Great baklava and variety of cakes and puddings! Convenient location in sultanahmet but not hard to…read morefind- be it any part of Istanbul, even Dubai.

My first review of the year had to my ultimate favorite place to eat desserts. For me this place is…read moreabove all. I love Turkish desserts over any desi desserts, cakes, pastries, chocolates but maybe not the French croissants. My favorite are anything with walnut and pistachios. I love their Kunafa which is perfectly sized not too big or small super fresh and gives you an option to go with honey or sugar syrup.I always choose the later I'm not too big a fan of honey on a kunafa. But the star here is is the big slice of plain baklava with a thick layer or pistachios courses grounded with their signature ice cream. My goodness it is goodness on a plate. I love it with their basic kewa. The service is always top notch. Their locations their pick are top notch too. Price point -it isn't cheap but definitely worth every penny. There are lots of prepackaged goodies like nuts, Turkish delights etc to buy. I always get their baklava packed in a tin and bring it back their guarantee it's freshness for 10 days. I usually freeze it and eat it as and when I like. Works great. Their locations are beautifully done in their standard theme. I dream of their baklavas every time I'm in Turkey. They do have a few locations in other countries like UAE and England but not in many I hope to see them come to Canada soon.

First of all I want to thank Arif, Vittorio, and Aziz for making myself and my fiancé feel so…read morewelcomed and for being the greatest Turks we have met on our trip. The food at dafne was outstanding. When Arif came up to us when we were walking down the street, he had told us if it was great but not very great, it would be free. Well it was VERY GREAT. From the lentil to the kofte. Everything had such an amazing flavor. I never have tasted such tender and flavorful chicken kabob before. There was not one thing we had that wasn't good. We went there 6 times in 3 days. The service was top notch. When we were just walking by after a long day of site seeing, we would stop by and say hello, and they would always invite us in for tea. Just an amazing experience. Would recommend to anyone traveling to this part of Istanbul. Well sure be back next year. Defne Herkese çok teşekkür ederim!

After telling the owner about my recent engagement to my fiance, he promised us great food and…read moresurprises. Well we met halfway. The Turkish cuisine was tender and savory, but we couldn't have been more ignored than a pair of lepers on the street. Only until the end of the meal were we first asked by the server how it tasted. And the owner made rounds and grand gestures to everyone around-- but not us. At one point the restaurant invited a trio of musicians to entertain all customers, but it was so tacky when they went around asking for tips upon leaving. After we coyly asked the owner where these mysterious 'surprises' were did he have two drinks delivered to us on the house. This place would have gotten a higher rating without the empty promises; so would I come again? Defne-tly not!

Even months later, I still have fond memories of Serbethane. Whether it be for a coffee or tea…read morebreak, dinner or even a late night hang out with some nargile, we really enjoyed it. We happened upon the cafe by coincidence on our first evening in Istanbul, while roaming the streets in search of somewhere to eat. A little bit overwhelmed by the restaurants nearby that tried their darndest to lure you in, Serbethane was different. The staff was friendly and welcoming, but never pushy. The outdoor sofa were also a huge draw. Everything we ate was DELICIOUS! Nice presentation, tasty, filling and well priced. A nice place to sit down after a day of walking, to enjoy food and rehydrate. Of note: there is no alcohol served here, but there are lots and lots of juices and sodas to choose from, so we didn't miss it. The location is also pretty great: tucked into the edge of the Arasta bazaar, partly outside, partly inside, with sofas and regular tables to choose from. When it gets cool in the evenings there are blankets to wrap yourself up, making sure you can spend some more time lingering.

I came with a tour group and the menu was set for us, so that may have made it different from the…read moreregular experience. But wow, was it wonderful! Everything was so flavorful and satisfying. High marks for the lentil soup and the lamb and chicken kebab. And the baklava was just dreamy. Just fantastic!

The Salmon was amazing. The flavors and texture and color looked inviting. The staff were attentive…read moreand accommodating. I'd recommend this place.

I came in for dinner during my trip to Istanbul and was so happy I dined here. It was my favorite…read moremeal of the trip! I arrived around 7ish and asked for a table outside. The waitress immediately sat me and took my drink order. When she came back, I asked for her opinion on the two dishes, and we decided on the mushroom tagliatelle. It was absolutely delicious. The noodles were cooked perfectly, and the dish had a lot of flavor. The waitress also mentioned that the noodles are made in-house, which is hard to beat! Overall, I recommend stopping in for a great food experience!

Viyana Kahvesi was one of my favorite café experiences in Istanbul. The location alone is worth…read morevisiting, with an absolutely stunning view of the iconic Galata Tower. Sitting outside, enjoying dessert while taking in one of the city's most recognizable landmarks, creates a truly unforgettable atmosphere. Of course, the star of the show is their famous San Sebastián cheesecake. It lived up to every bit of the hype. Perfectly creamy, rich, and slightly caramelized on the outside, it was incredible on its own--but the warm chocolate drizzle takes it to another level. Every bite was indulgent without being overly sweet, making it one of the best desserts I've had anywhere. The combination of amazing food, excellent coffee, and a front-row view of the beautiful Galata Tower makes this a must-visit spot in Istanbul. Whether you're looking for the perfect dessert, a relaxing café experience, or an Instagram-worthy view, Viyana Kahvesi delivers on all fronts. A true Istanbul gem that I'll be thinking about long after returning home.

This cafe is famous for its fun locations with a nice patio and its rich San Sebastián style…read morecheesecake. I tried the Dubai chocolate version with pistachio, Belgian chocolate and knafeh....it's almost too rich to handle. The plain version is also delicious. There are multiple locations. This one is located in the courtyard of a famous building, the Narmanli Han on Istiklal street, with a lovely fountain outside. Very nice patio and great service. Super polite and fast. There's also a gorgeous location next to the Galata Tower.

After finishing an incredible experience at the attached hammam, we had a wonderful dinner at the…read morerestaurant- ambiance was romantic and upscale, waitstaff was friendly and helpful, and the food was amazing and delicious! Portions are just right and cooked to perfection! We were even amuse bouched and comped dessert with another course midway through added for free. Very talented chef- lamb dinner was cooked to perfection and really wanted to lick the mushroom gravy off the plate when no one was looking lol. The little pistachio tartlets for dessert were divine. Wine was reasonably priced. Definitely stop by when in Istanbul!

I made a reservation for dinner at 8PM at Lokanta 1741 to celebrate my fiancé's birthday a little…read moreearly during his last night in Istanbul. Located adjacent to a well known hamam called Cağaloğlu, this restaurant is very well centered near Sultanahmet and has a very fancy/nice/historic feel. The space feels so open, rustic, and romantic, with many candles, lights, wooden elements, and greenery. This is probably one of the most beautiful restaurants I've ever been to. There is a garden area downstairs which has some skylights on the ceiling so you get lots of natural light-- it feels quiet and intimate. The upper level is the patio which is open to the air, and is nestled in the middle of large rock buildings which transport you back in time. This restaurant doesn't need a grandiose view of the Istanbul skyline since the space is already so beautiful! Our waiter was incredibly nice and attentive to our table. He offered us a menu of cocktails and then let us know there is a wine cellar we could visit so that someone there could help us pick a wine which I had not yet seen at a restaurant before. We opted to get a white Turkish wine for the table which was delicious. They offer a tasting menu that is similar to US prices that looked abundant but we chose to order just a few dishes a la carte to suit our appetite level. We tried: - Amuse bouche: they started us off with delicious crackers with cheese and fig jam, paired with a tangy and salty olive soup. Very unique but delicious combo! - Pistachio- cheese spread "Cunda": delicious! Creamy, nutty, with a subtle aged flavor from some type of cheese that was delicious. It had a nice texture from some crispy garlic bread crumble on top. Super good. Does not come with bread so you might have to order on the side. - Bakalyaro ceviche: amazing! I have high standards for ceviche but the flavor for this was insane. There may have been a little hint of coconut there, also the creaminess of the labne was amazing. Very high quality fish but I'm a bigger fan of larger cut pieces for ceviche, this was more like a tartare. - Moutabal: I think my favorite of the apps: smoky, creamy, rich eggplant dip. They plated it inside a roasted eggplant which was beautiful and also delicious. Best eggplant dip I had during this trip! Again, no bread included so you can order on the side. - Palate cleanser: we were surprised but they brought out a strawberry sorbet as a palate cleanser. Mildly sweet, refreshing, perfect. Really helped reset us for the next course. - One side grilled sea bass: generous portion size, and extremely well cooked! The bass had a crispy crust that made noise even when cutting through it with a knife. Very tender and flavorful flesh. Came in a mashed potato "soup" that was a nice addition to make the dish more substantial. - Kakavya fish stew: amazing flavor! I am not sure how they cook this but it had acidic elements from the tomato, sweetness from caramelized onions, and an umami/smoky/ briny flavor from the verjuice. Looks small but it's very rich and filling. The fish is tender and tastes fresh. - Beef cheeks: tender beef cheeks in a bed of mashed potatoes. Very complex spices! This was good but not my favorite dish although my fiancé loved it. - Desserts: we tried 3 of them and all were a hit! The crispy pastry with pistachio was a table favorite since it was nutty, creamy and only subtly sweet. The chocolate Markiz was crispy but had creamy ganache on top and had a very nice chocolate flavor. My personal favorite was the tahini tart since it was perfectly sweet, creamy, had nutty hints of sesame, and came with lemon ice cream! At the end of the meal, the women at the table got a gift bag with some products from the hamam which I thought was very intelligent marketing. This is definitely a pricier meal in Istanbul. You can truly get amazing food in many other places in the city at a more reasonable price but I think the service here and the ambiance are top notch and justify the price for a more special occasion. We loved every dish and can understand why this is on the Michelin guide. We hung out at the restaurant until around 11pm and no one tried to kick us out. I appreciated the excellent service and the uniquely magical ambiance! Highly recommend for a special celebration.

Excellent service, excellent food- The lentil soup is the absolute best , ever. Sude and Erdem are…read moreamazing. guys, if you read this, thank you so much for your hospitality and of course, the Lentil soup. Joey

Food: We ordered the traditional Turkish breakfast, and…read moreeverything tasted incredibly fresh. They source much of their ingredients from their own farm, and you can tell. The tomatoes were unbelievable, the walnuts were some of the best I've had, and every plate felt thoughtful and vibrant. It's the kind of breakfast that reminds you how simple food can be exceptional when the ingredients are high quality. Ambiance: Beautiful setting on a quiet street with a clear view of the historic Galata Tower in the background. The space is clean, cozy, and welcoming. It has that warm, tucked-away charm that makes you want to linger a bit longer. Location/Getting There: Be prepared: it's an intense uphill walk from the Karakoy Ferry Port. There is a cable metro that takes you up, so it's worth finding if you want to skip the climb. Once you're up there, the area is great and the walk becomes part of the experience. Reservations: We were able to go without any issue, but it's a popular spot. If you're planning a weekend visit, a reservation wouldn't hurt. Price: About $100 USD for four people. A bit on the pricey side, but worth it--especially considering how fresh everything is. Prices across Istanbul have gone up in general, and this felt fair for the quality. Service: A+. Friendly, attentive, and warm. I went with my cousin, who is a regular here, but even aside from that, the service was excellent. You can feel they take pride in what they do. Overall: Cafe Privato is a great find with amazing food, a charming atmosphere, and a unique location. Five stars all around and absolutely worth visiting. I highly recommend it.

Overall not bad food but the prices are just crazy here. 38 lira for kebap! The baklava was not…read moregood but it was reasonably priced along with the drinks, but the kebap was so so for those crazy prices. Definitely hundreds of other places to go, which is disappointing because the kebap was actually pretty good. The staff is friendly enough and it's all self serve, basically running your tray down the line and grabbing or asking the chef to cook what you want. If not for the prices it wouldnt be awful.

Great food and cool people. Being from America this place serves huge portions. Would recommend!!read more