A real Turkish lokanta near the Old Town.
Turkish home cooking from big trays, run by a father and his son near Hadrian's Gate in Antalya.
What is a lokanta?
An esnaf lokantası (“tradesmen's restaurant”) is Turkey's neighbourhood canteen, where people who work nearby eat lunch. Hot dishes wait in big trays at the counter. You look, point at what you like, and get a half or full portion. There's no printed menu: you see the food before you choose.
What's in the trays
White beans, chickpeas, lentil soup, sarma, stuffed peppers, köfte, bulgur pilaf and olive-oil vegetables. The menu changes every day, depending on what's fresh.
See the food →4 minutes from Hadrian's Gate
We're right behind the Muratpaşa Kaymakamlığı (the district governor's office): a 4-minute walk from Hadrian's Gate, and a short walk from Kaleiçi, the Old Town.
Get me there →Family-run
A father and his son, with the same team, have run Baba Mutfağı for about six years. Our guests rate us 4.9 across 828 Google reviews.
Our story →How it works
- 1
Look
See the trays at the counter.
- 2
Point
Half or full portion.
- 3
Sit
Tuck in.
- 4
Tea
After lunch, on us.
Good to know
What is Baba Mutfağı?
A family-run esnaf lokantası, a Turkish home-cooking restaurant, in Muratpaşa, Antalya, near Hadrian's Gate. A father and his son have run it for about six years.
Where exactly are you?
Haşimişcan, 1251. Sk. No:24, Muratpaşa, Antalya. About a 4-minute walk from Hadrian's Gate (Üç Kapılar), and a short walk from Kaleiçi, the Old Town.
When are you open?
Monday to Saturday, 11:30 to 17:30. Closed on Sunday. We cook for lunch, and the trays are fullest before 4 pm.
What kind of food do you serve?
Traditional Turkish home cooking: soups, stews, köfte, dolma and sarma, olive-oil vegetables, pilafs and salads. The menu changes every day.
What is a lokanta?
Turkey's neighbourhood canteen. Hot dishes wait in big trays at the counter: you look, point, and get a half or full portion. The menu changes every day.
Do you have vegan or vegetarian dishes?
Yes, vegan and vegetarian dishes are available: olive-oil vegetables, beans, lentils and veggie stews. Ask at the counter which ones are meat-free today.
Do you deliver?
Yes. Call 0541 133 40 41 for delivery. We also cook for offices and group orders.
Is there an English menu?
There's no printed menu: you see the food at the counter. Our team will walk you through every dish, and many guests mention the help in English.
Are you inside Kaleiçi?
Just outside it, near Hadrian's Gate, a short walk from the Old Town.
Do I need a reservation?
No, just walk in. You choose your food at the counter.
I don't speak Turkish. How do I order?
Just point at the trays. Our team will tell you what each dish is.
Do locals eat here?
Yes, every day: shopkeepers, bankers, teachers and families. Travellers find us through Google.
Is the tea free?
Yes. A glass of Turkish tea after your meal is on us.