The best Turkish meze bars and meyhanes in London
Eight Turkish meze bars and meyhanes in London for long evenings of small plates, from a Bosphorus-style fish meyhane on Green Lanes to a Black Sea meze bar in Camden.
Last updated November 2026
In Turkey, the meyhane is a tavern built around meze: cold plates first, then hot ones, then perhaps fish or a grill, all over several hours and usually with rakı. London’s Turkish meze bars range from that traditional evening to modern restaurants with cocktail lists.
Quick picks
- Best traditional meyhane: Sarıyer Balık, Newington Green
- Best for regional meze: Laz, Camden
- Best late-night meze: Akşam Güneşi Meze Bar, Edmonton
- Best meze set menus: Ev, Southwark
Turkish Dish recommends
The best Turkish meze bars in London
1. Sarıyer Balık, Newington Green
A family-run fish restaurant and meyhane named after a Bosphorus district, serving fish and rakı since 1990. It was named Best Turkish Restaurant at the Time Out Eating and Drinking Awards in 2002.
Order: Fava, kısır, haydari and ezme from the cold meze list, then grilled sea bass or hamsi.
2. Laz, Camden
A Turkish meze restaurant and bar on Parkway in a narrow room of rough wooden tables, tiles and bare brick. Many dishes come from Anatolian and Black Sea home cooking.
Order: Barbunya pilaki, Hemşin muhlaması and crispy mantı. Go on a live music night.
3. Akşam Güneşi Meze Bar, Edmonton
An evening meze bar on Hertford Road that keeps meyhane hours, opening at 6.30pm and running into the early hours. The name means “evening sun”.
Order: A spread of cold meze and hot starters to share; there is no menu online, so ask what is on.
4. Ev Restaurant, Southwark
A large restaurant, bar and deli in the railway arches behind Southwark station, from the Tas group.
Order: One of the meze set menus: the Ev Meze, the Deniz Meze for fish lovers, or the vegan meze selection.
5. Lokma, Westfield Stratford
A colourful restaurant and bar inside Westfield Stratford City with a very Turkish meze list.
Order: Pembe sultan, patlıcan ezme, mücver and hummus kavurma.
6. Payiz, Lewisham
A restaurant, café and cocktail bar near Lewisham station, open since 2021.
Order: Kısır, tarama and patlıcan söğürme, then sigara böreği and hummus kavurma.
7. Hisar Meze Bar, Beckenham
A stylish, intimate dining room on Beckenham High Street, with a daily bottomless brunch.
Order: Kısır with hazelnut, şakşuka and pancar salata, then Arnavut ciğeri.
8. Reina Meze Grill, Hornchurch
A meze and grill restaurant just off Hornchurch High Street with a full bar.
Order: Hummus, kısır and yaprak sarma, then the yoghurt kebabs.
Turkish meze bars in London
How a meyhane evening works
- Cold meze arrive first, often brought on a tray to choose from: cacık, haydari, ezme, fava, olive-oil vegetables.
- Then hot meze (ara sıcak): börek, mücver, fried calamari, Arnavut ciğeri.
- Then the main course, usually fish in a meyhane, or a grill.
- Then fruit and dessert, often melon with white cheese, and Turkish coffee.
Take your time. A meyhane evening is about conversation as much as food.
Frequently asked questions
What is a meyhane?
A Turkish tavern where people gather for meze, fish and rakı over a long evening. The word comes from the Persian for “wine house”.
What do you drink at a meze bar?
Rakı, the aniseed spirit, diluted with water and ice until it turns cloudy. Wine and beer are common too, and ayran for those not drinking.
How many meze should I order?
Two or three per person to start is plenty, more if meze is the whole meal.
Browse all meze restaurants and meyhanes in London, or see Turkish seafood restaurants.
