My visit to Istanbul last year included some of the city’s best high-end gourmet venues, which is how I discovered one of the best restaurants of the year. So on this trip, I did something I don’t normally do: I arrived with no dinner reservations.

As it happens, it’s all but impossible to dine out in Istanbul without finding something fantastic to write about. From a historic restaurant hidden above the spice market to a swanky neighborhood wine bar, these unexpected dining highlights reminded me that Istanbul is one of the most delicious cities in the world.

Yeni Lokanta

After a morning of museum-hopping, we ducked in for a late lunch at this beautifully tiled modern eatery near the Pera Palace Hotel. The friendly waitstaff talked us through the dishes in English and recommended wine: a crisp and floral Chamlija “Quartz Fumé” Sauvignon Blanc from Thrace in western Turkey.