Dining at the Finest Five Star Restaurants in Istanbul
Want to put an exclamation point on your visit to the Crossroads of Europe and Asia? Dining out at some of the best five star restaurants in Istanbul is the best way to achieve this, as each of the ones listed below will make you feel like a VIP from the moment you sit down…
1. Nicole
Looking for one of the best meals you’ve ever eaten? Nicole, a restaurant that specializes in French and Mediterranean dishes, is capable of producing dishes of that caliber, as the plates that emerge from the back have been described by past diners as works of art.
With an incredible view of the Bosphorus, an enviable selection of fine wines from Turkey and beyond, and dishes that make meats like duck and lamb sing, you’ll have an experience at Nicole that will re-define what fine dining restaurant should be.
2. Beyti Restaurant
If you prefer to have your restaurants with a few decades of age in their bones, then Beyti Restaurant will provide the ambiance that you are looking for in a fine dining establishment in Istanbul.
One mark of quality is if a restaurant has a dedicated local clientele; Beyti has this working in its favor, as some diners report that they dine here only once per year because it takes all that time to save up enough money in local wages to treat their families to a meal here.
The lamb chops, mezze and kebabs are among the dishes that are lauded by reviewers, so be sure to try of these during your meal here.
3. Tria Elegance Restaurant
Those looking for a view of the Sea of Marmara from the terrace of a restaurant that does Turkish cuisine justice will do well by having dinner at the Tria Elegance.
Hidden on a back street, it is not overrun by the hordes of tourists that descend upon Istanbul every summer, and it is its off the beaten track status that ensures that the Turkish food you’ll eat here is authentic and of the highest quality.
The lamb shanks with saffron rice will satisfy and fill you with its flavor and generous portion size, so be sure to try it if you haven’t a clue what to order here.
4. Tugra Restaurant
Looking for a spot that is suitable for romantic meals with your significant other? The Tugra restaurant, which boasts perhaps the best view out of all the establishments on this list, is the perfect place for a dinner on your last evening in one of the world’s most storied cities.
Located in the former palace of an Ottoman Empire sultan, the service is not out of place with its surroundings, and with recipes dating back to the era when they were served in the royal court (don’t miss the Iskilip Dolma – braised beef in a Dolma leaf), you’ll feel like a member of the imperial family here.
