Carlos Terrace Restaurant İstanbul — Restaurant in Fatih

A Night to Forget – Unprofessional, Chaotic, and Utterly Disrespectful

If you’re looking for a restaurant where you can enjoy your meal in peace, avoid this place like the plague.

What should have been a pleasant evening was completely derailed by a table of twelve who decided the dining room was their private nightclub. They danced on their seats, screamed and sang at the top of their lungs, and even took control of the music. Yes, you read that correctly — guests were allowed to hijack the restaurant’s sound system, turning what should have been a relaxed dinner into a thudding, chaotic mess.

Even worse, the staff not only permitted this circus, they encouraged it. The lights were turned off — making it impossible to see our food — and servers actually joined in, flashing their phone torches in time with the music like it was some sort of amateur disco. At one point, even the staff were dancing and singing along, seemingly forgetting they were meant to be running a restaurant, not hosting a rave.

We were eventually forced to request our food be moved to a different floor just to get away from the noise and the absurdity of it all. It was that unbearable.

And then — as if insult needed to be added to injury — one of the staff had the audacity to act surprised that we’d had a bad experience, asking for “clarification” as to why. A small discount was applied to the bill, but it didn’t even come close to making up for the sheer lack of professionalism, the ruined evening, or the complete disregard for every other table in the restaurant.

This wasn’t a quirky vibe. It wasn’t fun. It was embarrassingly mismanaged chaos, and it showed a staggering lack of respect for paying guests.

There are plenty of places in the city that know how to create atmosphere without making you feel like you’ve accidentally wandered into someone else’s hen party. This isn’t one of...

Perched atop a historic building in the heart of Karaköy, Carlos Terrace Restaurant is more than just a dining spot — it’s an experience that begins with a panoramic view and ends with a satisfied smile. With its sweeping terrace overlooking the Bosphorus and the distant minarets of Sultanahmet, this place effortlessly blends Istanbul’s old-world charm with a vibrant, modern flair.

The menu at Carlos is rooted in traditional Turkish cuisine, but each dish arrives with a creative twist. We started with fava served with caramelized onions and a hint of orange zest — surprisingly fresh and balanced. The grilled halloumi with honey and walnuts was a standout, offering a beautiful contrast of textures and flavors.

For the main course, I chose the kuzu incik (braised lamb shank), which fell off the bone and melted into a rich bed of eggplant purée. My friend had the sea bass wrapped in vine leaves, which was aromatic, flaky, and perfectly seasoned. Both dishes were elevated by thoughtful presentation and excellent ingredient quality.

As the sky turned pink over the water, we sipped on Turkish wine from the Thrace region, recommended by our knowledgeable server, Cem. He was personable, attentive, and knew the story behind nearly every item on the menu.

We ended the evening with katmer — flaky pastry filled with pistachios and clotted cream — alongside a strong Turkish coffee that made us linger just a bit longer.

Carlos Terrace Restaurant is a true gem for anyone seeking a romantic evening, a refined take on Turkish classics, or simply one of the best views in...

⭐️ Super nice food, the spices seasoned the meat perfectly with everything plated beautifully, wow honestly the best food i had during my stay in istanbul. ⭐️The staff were lovely, the waiters took care of me and were so attentive during the service period. The waiter who helped me was so nice is helping suggest which food to eat and communicated so well with me in english. ⭐️The view was breathtaking and i was there near the end of the day, wow amazing ocean view with birds everywhere and the blue mosque right outside. Very nice ambience, calm music in the background and the spacing between the tables was great. I was dining alone and was just looking at the view and also called my sister and it was so perfect that i didn't bother anyone and no one bothered me with their conversation. ⭐️ The prices were well thought out, in my opinion affordable for such a meal and definitely worth every penny. They have a wide variety depending on your budget and taste buds. I ended up paying 29$ on an appetiser, a full main course and some water which was very worthwhile. ⭐️ Very clean area, food and plates were immediately taken when finished, the floors and whole dining area was spotless as well as their single toilet.

Overall, thank you so much i had an amazing dinner with your restaurant and i will definitely be back next time....