Ada Cafe Bookstore — Restaurant in Beyoğlu

Avoid This Scammy and Discriminatory Restaurant

If you want to encounter some of the most pathetic and cunning people in Istanbul, by all means, dine here. Otherwise, steer clear and spend your money where you're treated with respect and honesty.

I recently had a highly disappointing experience at this restaurant, and I feel compelled to warn others, especially tourists, about the unethical practices and blatant discrimination I encountered.

This place attempts to deceive tourists by claiming that every restaurant in Istanbul charges a so-called "service fee," which isn't listed on the menu. Having lived in this city for a while, I know that this isn't true. Fine dining establishments either don't charge such fees or clearly display them on the menu. When I asked about their service fee rate, the staff dodged the question, clearly reluctant to show any transparency. The service fee they eventually charged was an absurd 11.94%, a rate that is both laughable and outrageous. It’s a clear scam, and they seem to prey on unsuspecting visitors.

The waiters exhibited blatant racism. Despite ordering two dishes and a coffee—spending more than the average person there—I was the only one not served bread. The difference in treatment was glaring and unacceptable.

when I received my receipt, which showed their ridiculous 77 lira "service fee," a waiter with an earring rudely snatched it from me. This behavior was both unprofessional and...

Hi, I visit Turkey almost every year since 2000, one of the most incredible dining experiences I had during my trip August 2022 at ADA Restaurant in Taksim, Istanbul.

From the moment we stepped into the restaurant, we were captivated by its enchanting ambiance truly unique and inviting atmosphere. Soft lighting, tasteful décor, and comfortable seating, it was not just the ambience that impressed me; the culinary delights served at ADA were truly exceptional. The menu offered a wide range of Turkish and international dishes, each prepared with the utmost care and attention to detail. The flavors were exquisite, and every bite was a delightful journey for the taste buds. From the perfectly seasoned mezes to the succulent main courses, every dish surpassed my expectations.

What made the experience even more memorable to celebrate my birthday with my family in ADA with such impeccable service provided by the restaurant staff. The waiters were attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about their work. They were more than happy to see us visiting their resturant 4 times during same trip 10 days

Thank you for taking the time to read about my experience. I hope it inspires you to visit ADA Restaurant and create your own unforgettable...

Today we walked into ADA restaurant on İstiklal with my mother and we were expecting my brother and father to come and join us for dinner. It was around 6.15pm.

When we walked in, there were some tables for four people empty close to the entrance and some tables for two.

The server who was working this shift, approached us and asked for how many people. I replied for four people.

Two blonde haired ladies were waiting infront of us and the server told us, that the ladies are going to get the next available table which was set for four people. I replied. He offered us a table for two people right next to the table of four which I rejected as we needed place for four.

He then became rude and asked us to leave since he had no other tables available???? This was clearly a act of discrimination as we perhaps were not blonde enough or didn't look like foreigners who would bring lots of money to the restaurant???? I have no idea. However, if the restaurant doesn't want to lose out on more customers due to harassment and discrimination, they should hire staff which are polite and worldy, not...