Vegetarian Dining at Queb Rooftop: A Meat-Free Guide to Sultanahmet

Travelling as a vegetarian in Istanbul is easier than many visitors expect. Turkish cuisine has a long tradition of vegetable dishes cooked in olive oil, yoghurt-based mezes and pulses, and many of the country’s most loved plates are naturally meat-free. At Queb Rooftop, on the top floor of the Byzantium Hotel in Sultanahmet, our menu has a dedicated vegetarian and vegan section as well as many starters, salads, pastas and desserts that suit a vegetarian table. This guide walks you through the vegetarian options on our menu, explains which dishes are also suitable for vegans, and shares a few tips for ordering a meat-free dinner with a view of Hagia Sophia.

Vegetarian in Sultanahmet: What to Expect

Sultanahmet’s restaurants are often associated with kebabs and grills, and it is true that meat plays a big role in the neighbourhood’s food culture. But anyone who has shared a Turkish meze table knows that half of it is usually vegetables: smoky aubergine, roasted peppers, chickpeas, herbs, walnuts and yoghurt. Turkish home cooking also has a whole family of dishes called zeytinyağlılar, vegetables gently cooked in olive oil and served at room temperature. In other words, a vegetarian traveller in Istanbul does not need to survive on side dishes.

At Queb Rooftop we wanted a vegetarian guest to have a real choice: not one token plate, but enough options to build a complete dinner with starters, a main course and dessert. Whether you are fully vegetarian, vegan, or simply want a lighter meal after a long day of sightseeing, there is a lot to choose from.

The Vegetarian and Vegan Section of the Menu

Our à la carte menu has a section titled “Vegan / Vegetarian” with six dishes:

• Grilled Vegetables – a board of chargrilled courgette, aubergine, peppers, onion, tomato and mushrooms, served with rice and a yoghurt dip.
• Falafel – crispy chickpea fritters with fresh greens, lemon and two dipping sauces.
• Spinach Crepe – a thin crepe filled with sautéed spinach and baked with cheese.
• Vegetable Crepe – the same baked crepe, filled with mixed seasonal vegetables.
• Vegetarian Casserole – vegetables slow-cooked in the Turkish güveç style.
• Vegan Penne – a pasta dish prepared without animal products, and marked gluten-free on our menu.

The grilled vegetables, falafel and vegan penne are the natural choices for vegan guests, while the crepes contain cheese and are best for lacto-vegetarians. Because recipes and garnishes can change with the season, we always recommend telling your waiter about any dietary requirement, so the kitchen can confirm ingredients and adjust the dish where possible.

Falafel and Grilled Vegetables: Two Vegetarian Favourites

If you ask our staff which vegetarian dishes guests order most often, the answer is almost always the same: falafel and grilled vegetables. Falafel is beloved across the Eastern Mediterranean, and ours is made from seasoned chickpeas fried until the outside is crisp and the inside stays soft and green with herbs. It is served with lemon, fresh leaves and dipping sauces, which makes it easy to share as a starter or to enjoy as a light main course.

The Grilled Vegetables board is the more substantial choice. Courgette, aubergine, peppers, red onion, tomatoes and mushrooms are cooked on the grill until lightly charred, so they pick up a gentle smoky flavour. The board comes with rice and a yoghurt dip, and it is generous enough to be a full vegetarian dinner. Vegan guests can simply ask for the dish without the yoghurt.

Baked Crepes and Vegetarian Casserole

For something warm and comforting, our crepes are a good option, especially on cooler autumn evenings. The Spinach Crepe is filled with sautéed spinach and finished in the oven with cheese until golden on top. The Vegetable Crepe follows the same idea with a filling of mixed seasonal vegetables. Both arrive with a fresh garnish of cucumber, tomato and lemon, which keeps the plate light.

The Vegetarian Casserole is our nod to the Turkish güveç tradition. Vegetables are cooked slowly together so that the flavours concentrate and the sauce thickens. It is the most “Turkish” of the vegetarian mains and pairs beautifully with a bowl of rice. It is also one of the options in every one of our group set menus, so vegetarian guests travelling with a tour group or a company dinner are always covered.

Cold Mezes: The Vegetarian Heart of the Turkish Table

Many of the classic Turkish mezes on our menu are vegetarian, and they are the easiest way to start a meat-free dinner. Among the cold starters you will find:

• Hummus – chickpea purée with tahini, lemon and olive oil (vegan).
• Babagannush – smoky roasted aubergine with garlic and olive oil.
• Spicy Antep Paste – a finely chopped, spicy tomato and pepper salad from southeastern Turkey (vegan).
• Muhammara – roasted red pepper and walnut spread with pomegranate molasses (vegan).
• Haydari – thick strained yoghurt with herbs and garlic.
• Imam Bayildi – aubergine stuffed with onions and tomatoes, cooked in olive oil.

The Mixed Meze Platter for two brings five daily mezes together and is a lovely way to taste several at once; just let your waiter know you would like a vegetarian selection. If you want to learn more about each meze and how to order them, read our guide to the meze table at Queb Rooftop.

Warm Starters and Salads for a Vegetarian Dinner

The hot starters section also has several vegetarian dishes. Grilled Halloumi Cheese is salty, chewy and perfect with a squeeze of lemon. Garlic Mushroom is cooked in a sizzling clay dish, and the Spring Roll is our version of the Turkish sigara böreği, thin pastry rolls filled with cheese and dill. Even simple French Fries are welcome on a shared table.

Salads are another strong point for vegetarians. The Avocado Salad combines ripe avocado with orange, cucumber and tomato for a fresh, colourful plate, while the Greek Salad brings tomatoes, cucumber, olives and white cheese together in the classic Mediterranean way. The Capresse, with tomato, mozzarella and basil, appears both as a starter and as a salad. Any of these makes a good light lunch on the terrace; if you are planning a midday visit, our article on an unforgettable lunch experience in Sultanahmet has more ideas.

Pasta, Pizza and Pide Without Meat

If you or your children prefer something familiar, the International section of the menu has several vegetarian dishes. The Penne Arrabbiata is a simple, spicy tomato pasta, and the Three Cheese Tortellini is a rich, creamy choice. For pizza lovers there is the Margarita and the Vegetarian Pizza, and from the Turkish oven you can order a Cheese Pide, the boat-shaped flatbread that is one of the country’s favourite comfort foods. These dishes are particularly handy for families where some members are vegetarian and others are not, because everyone can order from the same section.

Vegetarian Desserts and Drinks

Almost every dessert on our menu is vegetarian, from the San Sebastian cheesecake and chocolate soufflé to the künefe with ice cream, the katmer and the carrot slice baklava. Vegan guests should ask the waiter, as most desserts contain butter, milk or eggs; a seasonal fruit platter is always a safe and refreshing choice. You can read about each dessert in our article on the dessert menu at Queb Rooftop.

To drink, fresh juices, lemonade, Turkish tea and Turkish coffee are all naturally vegetarian. Turkish coffee is a particularly good way to end a vegetarian dinner on the terrace, as the sky darkens and the minarets of the Blue Mosque light up.

Tips for Ordering a Vegetarian Dinner

• Tell us when you book. If you mention in your reservation that one or more guests are vegetarian or vegan, the kitchen can plan ahead.
• Ask about the soup of the day. Some soups are made with vegetable stock, others with meat stock; your waiter can check.
• Build a meze dinner. A mixed vegetarian meze platter, a salad and the grilled vegetables shared between two people make a complete and generous meal.
• Combine Turkish and international dishes. Start with hummus and muhammara, continue with a spinach crepe or vegan penne, and finish with fruit or dessert.
• Allergies are different from preferences. If you have a serious allergy, for example to nuts or gluten, please tell your waiter clearly so the kitchen can advise you.

Not sure what else to try during your stay? Our guide to what to eat in Sultanahmet covers the neighbourhood’s classic flavours, many of which are vegetarian.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Queb Rooftop have a vegetarian menu?

Yes. Our à la carte menu has a dedicated Vegan / Vegetarian section with grilled vegetables, falafel, spinach crepe, vegetable crepe, vegetarian casserole and vegan penne, plus many vegetarian starters, salads, pastas and desserts.

Are there vegan options?

Yes. Falafel, grilled vegetables and vegan penne are suitable for vegans, as are several cold mezes such as hummus, muhammara and the spicy Antep paste. Ask your waiter to confirm ingredients on the day.

Is there a gluten-free vegetarian dish?

The vegan penne is marked as gluten-free on our menu. For other dishes, please ask, and tell us if you have a medical requirement.

Can vegetarian guests join a group menu?

Yes. Each of our group set menus includes a Vegetarian Casserole option as the main course.

Conclusion

A vegetarian dinner in Sultanahmet does not have to be a compromise. At Queb Rooftop you can start with smoky babagannush and muhammara, share a board of grilled vegetables or a plate of falafel, enjoy a baked spinach crepe and finish with a seasonal fruit platter or Turkish coffee, all while looking out over Hagia Sophia and the Sea of Marmara. Whether you are vegetarian, vegan or simply in the mood for something lighter, our vegetarian menu is ready for you. Reserve your table, let us know your preferences, and enjoy the view.