Yelp Review 2025 #220: Neolokal is a Michelin-star restaurant and one of the World's Best Restaurants. Their focus on keeping old Turkish culinary traditions very much alive and meshing that with the current palate while promoting sustainability is what sets them apart from other high-end restaurants in Türkiye. I made a reservation to Neolokal as soon as I moved my itinerary around. I was in Istanbul when this restaurant was closed for the day so, I made some changes so I can go back on a day Neolokal was open. I was worried I won't get a table booking a week beforehand but to my luck, I got the day and time I wanted. You do have to pay a deposit which applies to your final bill. Located in SALT in Galata, the first floor is the kitchen. You'll be taken upstairs to the dining area. The view was ok - Bosphorus behind all the rooftops. I watched the sunset from my table. My server was Shaima and she was fantastic and basically matched my excitement for good food. I chose the tasting menu. She explained the menu well and with enthusiasm. SOURDOUGH BREAD AMUSE BOUCHE MARINATED ANCHOVIES: oven-baked 'dolma' stuffing cream, bottarga, sourdough crisp 'iMAMBAYILDI: eggplant slices, 'imambayildi cream, eggplant nori, eggplant powder 'ERISTE: with RED SHRIMP, shrimp sauce, red pepper skin, lemon oil. SEASONAL FISH: olive oil-braised chard and sweet green beans, 'terbiye' creamy fish sauce with lemon, parsley oil SORREL SORBET SLOW-COOKED LAMB NECK: mom's meatballs, red pepper freekeh pilaf, red pepper foam 'KESKUL: caramelised milk ice cream, almond crisps BAKLAVA: pistachio cream with 'lor' and 'kaymak', burnt sheep's milk yogurt ice-cream, candied walnut, hazelnut croquant PETITE SWEETS SOMETHING SPICY MOCTAIL: Passion Fruit, Pineapple Juice, Ginger Juice, Vanilla Chili Pepper TURKISH TEA Their food was creatively plated without sacrificing flavor. "Our goal is to preserve the flavors of our childhood memories, cultural values and culinary traditions for future generations. Our approach to sustainability places an emphasis on social and cultural aspects as we believe that those who cannot preserve their past cannot have a future. We connect with nature by engaging with the soil, observing seasonal cycles, and experimenting with seeds. With respect for the past and a hopeful vision for the future, we aim to carry these flavors forward." - Maksut Agkar read more

See all

I hate to be harsh but I have no other words to describe this experience so please bear with me. Welcome to the absolutely worst Michelin star restaurant of all time. We selected the normal (non-vegetarian) tasting menu and every piece of meat we received was drier than the Sahara. I don't know how this made it into any kind of top restaurants list, Michelin or otherwise. I don't even know if it should be called a restaurant so much as some kind of satirical gastronomic experiment because I literally laughed after eating 3 of the courses. None of it was good at all with the exception of one (1) dessert course at the end. As for the overall experience, their motto must be "never let them know your next move" because there was no point during this meal where I had any idea what was going on or what was going to happen next. They provided a paper booklet that was supposed to describe all the courses, but several of the pages were cut off in the middle of a sentence, the courses were out of order, and it seemed like they used the same booklet for all of the different types of menus they offered instead of having a separate booklet for vegetarian/normal/gluten free menus which made it absolutely nonsensical to try and follow along. I typically shrug off bad food at Michelin restaurants because Michelin seems to care more about the experience, but even that wasn't right. Choose somewhere else. We ended up going to Bayramoglu Doner afterwards and it was delicious, so if you're a foodie don't waste a meal here -- it's not worth trying. If I had known, I would have just planned to go to Bayramoglu and eaten a full meal instead of squeezing this mess into my itinerary. read more

See all

A bit of a hard review to write. As with any Michelin-star restaurant at a certain price point, I went into Neolokal with very high expectations. And I fully appreciate that some of the modern and creative twists that the restaurant brings to traditional Turkish cuisine may be lost on me. But there was some inconsistency between the dishes - some were spectacular and reflected some true creative vision (including a shrimp noodles that I'll be thinking about for a long time), while others were just okay (such as their iconic burnt sheep's milk ice cream). My favorites: 1. The sourdough bread at the start with different kinds of veggie-infused hummus and olive oil butter. I didn't want to fill up on the bread beforehand but I could've eaten at least two more rolls. 2. The shrimp noodles with a beautifully rendered tomato skin draped on top. The skin was like parchment paper - as soon as you prodded at it with your fork, it immediately dissolved. My husband wanted some stronger flavor in this dish but I was enamored. Truly one of the most technically advanced dishes I've ever come across. 3. The lime palate cleanser - I may be such a noob for ranking this as one of the best things but I loved the crystalline texture and how it truly did prepare my mouth for the lamb course right after. 4. The Keskul - a milky, rice pudding-esque dessert. I loved the cracked shards of almond crisp on top. Just all right: 1. The baklava with burnt sheep's milk ice cream. Maybe I'm just not a fan of the flavor of sheep's milk but I found this hard and not very pleasant to eat. The baklava too - they make it with less sugar and more butter - but the street versions where it's probably doused with tons of sugar tasted better to my (unrefined) palate. 2. I feel bad for noting this but the celebratory chocolate dessert they provided - very dry and not much flavor. Other miscellaneous notes: We went with the standard tasting menu which was about $150 plus a service fee. A bit of a lag between some of the dishes. The views from the restaurant, as well as the building and surrounding neighborhood, are stunning. read more

Neolokal - Turkish Near Me - Istanbul, 34

See all

One michelin star and one green star restaurant in Istanbul. Ranked #63 best restaurant in the world at time of dining and has since updated to #91. Reservation made in advance for 7. Ambiance is modern, located on the upper floor of the Galata cultural complex with views overlooking the city. Open kitchen with stairs leading up to dining room. Outdoor patio available. Three different tasting menus available - standard tasting menu, vegetarian, and gluten, lactose, and nut free. Opted for the standard tasting menu with 10 courses. High sustainability and very technical techniques to create beautiful dishes. Standout items were the octopus roll, sorrel sorbet, and slow cooked lamb, with the octopus being possibly the best cooked octopus I've ever had. Otherwise, the rest of the dishes were tasty but I did not find them mind blowing, especially at the price point. Morel dumpling dish also featured a 5 min high quality ipad video before eating which I thought was very fascinating and beautiful filmed but quite extra and unnecessary. Service was formal and professional but I do think it could have been a bit more personable. - neolokal's sourdough bread - parsley marbled butter, cep mushroom powder - amuse bouches - spring vegetables - asparagus, 'sultani' peas, fresh broad beans, zucchini cubes, tahini cream - octopus roll - potato cream with pepper, clear tomato broth, aromatic oils - morel dumpling - mushroom sauce and emulsion, sauteed morel, isot oil - olive oil-poached monkfish - potato mousse with fish broth, fried potato - sorrel sorbet - slow cooked lamb - meatball and 'kokoreç', sweet bean 'piyaz' - olive oil & sage ice cream - crispy 'baklava' phyllo with hazelnut cream, white chocolate and lemon cream, bitter lemon gel - surprise desserts from the neolokal team read more

See all

The experience overall was really fun! Having that nighttime skyline views of Istanbul while enjoying the courses was so nice. The iPad especially with the movie surrounding the mushroom with was surprising yet so entertaining. Service was okay. They didn't always provide all the silverware (had to share some of mine with a friend) after each dish. And for the meat dish, the server didn't describe what we were eating. A while later a new guy came to tell us about the dish (maybe because they realized no one came to tell us) The food presentation was exquisite. Taste wise, I wasn't very impressed. Honestly my favorite dish was the palette cleanser. But it was very creative. Especially the cocktails! read more

See all

so soo soo good. I have a tradition of trying each country I visit's michelin star cuisine and today I decided to try out neolokal. they're one of the very few turkish based michelin restaurant in turkey so I was excited to secure a reservation. they have different menus to accommodate different dietary preferences but I opted for the regular menu. they have an extensive wine list and very interesting cocktails. I decided to try their local turkish white wine which was super light and fragrant. the service was impeccable and they even had a portion where they showed you the star of the dish, the mushroom. overall it was a lovely and beautiful environment and highly recommend giving this place a try! read more

See all

Located in Salt Galata neolokal has earned both one Michelin Star and a Green one, Chef Maksut Aşkar's focus on contemporary cooking finding roots in locally sourced products cultivated through "ancestral methods" and served as a Tasting with guests required to make their selection a week in advance. Self-described as "a bridge between the old and the new," modern techniques overlying Turkish traditions, it is after ascending an elevator then stairs that guests find a room which relies on only natural temperature control with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Istanbul's lighted Mosques. Emphasizing sustainability through sourcing, even the advanced ordering meant to minimize waste, Wines and Cocktails lean local such as in the case of "Flying Cloud" with a bit of modernism that pairs well to Canapes including "Baklava" filled with Cowpeas. A young Kitchen including Chef Maksut, the team working quietly a floor below the rooftop, neolokal's March menu officially began with sliced Pumpkin an a Citrus-laced Sauce before marinated Sea Bream featuring Lemon pearls on top and pureed Fava Beans as a base. Small-portions start to finish, though hot Sourdough with Herb Butter and Mushroom Powder is offered, a single Lamb Dumpling provides but two delicious mouthfuls before proceeding to a Shrimp "Dolmade" wrapped in Collard Greens with Rice. Cleansing the palate with Sorrel Sorbet before an entree of Lamb, all three forms distinct and well-prepared, Dessert arrives alongside Mignardises with both the Halva and Rose offering diverse tastes and textures tied together by the primary Ingredient. read more

See all

If you want to treat yourself to a Michelin-starred meal in Istanbul, this is the spot. You're going to feel the lovely service and quality of ingredients that go along with that rating. But I very much think this is a place to share rather than to go on your own, as I did. I reflected afterwards that the many roadside meals I had sitting across from strangers who I struck up conversations with in Turkey were just as hearty and filling, at a fraction of the price. Enjoy the experience. One of the less expensive Michelin-starred dinners you will have. read more

Great service and unique dishes. Drinks are delicious as well. Very pretty view of the city. A must see if you are in Istanbul!

Enjoyed the food but waiter served us an 8000 tl bottle of wine when we gave him a price target of 2500. Inexcusable for an establishment such as this. read more

If you are looking for an upscale dining experience that is worth the price this is it. This place would definitely be in the michillin guide for Istanbul. Incredible cocktails, excellent tasting menu. Good service as well. Worth the price and a steal compared to similar caliber restaurants in other cities. A beautiful view as well. read more

See all

It was good but not great. The menu is limited, the portions are very tiny (for being Turkey), and while the orthodox treatment of Turkish ingredients is stellar, there were some tiny, tiny, misses. We would have liked a 6 course menu, not a 3 course one - it was too small. If we come back, we will actually try the vegetarian menu. Wifey loved her artichoke appetizer and the Circassian goose (she ordered two because one serving was too small), but felt the goat ice cream was covered with "too many flakes of no particular taste." Still, you have to hand it to these guys - they work very hard and have a vision. Recommended, but Mikla is still the undisputed Sultan of Istanbul's fine food scene. read more

Neolokal - Artichoke at Neolokal - Turkish Near Me - Istanbul, 34

Neolokal was a great experience all along! I can say it was the best dining experience I have had in Istanbul, and I lived there for 17 years. This is not a comparison to any traditional Turkish restaurants or kebab places because it is a totally different setting. I went to Neolokal with my sister in law for her birthday, this was her second birthday dinner since the first one at Sunset Restaurant was a disaster. We were greeted by the sweetest waiter that's alive who represented the true Turkish hospitality. He introduced himself as Ziya and he was extremely helpful in terms of the selections. At a restaurant like this where creative bites are served, as a first timer you NEED that help. From the cocktails to the dinner to the service and the environment the view, god everything was amazing. Even though we did not ask; we were moved to the table with a view as soon as the people who dined there left, my sister in law got a surprise dessert with candles, and all the other small touches Ziya provided made our experience incredible. So 1000 out of 100 on service! The food was incredibly delicious and had amazing textures. You can tell there is so much work put into creating such dishes. The food served might seem small but i could not finish last few dishes of our prix fixe due to being full already. I love food and trying new places. As a New Yorker I have access to some of the best restaurants in the world some having Michelin Star and all. I could tell with confidence that Neolokal is at the same level if not more when I compare to these restaurants. ( if youve been to Contra in Lower Manhattan, I found the two to be similar in terms of the incredible and creative tasting dishes, Ofcourse Neolokal is very Turkish cuisine inspired but still) read more

excellent food, overattentive service, and they charged my card twice, once for correct amount, and then again for same amount (minus a few $)! claimed they couldn't do anything about it until monday, but promised to reverse/credit the second "accidental"/fraudulent charge. we shall see. if you dine here, enjoy the great meal, but check your cc statements carefully, afterwards! read more

Gorgeous restaurant with excellent food and a leisurely pace. I was looking for laidback fine dining with great views and food and am really happy I chose Neolokal. When you arrive, walk up a flight of stairs and you'll find a cafe space with a floating, wooden staircase. Up that flight is an open air terrace with views of the blue mosque. The noise level was bustling but easy to hear each other. Come prepared for a slow, at least two hour dinner. We made reservations via their website and picked our courses ahead of time for COVID reasons. We started with the mezcal margaritas (well balanced, smoky salt rim) and then I ordered a piscopat, which was the only thing I didn't like (too sweet for me but not a bad drink and they were nice enough to take it off the check when I didn't drink it). My boyfriend also had a great old fashioned. I ordered the vegetarian 5-course tasting menu, and my boyfriend ordered the 3-course tasting menu. The sourdough bread starter was incredible, and we both had and loved the imam bayildi (a focaccia-like bread with a creamy tomato spread and eggplant). The couscous was lovely (great texture, perfectly cooked onions mixed in, sharp cheese on top). My boyfriend raved about his lamb (slow roasted). If you're looking for big portions, this isn't the place, but I came away very full. Also, they were thoughtful about the pacing with different numbers of courses. Dinner was expensive compared to other restaurants in Istanbul but very reasonable compared to prices in major US cities. Definitely worth visiting. read more

The former ottomans bank is the perfect location for this jewelry of Turkish haute cuisine! Chef Maksut Askar is accomplishing a mix of modern style of cuisine with traditional turkish kitchen! Rare taste explosions will wait for anybody expecting less than a total different taste harmony... Local producers with local spirit makes "neolokal" to a perfect place to enjoy honest Cuisine!!! read more

Neolokal - Superb - Turkish Near Me - Istanbul, 34

This review is for an experience that took place about a year ago. The food was really delicious and everything we had on the prix fixe menu was great. The atmosphere is really nice as well with a beautiful view. However maybe it was the night we were there or just the server we had but the service was absolutely terrible. With the exception of a large party of maybe 20 people, there was our table then two other tables. Our waiter ignored us throughout the night only dropping off courses at a rate of maybe a plate per 45 minutes. Never explained anything to us. Never refilled water. We asked if we could move to one of the other empty tables in the restaurant for a better view. He said it was reserved but it was open for almost the entire 2.5 hours or so we were there. I think most of this is just related to one person since the brief interaction we had with the other waiter was pleasant. We would be open to trying it again though since the food was so great. read more

I came here with my sister on a Friday. Since it was past lunchtime, we were the only ones. We tried the lavender octopus, duck terine (the cerkes ordegi) for appetizers and the minekop and lamb shanks as starters. Each bite still lingers and the juxtaposition of sweet and sour, the crunchy and soft had been played just perfectly... And for dessert, I got the parfait while my sister got the minci cheese plate. Well, the parfait was just "parfait" with linder jello (oh the linden jello); and the minci plate, the perfect cross between rocquefort and Turkish tulum was another great ending for a great lunch. I feel, and I hope Neolokal is on its way to Istanbul's first Michelin. read more

Fine dining in Istanbul. Service was great and food was so fresh. Was not v crowded. The only problem was the location and the walk towards it at night where the street was v deserted and dingy but once you get there, it has a decent view and great menu. read more