Safranbolu's food scene is focused on the old bazaar and is good without being remarkable. The town's signature dish is keşkek — slow-cooked wheat and lamb, pounded to a smooth consistency and flavoured with butter, traditionally served at weddings and festivals. Gözleme (stuffed flatbreads cooked on a griddle), börek, and various meat dishes make up the core of most menus. The sweet shop tradition in the bazaar is excellent: look for the traditional Turkish delight makers who sell fresh, unpackaged lokum in flavours that have nothing to do with the tourist versions sold elsewhere.
Several restaurants in the bazaar have outdoor seating in the courtyard of the Cinci Han during summer, which is the nicest setting in town. The Cinci Han hotel restaurant itself serves a reasonable set menu. For a more local experience, the small diner-style places on the side streets off the main bazaar strip serve working lunches at low prices.