We paid ~$85pp for this place! Overall, it's a beautiful ambiance since we were seated on the rooftop and got to witness the sunset and fireworks. I didn't think the food was all-that to be quite frank. I ended up liking the drinks more than the food. Additionally, we asked the waiter for a birthday surprise for our friend, and they ended up auto-choosing the dessert without asking us and charging us as well without checking in. read more

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Finally.... a restaurant with a great view and good food. Plus, overall a great ambience. Service was very attentive and accommodating! Also, very good for those with gluten intolerance - lots of options, Started with excellent sour dough bread - super crunchy (almost burnt) on the outside, and soft (nearly gooey on the inside) to soak up some peppery olive oil and very tart goat cheese. This was followed by a salad with thinly sliced winter fruit (apples, pears?), beets, and some berries (looked like blueberries without the flavor) and some things that looked like lentils but could have been mung beans (whatever, they were good). This was followed by octopus that was grilled with a pomegranate molasses, which made them a tad too soft and a bit boring, but nontheless well cooked. It was followed by grilled calamari that was nicely charred. The baby radishes were liked by some and not others. The sausage was like N'duja sausage in square logs that was sauteed. It was tasty (obliviously) but a bit too oily. It came with some mashed potatoes and the tartest/pickles ever. Odd combo. The two Turkish wines were tasty and satisfying. As of 11/11/2025, in the running for the best restaurant experience of 2025! read more

KenScale: 8.25/10 Visit: April 2023 One piece of advice for all travelers looking to check out Istanbul, Turkey. I highly recommend skipping the city during the Eid al-Fitr holiday weekend marking the end of Ramadan. When my wife Jun and I were in the city for the last day of our Turkey trip, we found ourselves being swarmed by a crowd of unprecedented size and density. Perhaps because it was the first holiday weekend after the loosening of the pandemic's grip or because we were in the touristy Sultanahmet neighborhood with all the top sights like Hagia Sophia, we just couldn't walk around at a decent pace and genuinely feared that we might get trampled. Our initial plan was to walk across the Galata Bridge and check out the Beyoğlu district but it took us over an hour and a half to cross the bridge for a distance that would've normally taken at most 30 minutes. By the time we finally crossed the bridge, we were beyond exhausted and decided that we would just go to the Novotel hotel where our dinner reservation was at. After all that struggle, the outstanding meal at Mürver couldn't have come in a timelier manner. The central concept at Mürver (led by chef Mevlüt Özkaya) is cooking over live fire, with a giant wood oven in the middle of the kitchen. If you would rather focus on seeing all the magic happening at the kitchen instead of enjoying your meal in the outdoor dining area with a scenic view of Istanbul, I recommend sitting at the counter area. It was our first fine dining-style tasting menu in Turkey, and I honestly didn't know what to expect at first. But then the gently smoked seabream came out and I realized that the restaurant was really on to something. One of my favorite dishes came next, a dish with a playful take on a meatball-like dish called topik with Armenian origin. Mürver brought out a version with duck and hummus instead, a surprisingly wonderful combination that I had never encountered in my culinary journey with Jun. Why didn't more restaurants come up with this idea, I wondered while joyfully savoring this dish. There were so-so dishes like octopus which was slightly tougher than the ideal texture, and an expression of düve sucuk (think sausage similar to chorizo) that was a bit too strong in flavor. But the restaurant had more hits than misses, like the competently prepared grouper with charred leak and sorrel sauce, followed by another favorite of mine of the night, slow roasted lamb shoulder with pilaf rice and salted yogurt. We certainly had our fill of lamb dishes throughout our journey in Turkey, but this lamb shoulder was undoubtedly the best one I've had, with exceptional texture and no gamey flavor. For dessert, a colorful dish of pistachio and cherry ice cream offered a delightful finish to our meal. The restaurant's dining space is fairly sizable so it wouldn't take too much effort to book a reservation. Another plus from the dining experience at Mürver is the expansive Turkish wine list. We had a bottle of kalecik karasi (think a light- to medium-bodied red) from the Ankara region that had similar characters to a good pinot noir. The upscale décor of the dining space makes the restaurant a fantastic place for a romantic date night in Istanbul. Turkey has no shortage of good to outstanding restaurants, especially in Istanbul. If you are open to splurging (our tasting menu didn't come cheap by Turkish standard at around $120 per person based on the exchange rate at that time) for an outstanding modern Turkish culinary experience, Mürver is one place I highly recommend. read more

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This place is amazing! It did not show up on our search but by far one of the best meals we have had in turkey. The ambiance, service, everything was perfect. I would give this place 10 stars if I could. read more

Mürver Restaurant - While sea bream - Turkish Near Me - Istanbul, 34

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This is the place to go to if you're interested in trying a modern take on Turkish cuisine! Great view of Bosphorous with delicious food and cocktails. The octopus was tender and cooked perfectly. The veggies were fresh and flavorful. Service was warm and friendly. It is a little on the pricier side but totally worth it! read more

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I am usually suspicious of restaurants with a view, as the food has never wow'ed me at these restaurants, even if they appear in the Michelin guide. From its terrace, Murver Restaurant has a gorgeous view of the Bosphorus, Hagia Sophia, and Blue Mosque, *and* serves great food. I would describe its food as modern Mediterranean -- interesting takes on some traditional Mediterranean flavor profiles. Our group's favorites: * Duck with cinnamon, cherry, hummus, walnut * Burnt pumpkin with yogurt sauce * Baked artichokes with spicy raisins, artichoke sauce, and celery oil * Octopus with vegetables, sumac, isot, and pomegranate syrup * Grilled chicken with sliced potatoes * Grilled sirloin steak * Seafood stew with green herb sauce When dining here, I can easily lose track of time. The view of the slow passing cruise ships is very relaxing. I could order drink after drink just to sit here. Hey, I didn't say they have to be alcohol. read more

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Fantastic restorant with fantastic views. The food was modern Turkish fusion everything is very fresh and delicious. Service and the ambience was great; you got to eat watching sunset and the historical peninsula. It's not cheap, but worth it. read more

Rooftop restaurant located atop the Novotel Hotel. Huge patio overlooking the Bosphorus. Gorgeous space for drinks or a meal. They served a complimentary bread with a oil dip. Bread was light and airy with a crunchy exterior. I think it was a buckwheat sour dough. For appetizer we ordered the roasted zucchini. Served with seeds and a delicious sauce. For the main course, we shared the lamb roast for two. Lamb was delicious. Light char on the outside with a thin layer of rendered fat. Meat pulled apart nicely. Served with a yogurt and freekeh. The freekeh was outstanding. One of the best grain preparations of had. For dessert, we shared the chilled chocolate mouse with berries, nuts, and chocolate sauce. I also had raki - a fermented grape liquor. They had a great selection of whiskeys. There were gendered restrooms. I believe they were handicap accessible. Service was attentive and helpful. read more

Located on the Novotel İstanbul Bosphorus rooftop Mürver features the cooking of Chef Mevlüt Özkaya, a focus on seasonal open-fire cooking yielding big flavors that pair well to Turkish Wines and a privileged view of the Golden Horn plus Asia. A trendy spot by Turkish standards, with music and a lounge setting the tone, it is en route to seats that guests will notice an open kitchen where fire burns brightly turning out everything from small plates to large format shareables and a Tasting Menu. Centered on the oven, a youthful team working quietly, warm Sourdough arrives to accompany crisp local Riesling with an Arugula Salad, smoky Pears and cave-aged Sheep's Cheese soon to follow. Known for grilled Octopus as well as Confit Duck with cold Hummus, Cherries and Walnuts, it comes as no surprise that Lamb is featured in several forms including smoked Shoulder served rare between Quince and Walnuts. With the Restaurant since day one, Chef Özkaya officially taking the reins in 2021, Bükme elevates comfort Food with flaky Pastry containing Beef ready to be dipped in Yogurt while housemade Pickles cleanse the palate between bites. Raised at Grandma's elbow in the kitchen with training furthered at some of Turkey's top tables Dessert sees Mürver update classics with technique and quality produce, the "Burnt Antep Pistachio" something of a Pave beneath assertive Ice Cream while Charred Pumpkin dances thanks to savory Sauce and a cold perfume of Cumin. read more

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This one is actually really tough. The food was very good but I was not happy with the service. The server was inattentive. And the server requested a tip at the end of the meal. I've been to many restaurants and this is a first for me. So the food was good - but I would not return nor recommend this place because of the service. read more

This was a favorite from my visit to Istanbul and we tried a number of restaurants. I appreciated the numerous vegetarian choices and the artful presentation. We were there in January so it wasn't the busiest tourist season and the service was wonderful with a busy but not overcrowded restaurant. The view was delightful and the food was so good. There were also fun cocktails and an assortment of drink options. So glad we found this place! read more

Amazing place: great food, great view of Bosphorus, great music. I also like their restaurant on the first floor -- a great place for lunch. read more

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It's very good and well worth a visit. We went here for Fathers Day upon the recommendation of the hotel concierge. Apparently this place is known for cocktails and they have a huge list. I went with a Smoky Mary which was some type of Bloody Mary with a peppery kick to it. It was excellent. Daughter had a mock tail which was sweet and delicious. Not sure what was in it. After a drink we sat down at a table with a great view of the Bosporus and city. Could see Blue Mosque and Ayasofia from our chairs. Went with hummus and herbs encrusted in dough to start. Very good. Mains were roasted chicken which was cooked nicely and a sirloin steak. We skipped desert. Prices reasonable to boot for what we got. Check it out!! read more

Mürver Restaurant - Smoky Mary - Turkish Near Me - Istanbul, 34

The Restaurant caught our attention because of its location. The wine and the food was absolutely fantastic! We had the seafood stew and the short ribs. The appetizer was a duck pate, and the bread and the oil that it came with was phenomenal. read more

Mürver Restaurant - The table which shows the amazing scenery. - Turkish Near Me - Istanbul, 34

The food was alright, the service was what you'd get at a mediocre tourist trap. I've been to many Michelin guide restaurants (though none in Turkey) and this comes nowhere close to the bar I'd expect for them. The server didn't take our order for more than 30 minutes after we sat down, elbowed my wife's head twice (he did apologise the second time once she called him out on it), chided my sister for not being able to hear him over blaring loud music while she was mid conversation as he tried to get her attention from 6 feet away, and didn't take our dessert order for 30 minutes after dropping off the dessert menu. I have a lot of empathy for busy restaurants and overwhelmed servers, but that empathy disappears when they're rude or condescending and we pay through the nose. Some dishes were good, most were just about ok. What a waste of a beautiful venue. read more

Beautiful location and delicious food. We were sat slightly inside (still felt somewhat outside), but really appreciated that they moved us to a truly outside table when one opened. The roasted lamb was fantastic read more

This restaurant is on the top floor of the Novotel hotel. I went there for lunch based on their Google review and was not disappointed at all. The interior is very well decorated and the view is amazing. The olive and bread was amazing and I had the spicy Sucuk ( Turkish sausage) which came with a really tasty mashed potatoes and both were really good. For main dish I got the braised oxtail which had smoked yogurt on top and was delicious! read more

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The lamb was outstanding; the service was excellent; large restaurant which was a bit loud at some points Excellent choice read more

Amazing food in an amazing restaurant. Great view of Bosphorus. Service was also perfect. Definitely 10 out of 10! We had mezes and perfect lamb dish with great wine. Go this place without hesitation! read more

The food The service The view The music The ambience all 5 One of the best restaurants we have ever been to in the world. read more

Great view (go before the sun sets) and great outdoor space for drinks or dinner. I have only a vague idea of what we ate, since I trusted our Turkish friends to do the sharing in the middle plates. For starters..We had octopus, hummus with lamb which was excellent with a sweet cinnamon flavor, a intestine pizza sounds gross but was quite good, a thick yogurt and nice crusty bread also as sides. For our main we had lamb with a lentil side- a great crisp skin and a oxtail on a light bread with a creamy cheese- very good with a rich flavor. Wine pairings and cocktails also very well done. The waiter spoke English for me and they have English menus, so don't feel intimidated. Great night out. read more

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You don't come here for the food (which is of a high quality), you come here for the view and the outdoor setting, which is beautiful. A well thought out wine list also deserves a mention. read more

Mürver Restaurant - Turkish Near Me - Istanbul, 34

Beautiful views, great cocktails and wine but the food was NOT a good value at all....very very poor service...and the staff kept emphasizing that "service was not included "..... read more

Gorgeous views of the Bosporus and city lights of Istanbul. Great wine list. Lamb chops were awesome.

Very trendy spot with excellent food. Delicious food and beautiful views. It's inside the Novotel and has great service. read more

Mürver Restaurant - Lamb kuzur - Turkish Near Me - Istanbul, 34

We just got done with a phenomenal meal at Murver in Istanbul. The grilled, smoked octopus was the best I've had in my life, and I've had a lot of octopus around the world. The bar scene was fantastic and the view from both the bar and restaurant is magical. In terms of service, the bar service was impeccable and the transition from bar to table unparalleled. Once at our table, the incredible service continued and I'd be remiss if I didn't call out Hakan for his attentiveness. Overall incredible experience. I highly recommend this place if you are in Istanbul. read more