Old Harbour Kumkapı Restaurant — Restaurant in Fatih

❗️Complete scam❗️

At first sight bright lights, lanterns, LED strips, music and a lively atmosphere. But don’t be fooled: this is a typical tourist trap. The nice setting hides the reality, which is much worse than in authentic local restaurants elsewhere in Istanbul – there you’ll get better food, fair prices, and feel welcome instead of cheated. We even considered arguing with the staff but gave up, because we didn’t want to spoil our holiday with conflict.

At Old Harbour we encountered several unfair practices:

Charging for items we never ordered At the beginning, they brought bread and “caviar”, even though we only ordered main dishes and water. These items later appeared on the bill, which is not a normal practice in Turkish restaurants.

Overpriced food and opaque bill The bill did not show the individual dishes we actually ordered. Instead, it only listed broad categories (“food”, “drinks”) plus a vague “service” item and other charges. The total price for the food was higher than if we added up the menu prices we remembered. This is clearly intentional, because most customers don’t check the bill in detail. Meanwhile, the menu had been taken away, so we couldn’t verify at the table. After paying, we got the change correctly, but the original printed receipt was never returned to us.

Fake “complimentary gift” After the meal, they forced watermelon on us, claiming it was free. However, we clearly saw the exact same sliced, already dry watermelon being taken from another table and then served to us!

Pressure for reviews Before even paying the bill, the waiters insisted we write a positive review. Maybe they don’t look directly into your phone, but they stand at your table and wait. Many people, just to get rid of them, leave 5 stars and a short comment. That explains why this place has over 1700 reviews and such a high rating, which does not reflect reality.

Tip scam On the bill, the official amount which was already higher than it used to be (Net Tutar) was printed clearly, but the waiter manually added a tip that we never asked for. We never said we wanted to leave extra tip, and we never agreed to it.

Forced atmosphere After the meal, musicians came directly to our table and played. It was not authentic entertainment, but a clear attempt to make us pay extra. When it was obvious we wouldn’t give money, they immediately left.

Overall experience The setting was not pleasant, and the food was average at best, often below average. Compared to Western Europe, this restaurant offers nothing of quality – just a tourist trap.

🔚 I understand Turkey is facing high inflation and economic challenges, but this is not the way to handle it. What we experienced here was not just “higher prices” – it was tourist scamming: charging for things we didn’t order, unclear bills, inflated totals, and forced tips.

The overall impression was that guests are treated only as money machines. If you are in Istanbul just for a few days, this kind of experience can ruin your stay. Istanbul has many excellent restaurants with fair prices and genuine hospitality – Old Harbour and the whole area around it are definitely not among them.

If Istanbul wants to attract tourists in the same way as Italy or Spain, restaurants must provide fair conditions and transparent pricing. Otherwise, visitors will leave disappointed and...

The staff were exceptionally kind and helpful – they responded to every request immediately and with a smile. Breakfast was generous, varied, and delicious – we truly experienced Turkish hospitality at its finest.

The restaurant beneath the hotel, Old Harbour Kumkapı Restaurant, is a real gem! The food was incredibly tasty, made from fresh ingredients and beautifully presented. We tried some local specialties – all fresh and full of flavor – always accompanied by delicious Turkish tea. The service was attentive, friendly, and professional. The atmosphere was authentic, with lovely music, warm lighting, and a stunning view – a perfect dinner experience I wholeheartedly recommend to everyone!

A special shoutout to the entire staff, especially Artur, Aydin, and Yasar – it’s rare to meet such genuinely kind, attentive, and professional people. They were always helpful, greeted us with a warm smile, and you could truly feel they put their heart and soul into what they do.

I highly recommend this place to anyone visiting Istanbul – don’t even think twice! And if I ever return to this magical city, I will definitely be...

Awesome Place for Breakfast! We’re a group of friends from Russia and had breakfast here — and it was amazing! The food was super tasty, fresh, and looked great. We tried a bit of everything and loved it all. The place has such a nice vibe — cozy and welcoming, perfect for chilling with friends in the morning. A big shout-out to our waiter Aydin! He was super kind, friendly, and made sure we had everything we needed. You can tell he really cares about the guests. He even gave us some local tips — that was really cool! Everyone working there seemed happy and positive. It felt like we were visiting friends, not just a restaurant. We’re so glad we found this spot — we’ll definitely be back! Thank you for the great morning and...