Balat Sahil Restaurant — Restaurant in Fatih

One of the best meze restaurants I have been for years. They prepare mezes according to season. For instance; Sardines was in the season and they made a great meze out of it; very fresh, simple and delicious. Likewise red pepper meze was very well balanced between spicy and freshness of yogurt. Lakerda was one of the bests i had in my life. Tripe stew mezes was very surprising; Its a very sharp savory taste that goes very well with your drink. In most of the meze restaurants, vegetable mezes are just ignored and they are not prepared delicately where as in this restaurant, I had amazingly fresh and delicious ones. I wish they had better desserts, only one or two options and they were not as good as mezes. The waiters are very hard working and always checking for your need. The decoration is very old which is fine to reflect the old authentic style, but to reach up to the terrace you need to take three floors of stairs; no elevator. I am very much looking forward to...

Balat Sahil Restoran: A Testament to Timeless Quality

Balat Sahil Restoran stands out in the nostalgic setting of Balat with its varied and unique meze options, delicious hot starters, and fish dishes. The onion dolma, topik, çiroz, and hodan were particularly delightful to me, although I found the pilaki and artichokes a bit too sweet for my taste.

The roast in the hot starters was incredibly successful, and both the calamari and liver were perfectly cooked with a crispy exterior and tender inside. The sea bass stew we finished with was exceptionally tasty. Overall, it was a wonderful meal, thoroughly enjoyed with friends in a charming and comfortable setting.

Balat Sahil Restoran is an ideal destination for those seeking a variety of flavors and a memorable dining experience in one of Istanbul’s most historic and picturesque...

The most unforgettable dinner of our entire Istanbul trip.

Thank you, Ferruh, for introducing us to more than just food — you gave us a taste of true Turkish soul.

From the perfectly crispy fried fish to the smoky eggplant purée, marinated mushrooms, handmade dolma, and creamy fava, every meze felt like a story from the streets of old Istanbul. Paired with a chilled glass of Çankaya white wine and a sip of bold Beylerbeyi Göbek rakı, it wasn’t just a meal — it was a journey.

Ferruh is not just a host, he’s the heart and storyteller of the restaurant. There were no flashy words or rehearsed greetings — only genuine warmth, impeccable taste, and a deep love for sharing his culture through food.

If you only have one night in Istanbul to remember forever — this is where you go.

Thank you for making our...