Ethem Efendi Kahvaltı Erenköy
A traditional Turkish spread breakfast in the garden of a historic mansion in Erenköy, with the table refilled as you go. A classic for long weekend mornings.
Tables under the trees, endless tea and hot dishes arriving one after another. Ethem Efendi Kahvaltı serves a Turkish spread breakfast in a historic mansion on Ethemefendi Street in Erenköy, on the Asian side of Istanbul. This was the brand's first address. There are now a few other branches in the city, but the mansion and its gardens belong to Erenköy alone.
What to order
Everything here revolves around one big shared table. Serpme kahvaltı means a spread breakfast: many small plates set out at once and shared. At Ethem Efendi the plates are refilled as they empty. Expect cheeses from Kars and İzmir, olives and fresh greens. The best-known feature is the jam selection, which the house says runs to more than forty homemade varieties.
Hot dishes include menemen (eggs scrambled with tomato and pepper), gözleme (thin filled flatbread), pişi (fried dough) and muhlama, a Black Sea dish of cornmeal melted with cheese. Boyoz, a flaky pastry from İzmir, may also appear. Share a few hot dishes rather than trying to order everything.
Visiting tips
The mansion is a short walk from Erenköy station on the Marmaray line. Bağdat Avenue is a few streets away, so a post-breakfast stroll is easy.
On weekend mornings the garden fills quickly. If you are coming as a group, call ahead and ask about reservations. Weekdays are calmer. In cooler weather there is seating indoors and on the terrace.
Check the restaurant's accounts for current opening hours.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Ethem Efendi Kahvalti in Erenkoy?
On Ethemefendi Street in Erenköy, Kadıköy. It is a short walk from Erenköy station on the Marmaray line.
What kind of breakfast does Ethem Efendi serve?
A Turkish spread breakfast that is refilled as you eat, with cheeses, olives, over forty homemade jams and hot dishes such as menemen, gözleme and pişi.
Do I need to book for the weekend?
Weekend mornings are busy. If you are in a group, call ahead and ask about reservations.