Kadayıfçı Emin Usta
Known for: Hand-made kadayıf and künefe — Mardin's best sweet shop
Birinci Cadde No.80, Mardin 47100, Turkey
Border
Nusaybin Sofrası
Known for: Arabic-influenced Kurdish cuisine; large portions
Vatan Cad. No.24, Mardin 47100, Turkey
Kurdish
Savur Ahşap Ev Restaurant
Known for: Trout and mountain herbs; cool mountain air away from Mardin heat
Savur Merkez, Savur, Mardin 47650, Turkey
Mardin
Artuklu Saray Restaurant
Known for: Rooftop dining with sweeping Mesopotamian plain views
Cumhuriyet Cad. No.5, Mardin 47100, Turkey
Mediterranean
Zeytindalı Meze Bar
Known for: Evening mezze with raki or local wine; live music some evenings
Birinci Cadde No.200, Mardin 47100, Turkey
Midyat
Midyat Lezzetleri
Known for: Midyat-style cooking; worth a stop on the Tur Abdin monastery circuit
Eski Midyat Mah., Midyat 47500, Turkey
Traditional Beverages
Meyan Şerbeti Kahvesi
Known for: Meyan (liquorice root) şerbeti — a regional traditional drink unique to Mardin
Çarşı Sokak No.1, Mardin 47100, Turkey
Village Breakfast
Bahçeli Kır Kahvaltısı
Known for: Open-air garden setting; village-style breakfast en route to Deyrulzafaran
Deyrulzafaran Yolu, Mardin 47100, Turkey
Village Home Cooking
Çınar Köy Sofrası
Known for: Village-style pit roasting on Sundays; communal dining
Çınar Köyü, Mardin 47100, Turkey
Food tours & tastings in Mardin
Eat your way through Mardin with a guide.
Browse food experiences in MardinWe may earn a commission from bookings made through these links.
Street food
Local flavours at affordable prices.
Food markets
Where locals shop and graze.
Dining etiquette & tips
Navigate the local food scene confidently.
Breakfast (kahvaltı) is a major event in Mardin — allow 1.5–2 hours
Many restaurants close on Sundays; check ahead
Ask for the daily special (günlük yemek) for best value
Raki or local wine pairs well with mezze in the evening
Tip 10% in sit-down restaurants; not expected at lokanta counters
Mardin cuisine is naturally meat-heavy; vegetarians will find mezze, lentil soup, stuffed vegetables, and egg dishes. Halal food is universal. Alcohol is served in some restaurants and hotels, though this is a predominantly Muslim city.
Food budget guide
What to expect at different price points.
| Level | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | $5-15/meal | Street food, local eateries, and simple restaurants. |
| Mid-range | $15-40/meal | Sit-down restaurants with good service and varied menus. |
| Upscale | $40+/meal | Fine dining, international cuisine, and premium experiences. |