Zoya's House — Restaurant in Şişli

Zoya's House has a fantastic location along with an ambiance that is rivalled by no other restaurant in Nisantasi. That is about all that is good about this place. Firstly, the location is extremely central, located opposite Beymen and right next to Louis Vuitton, near the main shopping street. It is basically nestled in the city centre. With a charming and opulent atmosphere, the restaurant has fantastic decoration and ambiance. The outside seating area is amazing, with hanging plants, beautiful decor and comfortable seating that doubles as a hangout spot for friends, family, and even work meetings.

However, the rest of the factors that conteibute to a good restaurant experience unfortunately were very, very limited. First: the service. This restaurant had some of the worst service I have ever experienced in Istanbul (which is practically my second home.) The servers, although kind and welcoming, were extremely slow and failed to cater to guests the way a good restaurant should. It took the servers about 15 minutes to even come to our table, while we had consolidated our order about 2 minutes after being seated. After taking our order, it took them about 10 minutes to bring our drinks, and they did warn us that food would take about 20 minutes since the kitchen was being cleaned. (Who cleans the kitchen in the middle of the day?) Anyway, we waited for about 35-40 minutes, after which we asked the server where our food was and it was brought out almost immediately. The service was slow, lazy, and quite disappointing. They seemed uninterested – indulging in conversations with each other, laughing and talking while guests were attempting to get their attention. Some even (at least I think) seemed like they had disassociated with reality, checking their hair and appearance while actively serving people. It was strange, to say the least.

The food was underwhelming. That's it. We ordered a burger, some sort of chicken dish, the artichoke and spinach dip, and another dish. All were equally underwhelming. For such high prices, this should not be the quality of food being presented after 30 minutes. The burger was bland and had barely any flavour – the spinach and artichoke dip was good but was oily, full of cheese and was loaded with spinach (too much spinach). The Strawberry Lemonade was delectable though, which made up for the lacklustre food (not really).

Overall, an underwhelming experience which did not meet the raving reviews that we...

This was honestly one of the strangest dining experiences I’ve had—and I’ve eaten in a lot of restaurants, in a lot of cities.

My friend and I walked in and were seated at a table that was still mid-clean. We were waiting for a third friend. My friend popped to the toilet, I placed my bag on the bench next to me, set my water bottle (which I’d been carrying) on the table, took a breath, and messaged our friend the location.

As I was doing so, a waiter came over. Not with a menu, not to ask if I wanted a drink—but to ask if he could move my bag. I blinked and asked, “…why?” He pointed to the floor and pulled a face that suggested the sight of my bag was… unseemly. He then gestured at my water bottle and made the same face. No words. Just facial expressions of pure disapproval.

Now, if I’d been sat there tucking into snacks from home or glugging from a litre bottle of cola, I could understand. But I’d only just sat down. I wasn’t even drinking from the bottle—I was just catching my breath.

And here’s the thing: I’m all for restaurants having a vibe but this wasn’t a velvet-rope, five-star, fine dining experience. From what I could see, people were sipping coffees and soft drinks. There was no dress code. No “reservations only” policy we’d unknowingly violated. It was around 5 in the afternoon and we had just walked in off the street.

If the restaurant feels that strongly about the visibility of people’s personal belongings, maybe they should either a) provide a cloakroom, or b) make their aesthetic rules clearer. Preferably not through a judgmental face contortion contest.

I’ve lived in Istanbul for a while, worked in events in central London, and spent time in several major cities—and I’ve never come across this kind of performance over a bag and a bottle.

Needless to say, we...

During my recent visit to Istanbul, I had the pleasure of dining at Zoya’s House in Nişantaşı multiple times, and each visit was nothing short of exceptional. From the moment I stepped into the restaurant, I was greeted by the warm and inviting ambience that sets the perfect stage for a memorable dining experience.

The service at Zoya’s House is exemplary. The staff is incredibly attentive, ensuring that every aspect of the meal is taken care of with a smile. Their professionalism and care greatly enhanced our dining experience.

As for the food and drinks, they were simply superb. Each dish was a delightful exploration of flavors, masterfully prepared and presented. The quality of ingredients and the skill in preparation were evident in every bite. The drinks menu complemented the food perfectly, with a range of choices to suit all tastes.

What made our experience truly special was the consistent excellence we encountered on every visit. It’s clear that the owners of Zoya’s House take great pride in their establishment, and their attention to detail shines through in every aspect.

In summary, Zoya’s House is a must-visit for anyone looking for an outstanding dining experience in Istanbul. From the ambience to the service, and the incredible food and drinks, everything is top-notch. Hats off to the owners for creating such a wonderful establishment....