The MICHELIN Guide Türkiye has released its 2026 restaurant selection, naming Vino Locale as the country’s newest Two-Star restaurant and welcoming Cappadocia into the Guide for the first time.
The announcement introduces 54 new restaurants across the country and expands recognition to 115 total MICHELIN-Selected establishments nationwide. The Inspectors selected 18 new venues from Cappadocia, noting the region’s heritage-driven cooking and deep rooted hospitality.
The new Two-Star recognition positions Vino Locale as the first restaurant in Izmir to reach this level and the second in Türkiye overall, joining TURK FATİH TUTAK. The 2026 selection also features three restaurants newly awarded One Star, and 16 new Bib Gourmands, along with four Green Stars for sustainability leadership. Additional MICHELIN Special Awards highlight emerging talent, sommellerie excellence and service leadership.
Vino Locale rises to Two Stars
Vino Locale, led by Chef Ozan Kumbasar, advances from one to two MICHELIN Stars after first being recognized in Izmir in 2024. Inspectors praised the restaurant’s approach to local terroir paired with subtle global influences. The Guide states that Ozan and Seray Kumbasar’s work showcases seasonal ingredients across menus that span land, sea and vegetables, while wine pairings and service reflect “deep professionalism and warmth.”
According to the announcement, Vino Locale is now the first Two-Star venue in Izmir and the second nationwide. The achievement places the restaurant alongside TURK FATİH TUTAK at the top of Türkiye’s MICHELIN landscape. The Guide describes the restaurant as tucked within a leafy setting outside Izmir, offering cuisine shaped by heritage ingredients, technique and identity.
The Inspectors confirmed that Cappadocia’s debut represents significant national expansion, with restaurants grounded in regional cooking traditions that trace back generations. Many venues highlighted in the selection focus on ancestral recipes, local produce, fermentation and slow-cooked flavors.
Cappadocia enters the MICHELIN Guide for the first time
Cappadocia appears in the MICHELIN Guide Türkiye for the first time, with 18 establishments added to the 2026 list. Revithia earns the region’s first MICHELIN Star, recognized for cuisine “inspired by nearly forgotten recipes” and served within the UNESCO-listed Kayakapı site. Dishes highlighted include lamb cooked in milk, fermented grains, tarhana soup and condiments rooted in local tradition. Chef Duran Özdemir’s menu is described as vibrant and expressive.
In Istanbul, Araf, run by Chefs Kenan Çetinkaya and Pınar Korgan Çetinkaya, gains its first Star for open-fire counter dining driven by ingredient quality and technique. Mezra Yalıkavak becomes Muğla’s new One-Star restaurant, with Chef Serhat Doğramacı operating from a farm-based setting where wood fire, marinating and fermentation shape the menu.
With these additions, the total number of One-Star restaurants in Türkiye increases to 15. The MICHELIN Guide notes that selection indicators reflect taste, product quality, mastery of technique, personality of cuisine, value and consistency.
The Guide also confirms 16 new Bib Gourmands — now 39 in total — recognizing restaurants that offer high-quality dining at accessible prices. Izmir gains Kemal’in Yeri Mülkiyeliler Birliği and Partal Kardeşler Balık Restorant, while Mandalya and Mezegi represent Muğla. Five Cappadocia venues receive Bib Gourmand status, with Babayan Evi also receiving a Green Star for sustainable practice.
Four new Green Stars highlight environmental stewardship at TURK FATİH TUTAK in Istanbul, Orfoz in Muğla, Teruar Urla in Izmir, and Babayan Evi in Cappadocia. Criteria include supply-chain transparency, local sourcing, circular-waste management and long-term sustainability commitment.
Three MICHELIN Special Awards appear in the 2026 announcement. The MICHELIN Young Chef Award is given to Duru Akgül of Yakamengen III in Muğla for work that blends regional identity with international perspective. The MICHELIN Sommelier Award goes to Ersin Topkara of Neolokal in Istanbul for wine pairing and Turkish varietal expertise. The MICHELIN Service Award is awarded to Ezgi Serdaroğlu at Teruar Urla for dining-room leadership and guest experience coordination.
The 2026 MICHELIN Guide Türkiye marks continued growth across the country’s gastronomy landscape, spanning Istanbul, Izmir, Muğla and Cappadocia. The Inspectors describe a culinary sector defined by heritage, sustainability and regional diversity, strengthened by new talent and first-time entries. With 54 new additions and Vino Locale elevated to Two Stars, Türkiye’s position in global fine dining continues to expand.
Explore the 2026 selection of The MICHELIN Guide Türkiye.
