Divan Brasserie Beyoğlu — Restaurant in Beyoğlu

When the Kale Lost Its Groove 🥬✨ Starter, meet Main Had an unexpected experience at one of my favorite brasseries — the location is absolutely stunning, with views of both the Historical Peninsula and the Anatolian side of the Bosphorus. Usually flawless: view, vibe, food, wine. This time… a few things went offbeat. Starter arrived with the main. When I mentioned I’d expected it first, the waitress said, “I didn’t ask for it to be served in front,” and walked away. A curious approach to service. 🤔 Kale’s distant cousin The filet 🦈 promised “sweet and sour vegetables, sautéed kale leaves, and basil aioli.” There were some veggie options, yes, but a few chopped vegetables rested on a single soft green leaf — perhaps a distant cousin of kale, but certainly not enough to chew. 🥗 Boxed and ready for takeoff📦 Leftovers arrived in a box so large it could’ve doubled as carry-on luggage, tucked inside an even bigger paper bag. ✈️ QR Code chaos Then came the table promo: a QR code offering 20% off via the Divan Life app. I tried — no luck. The waiter tried — still no luck. When I asked if the discount could still apply, the reply was: “Oh, the app isn’t our responsibility, we can’t give the discount.” Another oblivious little misstep. 😅 Minor details, perhaps, but from a place known for elegance, it felt a little off-key. I left with the view still dazzling, the wine still fine, and the service… still finding...

One of Istanbul’s best restaurants with a splendid view overlooking the Marmara Sea, the Bosporus and the old town. The menu offers great choices of Turkish food. Hard to resist the dolma, minced meat and rice wrapped in cabbage leaves. A selection of cold vegetables cooked in olive oil, especially the leak is amazing. Turkish kofte ( like small hamburger with spices)served on eggplant pure is absolutely delicious. But you can also treat yourself to pasta or fish. Great ambiance. The sharp day light that comes in and the unique Istanbul view elevate your mood during the day. On good weather days, you can also sit outdoors. It is a good choice for dinner too. It is not very expensive compared to similars that offer such beautiful view and high class food. The staff is well mannered , friendly and kind. Reservation is a must. This restaurant is located at the upper level of Koc Foundation where you can always find interesting exhibitions at the ground level. It is on Istanbul’s busiest pedestrian street Istiklal Caddesi on Beyoglu. Those who do not want to brave the crowds, the best way is to get a cab up to Galatasaray Lycee/highschool and then walk 200 meters to the restaurant . Or take a cab to Odakule near Pera Palace and cross the passage into Istiklal Street and walk to your left 300 meters to...

Fantastic view down the Bosphorus to the Islands, over Sultanahmet etc. Menu a good mix of Turkish and European. Went at lunch on a Saturday and almost had the whole place to myself, which is a shame really - this place should be full all the time. Some nice, generous touches, like a complimentary tapenade with the bread (excellent, with fragrant sichuan peppercorns mixed in) and also a lukum with the coffee (which doesn't happy everywhere at all). My only gripe about the foot was that the pamesan shavings on my rocket salad were rubbery, like they had been pre-cut a long time ago, or shaved from much too far into the rind. Had a very nice bloody marry which had the spice balance just right (often far too hot) and mostly from peppercorn rather than hot sauce; they make it with lime juice which adds a nice dimension. It's at the top of the Koç building for Anatolian studies, so there is often an exhibition of some kind on the groud floor to visit on the...