Best Restaurants in Rize 2026: Black Sea Fish, Mıhlama and Valley Eating

Rize’s restaurant scene is small and oriented toward the local population. There is no tourist restaurant strip — the city is not a major tourist destination — which means the eating is honest, cheap, and genuinely local. The lokantas serve the Black Sea daily menu; the fish restaurants serve hamsi in season; the valley guesthouses in Ayder and Fırtına provide the most distinctive eating experience.

For food context, see food to try in Rize.

City lokantas

The lokantas in the Rize city market area and the commercial centre serve the standard Black Sea menu — mıhlama, hamsi (in season), corn-based dishes, soups, and the daily stews.

Price: ₺120–190 for a full meal.

Best for: Mıhlama, daily fish, honest cheap eating.

Fish restaurants (hamsi season)

During the hamsi season (October–February), several restaurants along the coast road and in the city specifically promote fresh anchovy menus. The hamsi pilavı and tava hamsi are the core orders.

Price: ₺200–400/person.

Ayder valley restaurants

The restaurants in Ayder serve the mountain version of Black Sea food — trout from the cold rivers, mıhlama with Hemşin cheese, Hemşin böreği for dessert, and fresh mountain tea.

Setting: Tables beside the stream or with mountain views. The food is fresher than the city versions.

Price: ₺200–350/person.

Fırtına Valley guesthouses (full board)

The Çamlıhemşin valley guesthouses serve homemade Black Sea food to their guests — often the best Black Sea cooking in the region. Locally sourced: butter, cheese, eggs, honey all from local farms; fish from the river or the coast.

Price: ₺600–1,200/person/day full board (accommodation + all meals).

Price comparison

Type	Location	Price/person
City lokanta	Rize centre	₺120–190
Fish restaurant (season)	City	₺200–400
Ayder restaurant	Mountain village	₺200–350
Valley guesthouse (full board)	Fırtına	₺600–1,200/day

For food context and specific dishes, see food to try in Rize. For hotel options including valley guesthouses with full board, see best hotels in Rize.