Sakhalin İstanbul — Restaurant in Beşiktaş

Visited in July 2025. Turkey 🇹🇷 Istanbul.

Sakhalin Istanbul is a place I’ve heard about for ages, situated a bit away from the main tourist areas. The restaurant looks incredibly stylish, with light tones and a beautiful interior that shows a lot of effort went into it.

FOOD:

The main focus is on seafood, blending European and Japanese cuisine. At the entrance, there’s an open display case with seafood, plus aquariums holding lobsters and oysters—it’s truly impressive, and everything appears fresh. We’ve visited multiple times and sampled a good variety: from the Japanese side, rolls and nigiri. The rolls are executed professionally, with ideal size, rice portion, and filling balance—I consider this the standard for high-quality restaurants. Our favorites were the eel rolls with foie gras—tender and juicy. The otoro nigiri, the fatty tuna belly, featured excellent fish quality; we’ve traveled extensively in Asia, including Japan, and this captured the authentic bluefin tuna taste we adore. We also tried Spanish carabinero shrimp, both raw and grilled—a top-notch product. Overall, the restaurant excels with seafood, using the highest-grade items; with our experience, we know many spots cut corners on imports, but not here. From the summer menu, the sardines with avocado stood out for their bright, intense flavor. The pasta was prepared expertly, smooth and al dente, with a sauce of perfect consistency and bold taste. The borscht followed traditional methods, with a rich, vibrant broth, plenty of tender meat, and fresh sour cream. Everything we tried was delicious—some dishes shone particularly, but none fell short or weak. For dessert lovers, the honey cake is divine, especially that tender mousse—you’ll lick your fingers.

SERVICE:

The service lives up to the venue’s standards, highly attentive and aligned with European norms, including proper sequencing of courses. Waitstaff are always visible, making you feel looked after without being intrusive. It’s especially nice that they include compliments like bread with butter and a treat at the end of the meal.

VERDICT:

One of Istanbul’s top restaurants, delivering consistently high-quality food and service every visit. I strongly recommend it if you’re seeking to enjoy seafood in a pleasant atmosphere—such...

No doubt it became one of my favs in Istanbul! This is really incredible that a restaurant surprised me and took my heart even though it has no Bosporus view.

For dinner better to make reservation in advance, especially on Friday and Saturday.

The interior is amazing, smoking and non-smoking areas are separate, what gives extra points)

The service is on the high level, all the garcons are well-instructed and really can guide you in a nice way through the menu.

Hot bread with butter&caviar and little lettuce tuna tartar are always as a compliment before your meal which cannot be not mention, it really makes me to want come back again and again☺️ Also there is a sweet little compliment in the end, usually differs: it can be an ice cream or juicy small ball.

Thus, the food! The food is really awesome! Even cauliflower(it’s not in the menu already unfortunately, but if there any thoughts to return I will be sooooo happy☺️) carpaccio tastes unbelievable as I didn’t expect this from simple cauliflower. Crispy eggplant salad must try! With Asian sauce tomatoes.. oh my fav! The seasonal menu with chanterelle is also perfect😍 Only one point: zucchini flowers with crab is very good, but the sauce should be changed for something else it ruins the taste, and inside if it’s a bit more salty gonna be nice. Mostly, the food is completely fine, no disadvantages.

In general, I have very nice impression from the restaurant, the personal is always smiles and does their work very well. Little complimentary appetizers...

Sakhalin Istanbul is undoubtedly a masterpiece in terms of design and ambiance. The atmosphere is sophisticated, with a space that combines elegance and modernity, creating the perfect setting for a special evening. From the moment you walk in, you are immersed in a carefully curated and beautiful environment where every detail seems designed to impress.

The food quality is undeniably high. Each dish is well-executed, reflecting the culinary expertise the restaurant is known for. The dining experience is good, yet when considering the prices, there is a sense of imbalance. For two people, with a bill of €850 (approximately 34,000 Turkish lira), expectations are naturally elevated but unfortunately not fully met.

One of the most notable shortcomings was the attention to detail in the service. During the meal, the ashtray on our table—despite being used—remained dirty for over an hour and was only replaced once we had finished eating. In a restaurant of this caliber and price point, such oversights are hard to overlook. Details like this make the difference between good service and truly exceptional service.

In conclusion, Sakhalin Istanbul is a visually stunning restaurant with solid cuisine, but the service and attention to detail fall short of the high prices they charge. While the experience was enjoyable, it did not meet the level one would expect at such an elevated price point. For those seeking an unforgettable dining experience in every aspect, it might be...