Mahal Antep — Restaurant in Beyoğlu

When we decided to have a Gaziantep breakfast in Istanbul, we searched the internet, and the first option was Mahal Antep.

The rooftop is very nice, the staff was friendly, and the atmosphere was pleasant. However, if they hadn’t made some mistakes with the food, the brunch would have been excellent. The details are what separate an excellent restaurant from a good one.

The first unforgettable mistake was with the only fresh salad, which included tomatoes, cucumbers, and lettuce. The salad was pre-made a long time before serving; everything was dull and lifeless. It takes just two minutes to make one from scratch, and for the price of 80 euros for breakfast, one expects fresh salads to actually be fresh.

The second mistake was with the honey they brought us, which was cheap. Turkey is famous for its excellent honey, and you could probably find a good one without any problem.

One recommendation from a regular traveler: you may suggest that desserts be served at the end of brunch, so they can be hot and crispy. All other pre-made meals were very good, and the Turkish coffee was nice.

For the prices they charge, I expect better quality for some of the food. We probably overpaid, but the overall experience was...

We loved this place! The staff were all very friendly, inviting and generous without being pushy as many other surrounding restaurants. We came several times for Baclava and künefe - the cheese peynirli künefe (cheese) was incredible. Sitting upstairs on the terrace was lovely, with a nice view of the Bosphorus. The only thing I would have liked to see is a mixed sample plate of the different baclava - as we were only 2 people, we could only order so much sweets! We also got some Turkish delight to take away and they gave us samples of different flavours to try before we bought. All were stunning! My only disappointment was we weren’t able to come back for...

An absolute gem! The staff here is amazing and makes you feel so welcome from the moment you arrive. The food is delicious — authentic Turkish cuisine at its best. I especially recommend trying the Zırh Kebabı, which was outstanding.

They serve plenty of complimentary starters and treats, and every meze we tried was excellent. The location is very central, right next to Galataport and just a 5–7 minute walk from Galata Bridge. The terrace view is beautiful and makes the whole experience even more special.

Big thanks to Salim for the warm hospitality! Definitely recommend this place for anyone wanting a memorable meal...