1924 İstanbul — Restaurant in Beyoğlu

This restaurant stood out as highly recommended by my Michelin guide, so I did not hesitate to pay it a visit during my stay in Istanbul. Even though the place was not very busy that night, I do recommend making a reservation as you certainly do not wish to get sent away disappointedly.

The interior is truly astonishing, Kemal Atatürk's table reserved 'for eternity' being the main eye-catcher. But notice as well, for instance, the name tags attached to the wooden panels surrounding the dining room that serve as silent witnesses to the most famous celebrities that frequented this venue. Hear the music composed by famous Russian musicians such as Tchaikovsky and Stravinsky. The dimmed lights give the whole place a slightly mysterious if not ominous ambience, as if a secret KGB agent could be eavesdropping on your table conversation at any moment.

Fortunately I went inside hungry as a Russian bear, whose appetite would soon be saturated with a delicious chicken Kiev. And no, don’t worry, the owners do not intend to convey any malicious intent towards Ukraine that might offend visitors from across the Black Sea: chicken Kiev actually was a Muscovite invention that originated in the nineteenth century, even though this Russian claim is on its turn contested by the French who place the origins of the recipe in their own culinary traditions. Admittedly, the dish was formerly known under its French name as ‘côtelette de volaille’ which literally means ‘poultry cutlet’. Besides historical and chauvinistic gossip, the current version of the dish contains fried chicken fillet rolled in bread crumbs and filled with a racy mix of butter and herbs. It is exquisitely prepared at 1924 Istanbul and has a very refined taste.

For dessert I was attracted by the mille feuille, but the owner insisted that I should take the chocolate Faberge. I gave in. For once I definitely did not regret putting aside my own presumptuous ego. As one may have guessed, the chocolate Faberge actually was a chocolate egg placed on top of a sumptuous chocolate cake. The waiter would then pour a saucer of hot vanilla custard over the plate and - pouf! - by a touch of magic the egg suddenly vanished. I then realised at once how Agatha Christie, one of the restaurant’s most famous customers, must have got her inspiration for writing her sensational novels. At the moment of writing this review, my fellow countryman Hercule Poirot is still investigating the whereabouts of the missing egg. I finished this unforgettable evening with a white coffee which, as a matter of fact, is known as a ‘lait russe’ (literally: ‘Russian milk’) in the French-speaking region of my home country Belgium.

Hence, I highly recommend this place to anyone who wants to enjoy a tasteful evening in a stunning environment well off Istanbul’s trodden touristic paths and/or who might perhaps fancy a one night break from Turkish mezze and kebab. I wish Sasha, the owner, and his team lots of success with the development of this gastronomical institution. Hopefully it will head for the czars! Eeeeh, I...

Terrible experience — not worth the hype or price. My husband and I went to 1924 Istanbul last night for our wedding anniversary. We made a paid reservation in advance, and they charged 400 TRY per person via credit card, which is non-refundable if you don’t show up. However, even though we arrived on time, the deposit wasn’t refunded immediately. They said it would take three days. That already left a bad taste.

Even worse, when we made the reservation, we clearly noted that it was for our anniversary dinner. Guess what? The restaurant didn’t prepare anything special — not even a single flower on the table. I even reminded them again in person, but they completely ignored it. How unprofessional!

Environment: Okay, the decor is beautiful.

Food: Honestly? Totally average. We ordered four dishes and two cocktails. The Çerkez Tavuğu (Circassian chicken) was the best one and cost 290 TRY. The cocktails were decent — that’s probably the only highlight.

Service (or the lack of it): They automatically charge a 10% service fee, but what service? It took servers 5 minutes to refill water. Any question? Be prepared to wait. They barely speak English, and most of the time they were just standing around chatting and laughing among themselves.

The most outrageous part: Before our main dishes arrived, they served us pickles and bread as an appetizer. We ate them — thinking it was complimentary, as it usually is in fine dining. But on the bill? They charged us for it! Unbelievable!

Look, even if you’re a Michelin restaurant (which they claim to be), you need to inform customers beforehand if you’re going to charge for the appetizers. If I knew, I would never eat that sad excuse for pickles.

When we saw the charge, we challenged it, and told the waiter it was unfair and ridiculous. He replied, “We charge every table like this,” basically admitting they do this to everyone. We refused to pay for it.

He was about to hand me a feedback form, but then quickly took it away, saying the manager would come over. The manager never showed up. Another waiter came, said nothing, didn’t apologize, but gave us a new bill with the appetizer charge removed.

We calmly tried to explain that they should inform guests if the appetizers are chargeable. The waiter laughed sarcastically. Unbelievable. No apology. No goodbye when we left. Is this what you call a 2,500 TRY per...

1924 Istanbul is a fantastic culinary experience, and a true highlight of our trip to Istanbul. Hidden in a small alley just off Istiklal, this beautiful restaurant transports you back in time to early 20th century glamour. An Istanbul institution, the restaurant was initially founded by Russians fleeing the revolution, and has recently been restored into its current glory by the current owner, Sashah. The food itself is a glorious mix of traditional and innovative; Eastern European staples such as the piroshky, pickled vegetables, and rye bread are fantastically well-made, while other dishes, such as the beef tartar or beef Stroganoff, are updated and enhanced versions of classics. The chicken Kiev was juicy and succulent and well worth recommending, but the duck a la orange with cinnamon definitely stole the show and was our favourite dish that night.

While the food is well worth a visit on its own, one would be amiss for not mentioning the amazing cocktails of 1924 Istanbul. They are innovative and exciting, combining unexpected ingredients with amazing results. A highlight of our most recent visit is the new addition to the cocktail menu, Fish Bazaar, which consists of salmon vodka, pickled beetroot juice, tomato juice, and lime. While the combination sounds unorthodox, the flavour combination is amazing, and works perfectly with the food. If you are not a fan of cocktails (but, in 1924 Istanbul, you will be!), you should at the very least try their homemade vodkas. My personal favourites include the lemon, the horseradish, and the surprisingly delicious salmon vodka.

The entire experience of a night at 1924 Istanbul is further improved by the hospitality of the owner, Sashah, who personally welcomes everyone who comes to the restaurant. The restaurant is clearly his passion project, made evident by his care for the enjoyment of his customers. If you want to know anything about the history of the restaurant itself, the menu, or Istanbul in general, Sashah will be more than happy to tell you.

In summary, if you are looking for a restaurant with great ambiance, excellent food, and the best cocktails in Istanbul, look no further than 1924. This was our second visit, and we will certainly be back next time we are...