Mivan Restaurant & Cafe
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We visited here last night and honestly it is worth the hype. When we saw the reviews we thought "hmmm surely it can't be THAT good", but it was really good. We were very happy with our meal. First we needed to wait about 15 minutes for a table which was fine as we didn't book in advance. Our table was one of the downstairs outside tables and it was really lovely. The restaurant is beautifully decorated and the table was a good size and very comfortable. When we ordered we were given 3 plates of starters and some lovely warm, pillowy bread. We particularly enjoyed the salsa which had a gentle heat to it and the pickled red cabbage. We had their lemonata to drink which was great. If you haven't, definitely try it! We ordered the lamb shish and the Mivan special. Both were great. The seasoning on the lamb shish was delicious and the Mivan special was comprised of 4 pieces of rolled lamb belly and 1 lamb chop. Absolutely delicious and nicely herbed with some great sides. We were also given extra bread as our original serving did not last long! The Mivan Special was a little more pricey but VERY worth it and the Lamb Shish was slightly more than we have paid previously but there were more pieces of lamb. As other reviews have said, the portions are generous and I think this is reflected in the price. After we finished we had turkish tea which was also delicious. Unfortunately couldn't fit in dessert! We thoroughly enjoyed our meal. I will say that we didn't try any of the Italian food options so I cannot comment on how they are. There were a couple of comments saying that this restaurant is a tourist trap and our experience was anything but. Yes, mostly the diners were tourists but this has not impacted the food at all which was fantastic and good value for money. If there was one thing I would change it would be the location as there are a lot of vehicles driving past. Mostly though this was not too disturbing and would be avoided completely with an inside table. We feel very lucky that this was our last meal in Istanbul as it really was a great reflection of how the food should be. Don't hesitate to stop here for a meal!
Emily HunsleyEmily Hunsley
40
Fantastic experience. It was our first day in Istanbul, and after a venture around the Grand Bazaar, we were feeling slightly hungry. A quick Google showed this restaurant with a seemingly-impossible 5 stars from 1000 reviews on TripAdvisor. Seeing that it was only a 5 minute walk, we headed over. We were greeted warmly by the staff and they immediately led us to a table upstairs by the window, with a lovely view of the street below us (and a gorgeous cat sat next to us). Emin was a fantastic host and was incredibly responsive to all our requests. We ordered a few starters—the garlic bread, the lentil soup, and the hummus—and received all of those incredibly fast, alongside a selection of complimentary dips and pita. The hummus was, in my opinion, the best I have ever had. The pita tasted and felt fresh, and they were quick to bring another basket to the table. Lentil soup was great as well. I have to admit, garlic bread was not my favorite, but that’s a very subjective thing, and I’m not going to knock off points for an opinion that isn’t based on an issue with seasoning, etc. The main courses were even better. 3 out of 4 of us were vegetarian, but that wasn’t an issue—a full page of vegetarian items on the menu was up for our consideration. We ended up getting the vegetarian lasagna, the grilled vegetables with yogurt, and the chicken casserole. I can confidently say that NONE of us were left unsatisfied. The vegetables in both the lasagna and the yogurt dish were fantastic. The seasoning made the dishes flavorful and well-balanced, and the texture was perfect. Portion sizes are HUGE, and we all got full fairly fast. When we asked if we could take home the leftovers, they were incredibly accommodating. In their words: if we wanted to take the rest home, that meant we loved it! They packed it up for us really nicely. Lastly was some tea and Turkish coffee, all on the house. Wonderful finish to a wonderful meal. The total cost was pretty affordable for the amount we ordered. All in all, great experience. Will definitely come back if we get a chance.
Riya KatariaRiya Kataria
00
We’ve been here 2 years ago, and when we came back the waiters remembered us and made us feel warm and welcome. Most of the different meals we’ve had were second to none. If any issue is raised they are quick to rectify it. They always offer complimentary bread and drinks. The cilber consists of creamy yogurt with garlic seasoning and poached eggs, sprinkled with croutons. I’ll be honest, I’m not normally a fan of yogurt but this has changed my mind. We also ordered the sucuklu yumurta. This was delicious! I would highly recommend ordering this and it goes really well with the complimentary bread. The pacanga boregi is a pastry filled with pastrami and vegetables. It was full of flavour and crispy on the outside. Last but not least, we shared the kahvalti tabagi. This is a delightful spread of olives, meats, wedges, cheese, dips and vegetables. Perfect for sharing and very filling. Overall, it was a delightful breakfast! The cost is very reasonable for such a tasty and filling meal. This is a restaurant experience you don’t want to miss!
Jan VuckovicJan Vuckovic
10
A delightful experience. After suffering with all the tourist trap restaurants in the center area, I ended up in this amazing restaurant. The food matches what you see in the pictures and looks and tastes even better. This restaurant has a static menu, so don’t expect the menus with stickers and inflated prices for tourists. The lentil soup was my favorite. The taste and texture are perfect. The hummus was delicious and fresh. The prawns in the butter casserole are big, the stake was delicious and tender, the grilled chicken in the salad was juicy and the kebab meats were super tasty. All portions are big! And you get complimentary starters and a very nice pita. You can also get freshly squeezed juice Don’t expect to get alcohol in here. The staff is friendly and attentive and the service is nice. The ambience is also quite nice and, if you sit in the terrace, you will get visited by cute but respectful cats (they won’t steal your food, although they want to). My best experience in Istanbul!
Diego SerranoDiego Serrano
80
My friend was searching a spot for out first dinner in Istanbul. Mivan has the highest reviews in the area and pictures looked nice. Restaurant is nice designed. Menu is too long for sure and as I always say - if some place serve everything they are good at nothing. In menu you can find turkish food, burgers and pasta. We order mix plate and garlic bread as a starter. I was super disappointed after appetisers and regret we order main courses. Garlic bread was extremely soft and all food on mixed plate tasted like it was bought in supermarket, not home made. It was hard to get attention of the waiter or even make an eye contact, he was avoiding it or we were watching his back. Fortunately main courses were fine - my friend had meatballs and I had kebab with yogurt. I was surprised it was served without bread. I agree that food there is overpriced and just average or below that. The staff wasn’t friendly and welcoming, place had no vibe and was full of tourists.
Agata NowakAgata Nowak
00
I recently visited this place in Istanbul recommended to me by my hotel reception and I must admit what an experience it was. From the entrance where you are greeted by a smiling waiter to being seated with the utmost respect, I would give nothing short of 5 stars (lord knows i could have given 6 if it was possible). The food was only matched by the pleasant atmosphere in the Turkish winter and the charming smiles of the servers. I tried there kofte and it's a must have. I would like to extend my bestest of wishes to the hardworking people who run this place with an unmatched enthusiasm. It's not always you find a place where you fall in love with the atmosphere as much as you do with the food they serve. The ending could not have been without the one and only Turkish tea which was on the house.Special shout out to Yols. Keep up the good work lads. Regards A very satisfied customer.
nabeel ahmad mustafanabeel ahmad mustafa
00
Nearby Attractions Of Mivan Restaurant & Cafe
Grand Bazaar
Hagia Sophia
The Blue Mosque
Basilica Cistern
Sultanahmet Square
Beyazit Square
Yenikapı Ferry Terminal (İDO)
Nuruosmaniye Mosque
Cistern of Theodosius
Column of Constantine
Grand Bazaar
4.4
(52.7K)Click for details
Hagia Sophia
4.8
(41.4K)Click for details
The Blue Mosque
4.7
(36.4K)Click for details
Basilica Cistern
4.6
(26.4K)Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of Mivan Restaurant & Cafe
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Hanzade Terrace Restaurant
Garden 1897 Restaurant
Hafız Mustafa
Hidden Garden
Seven Hills Restaurant
Fish Home Ahhir Kapi Restaurant
Nusr-Et Steakhouse Kapalıçarşı
KD Karadeniz Aile Pide ve Kebap Salonu
Hafız Mustafa 1864 Beyazıt
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Turgut Kebab Restaurant -Sultanahmet-
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Garden 1897 Restaurant
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Learn more insights from Wanderboat AIBasic Info
Address
Emin Sinan, Piyer Loti Cd. No:34, 34130 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye
Map
Phone
+90 543 737 32 41
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Reviews
Overview
4.9
(3.3K reviews)$$
Ratings & Description
Description
Trendy destination serving breakfasts, kebabs & grills, plus steaks & casseroles.
attractions: Grand Bazaar, Hagia Sophia, The Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern, Sultanahmet Square, Beyazit Square, Yenikapı Ferry Terminal (İDO), Nuruosmaniye Mosque, Cistern of Theodosius, Column of Constantine, restaurants: Hafız Mustafa 1864 Beyazıt, Turgut Kebab Restaurant -Sultanahmet-, Hanzade Terrace Restaurant, Garden 1897 Restaurant, Hafız Mustafa, Hidden Garden, Seven Hills Restaurant, Fish Home Ahhir Kapi Restaurant, Nusr-Et Steakhouse Kapalıçarşı, KD Karadeniz Aile Pide ve Kebap Salonu
