Being a crowded metropolitan city, Istanbul has great dining offers that would just be too hard to cover in any blog entry. From cheaper and less elegant small scale artisan restaurants to global and posh bar/lounge/restaurants and to 7 star hotel kitchens, there are just too many “diners’ spots” in Istanbul. Hence, the first of the diners’ spots articles in Istanbul will start with those spots with fantastic birds’ eye views of the city.
At all times, when in the city, by far the best view is found at the Mikla Restaurant. Mikla is located on the rooftop of the Marmara Pera Hotel. In summers, the restaurant also has an open air bar that almost has a 360 degree view of the city and the Bosphorus. It is highly recommended to arrive at the restaurant at least half an hour before for drinks at the bar. The food and wine selection at the restaurant are also very good. There a certain number of main course dishes, which are accompanied by a list of small side dishes. The small side dishes are really small, so if you have a good appetite order at least two side dishes and share.
For many in the city, the closest competitor to Mikla would be 360 Restaurant along the Istiklal Street. 360 is one of the first upscale places that opened up in Beyoglu and thus led the way for it to become one of the most sophisticated and cultural places in Istanbul, where the art and the artist, the writer, the musician, the bohemian and the intellect meet with the rest of the city of Istanbul. That said, 360 is not one of my favorite places. I appreciate its glamour and its visual offering for a first-timer in the city, and thus I put it on my list, but it is not one of the places that I frequent often. The food is varied, but the quality is questionable. However, I would advise to arrive here definitely for drinks and to enjoy the view.
When in summer, the best diners’ spot in Istanbul would be without doubt Sunset Restaurant in Ulus. Although not exactly a rooftop, I cannot overlook this place since it has one of the best views of the city. Overlooking Bosphorus from a keen angle amidst trees and hills, Sunset definitely has the perfect view and the perfect candle light atmosphere on a summer night. As the name rightly suggests, you need to arrive here a little before sunset and sip any of their marvelous cocktails a tune to the sunset. Their rich menu shall not suprise you. That’s because there are just too many visiting chefs at any given time at Sunset. Service is elegant at all times, though it may get a bit slacky during overcrowded nights. The wine list in Sunset is extensive and the sommeliers are very well trained. My favorite dishes include their risotto of wild mushrooms seasoned with fresh herbs, Sunset fillet, basil mashed potato and red wine reduction, Jumbo shrimp with tomato and saffron risotto, fillet with special miso and mustard sauce and last but not least, I cannot wait for the next time when I have their cheesecake with red berry compote… As if that was not good enough, Sunset also offers a sushi bar for sushi lovers, and apart from its salty prices, it is one of the best sushi offers in the city.
Another fascinating rooftop with a fascinating sushi bar is the Vogue Restaurant. Situated in a rooftop with open air terrace for summers, Vogue has a beautiful view of the Dolmabahce Palace and the Besiktas coast. The sushi here is really good, but that does not mean that their actual menu is bad. The menu, which is mostly modern fusion cusine, has everything from risotto with porcini mushrooms to sophisticated chicken and meat dishes, such as veal wrapped with bresaola and the oven-cooked veal rib. A nice “first date” place…
Although, it is not a rooftop restaurant, Topaz in Gumussuyu, Istanbul, also has an immensely good view of the city. Situated in one of the upper floors of a large apartment building in Gumussuyu -mind that Gumussuyu region is well known with its large apartments and their vast views- Topaz looks at the Bosphorus and the Bosphorus Bridge from a wide perspective. The restaurant offers an Ottoman and Mediterranean fusion. Those with a good appetite for tasting meals should and must go for the food & wine pairings -of which there are two: one Mediterranean tasting menu and one Ottoman. Those wanting to go alacarte should try their artichoke cold starter. Of the main meals, I am confident that all meat meals are extraordinarily well cooked. Ask for wine recommendations, sommelier services in Topaz are also favorable.
Slightly off the class of the elegant restaurants enumerated so far in this list, is Mangerie. Mangerie is a sophisticated café, situated on the upper floor of an apartment in Bebek. Being classified as a café, does not make Mangerie’s prices lower than any of the aforementioned restaurants. Here burgers cost around 30-35 YTL, noodles and pastas around 30 YTL and deserts 10 YTL… Nevertheless, whether it’s for breakfast in the morning, lunch or a casual dinner with the loved ones on an evening, the view of Mangerie is unchangeable to many others in the city. The picture above justifies it for us as well… And, for that reason it must be on our list.
Last, but not least on my list is the Mirror Restaurant. Mirror is one of the oldest Italian restaurants in Istanbul with few branches in the Asian and the European side. Mirror Bistro in Suadiye (the Asian side) is a rooftop setting with an open air terrace in summers offering a nice view of the Princess Islands and the Marmara Sea. The menu of Mirror has advanced over the years. Keeping the Italian cuisine dominant on the menu, Mirror has redefined its meal offer as world cuisine. Some of their finest dishes include the 4 formaggio risotto, ravioli with spinach and the chateaubriand.
Mikla
Mesrutiyet Caddesi Tepebasi Istanbul 34430
+ 90 212 251 46 46
360
İstiklal Caddesi Mısır Apartmanı 311, Beyoğlu
+ 90 212 251 10 42
Adnan Saygun Caddesi, Yol Sokak No:2, Ulus Parkı, Ulus İstanbul
+ 90 212 287 03 57 / 58
Spor Caddesi 48 BJK Plaza A Blok 13, Akaretler
+ 90 212 227 25 45
İnönü Caddesi Ömer Avni Mahallesi No: 50
+ 90 212 249 1001
Mangerie
Cevdetpaşa Caddesi 69, Bebek
+ 90 212 263 51 99
Suadiye Park Plaj Yolu, A Blok, Kat 2 İstanbul
+ 90 216 464 27 10
+ 90 216 464 27 11
You will find on Donuz, everything that is unique to where we have been and where you would want to be. Be it food, be it lodging, be it a special feet massage, a bottle of wine, a person… Be it for 7 days, a day, a week, 36 hours or a single moment. On Donuz, is everything, you will need to make your holidays special. We hope you share with us your experiences.
Sat, Oct 3, 2009
Food, Istanbul