Restaurants and Cafes for Sale and Rent in Istanbul

Foreigners can buy restaurant premises in Istanbul, take over a running restaurant or cafe (a devren business), or lease an empty unit and fit it out. Whichever route you choose, confirm three things before paying: the building suits food use, the licences are in place or obtainable, and the lease and the landlord's consent are secure. Bosphorus Brokers is a licensed Istanbul broker that finds and checks food-use units and businesses for foreign clients, as part of our commercial property service.

Should you buy the premises, take over a business or sign a new lease?

Each route suits a different client. Investors generally buy premises, either with a restaurant tenant in place or to let to one. Operators who want to trade soon look at devren businesses. Operators with a clear concept and time to fit out often prefer a new lease.

If you are buying premises as an investment with a tenant in place, the checks are close to those for a let shop; see our page on shops for sale and rent in Istanbul.

Which licences does a restaurant or cafe need in Istanbul?

• Workplace opening and operating licence (işyeri açma ve çalışma ruhsatı) from the municipality. The building needs the right zoning and an occupancy permit (iskan, or yapı kullanma izin belgesi).
• A separate permit for alcohol. If your business plan depends on serving wine or beer, confirm what applies at that exact address before you agree a price or key money.
• A building that suits food use. A kitchen needs ventilation and an extraction route, usually a duct to roof level, plus enough power or gas, drainage and fire safety. An attractive unit with no workable extraction route is not a restaurant unit.
• Neighbours and building management. In a building with flats above, the management plan (yönetim planı) and the other owners can restrict cooking smells, ducts on the façade, noise or terrace use. Read the plan and speak to the building manager before signing.

Licence applications are made by the operator, often with an accountant or licensing consultant. Our role is to check what already exists and flag gaps before you commit.

What should you verify before taking over a restaurant business?

A devren transfer means buying someone else's business, so ask the seller for documents, not assurances. Our request list covers:

• The lease: remaining term, current rent, increase clause and deposit. On renewal, increases may not exceed the 12-month CPI (TÜFE) average (Code of Obligations No. 6098, Art. 344), and deposits are capped at three months' rent (Art. 342).
• Landlord consent: assigning a workplace lease needs the landlord's written consent, which cannot be refused without just cause (Art. 323). Get it in writing, ideally with the rent and term you will hold.
• Licences: which licences and permits exist, whether they are in a person's or a company's name, and what a change of operator requires.
• Staff: who works there, on what terms, and who is expected to stay.
• Equipment list: itemised, with condition, and whether each item is owned, leased or still being paid for.
• Debts: unpaid rent, utilities, suppliers, service charges, tax and staff obligations.
• Trading records: sales and costs over at least a full year, so seasonal swings are visible.

A costly and common mistake is paying key money before the landlord has agreed anything. Have your accountant and lawyer review the accounts, the debts and the transfer agreement before any payment is made.

Which Istanbul areas suit restaurants and cafes?

Location decides the type of trade more than the size of the unit.

• Tourist areas: Sultanahmet in Fatih, Beyoğlu and Galata, and Karaköy draw international visitors. Trade follows the season, so ask for records covering a full year. See our Beyoğlu neighbourhood guide.
• Neighbourhood dining: Kadıköy, Bağdat Caddesi and Nişantaşı rely on residents and repeat customers, so the catchment and the competition nearby matter most. See our Kadıköy neighbourhood guide.
• Business districts: in Levent, Maslak, Mecidiyeköy, Ataşehir and Kozyatağı, weekday lunch and after-work trade follows office workers, and weekends can be quiet.
• Outside Istanbul: we also work in Antalya, Bodrum and Fethiye, where coastal trade is strongly seasonal.

How can a foreigner set up and run a restaurant in Turkey?

Owning the premises as an individual is possible within the general limits on foreign ownership in Title Deed Law No. 2644 (Art. 35). Running the business is a separate matter, usually handled through a company established in Turkey, with work and residence permits for you and any foreign staff. Company set-up and permits are for a lawyer or accountant to organise; our Turkey residence permit guide explains the residence side.

A company established in Turkey with foreign capital can also acquire the property it needs for its activities, with permission from the governorship after a military and security assessment (Law No. 2644, Art. 36; Foreign Direct Investment Law No. 4875). Commercial units can qualify for Turkish citizenship by investment if worth at least USD 400,000 by official valuation and kept for at least three years. Our guide to buying commercial property in Turkey covers purchase costs and steps.

How does Bosphorus Brokers help with restaurants and cafes?

1. Brief: concept, cuisine, seating, budget, whether you will serve alcohol, and which route suits you.
2. Search: premises for sale, devren businesses and empty units, screened for food use before you view, in person or online.
3. Checks: title deed and iskan, zoning and licence position, extraction route, the building management plan and lease terms.
4. Seller request list: lease, landlord consent, licences, staff, equipment, debts and trading records, collected and passed to your advisers.
5. Negotiation: price, key money, rent and lease terms, including with the landlord where needed.
6. Completion: for a purchase, we arrange the tax number, bank account, valuation report, translator, notary and land-registry appointment, and accompany you at the title-deed transfer.

On a purchase of premises, our fee is 2% plus VAT, payable only on completion at the title-deed transfer. For business transfers and leases, the fee is agreed in writing before we start; see our fees.

Why do foreign restaurateurs work with us?

• Licensed: authorised by the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Trade, license no. 3408704.
• Founder-led: Burak Ünal is a licensed broker (licensing exam passed in 2021) with an MSc in Finance from the London School of Economics. His specialties include retail leasing and real-estate appraising, which is what a restaurant deal turns on: the lease behind the business, and whether the price makes sense. He advises personally in English, Turkish and French.
• Same fee for everyone: foreign and Turkish clients pay the same, with no foreigner pricing.
• Multilingual and remote: we work in English, Turkish, French, Russian, Chinese and Arabic, with online viewings and digital documents.
• Rated 5.0 on Google.

Tell us about your concept by WhatsApp on +90 533 140 04 96 or at contact@bosphorusbrokers.com.