Mikla

One of the most memorable meals I’ve had thus far in my life. Making the reservation was simple via email and we received one of the best tables in the place. We were seated on the outdoor terrace and the view is absolutely breathtaking. Our reservation was on the earlier side and we had the pleasure of watching the sun set over Istanbul; a truly unforgettable experience. However, the food also lived up to the hype. We opted for the tasting menu with wine pairings, which price wise is a steal if you’re accustomed to comparable meals in major US cities. They threw in a few surprise courses not list on the menu, and the wine pairings complimented perfectly. All the wines were Turkish, which was a fun and educational experience as I was not familiar with many of them. If you find yourself in Istanbul, please do yourself a favor and make a reservation.

Hands down, Mikla lives up to the hype. Perfect sized portions, decent value for a price fixed menu and an amazing view! Their service is great and you need to make a reservation in advance. This is a place to ask for a window seat if available. I would recommend going to the terrace for a drink beforehand (try the ginger cocktail!) to enjoy the best view Istanbul has to offer. The hamsi for course one and the grouper for course two are both very good. And for dessert the rice pudding (sutlac) is out of this world. I have been twice, and can’t wait to go for a third time. It’s the perfect place to bring visitors for a elegant dining experience!
Ps. Wear pants, no shorts allowed! Dress to
Impress.

One of the best view in the world!
The food is good and the staff friendly. The cherry is however the amazing view over Istanbul! Next to the bar is a patio where you can see an amazing panorama view of the Old City.
The food is Swedish/​Turkish which means a interesting twist on all the well know delights.
Definitely worth a visit…

Six stars for the view which is the best I have ever seen in my 56 years of wandering this planet. Not kidding. The BEST view ever and worth it just for that. The food is also very good. Lamb and fish were the best. Amazing rice pudding. Wonderful meal I will remember my whole life.
Only draw back was a loud contingent of nouveaux riches Californians who induced one couple to change tables to get away from them. Quelle dommage!

We crashed to this amazing restaurant on our first night in Istanbul. The foods, the wines, the service, the top roof view, all are amazing! Come at sunset!

The view is amazing but that is about it. I would highly recommend you to take the elevator to the roof terrace, take all the selfies you need and buy one overpriced drink. When that’s done, take the elevator down and walk straight to [insert another Unilocal-​approved restaurant].
The food you ask? Well, I had the tasting menu and I don’t remember anything that I eat during my visit so I think I’ll leave it like that. But the service, the service must have been good right? Nope, the service was actually just weird. Our assigned waitress was (I’m not joking here) _​really_​clumsy and I think that was due to the fact that she was stressed. Why she only felt that she had 10 seconds — to make our table, serve the food and explain it for us — I don’t know since the place was at most 50% full.
Conclusion, my take-​aways apart from the bigger than expected hole in my wallet was the view (and the fact that I can’t see this place ever getting a star if they don’t do anything drastic about their service personnel).

Tout était parfait ! Vue exceptionnelle et service impécable. Coktails aux alentours de 40 LT

The restaurant was recently ranked #96 in San Pellegrino’s best restaurants in the world — the only one listed in Turkey. While I realize these lists are marketing exercises for the sponsor — I was really hoping to be blown away. but the reality was just a pretty good meal with a spectacular view of Istanbul and really good service. The chef, known for delving deep into the roots of Anatolian cuisine, put together an interesting menu… from Aegean octopus, local seafood, contemporary Turkish lamb dishes, and a nice array of Anatolian desserts. And while the food was nicely presented and solid, after the meal I didn’t feel like I had «discovered» ancient or traditional Anatolian flavors like I had hoped.
The wine list was international, but also included several pages of Turkish blends and single obscure varietal wines — however there was no sommelier so we got a few recommendations from the waiter. The recommended single varietal Turkish red was ok, but not complex — and a bit young, like most of the wines on the list with no real unique expression… I probably wouldn’t order it again.
We thought 3 of the dishes were A-​/​B+ (octopus, lamb chop, and the mulberry soup dessert), and the other three more B or B– (lamb neck, dried tenderloin, rice pudding). Again, nicely presented, solid taste, but nothing a demanding a return to visit to explore the rest of the menu.
It was a great night, a good meal, but I wonder if it’s really the best of Istanbul.

We went to Mikla for dinner with a late-​night reservation on our recent trip to Istanbul. It looked like a really nice restaurant online so we decided to check it out. Since we showed up a bit early, we went up to the bar for a few drinks beforehand. The view was really excellent and we were treated to a firework show over the Süleymaniye Mosque. The bartender was very friendly and when my drink was clearly taken (presumably on accident) by another group, he made me another one for free.
The food itself at Mikla was excellent overall. We opted for the 7-​course tasting menu which cost 250TL per person and we ordered a bottle of wine to accompany it. All of the food was delicious as was the wine. The service was a bit slow and inattentive which contrasted sharply from Nicole Restaurant which we also dined at on the trip.

Firstly, do make a reservation. I made ours via email about a month before our trip. It is a popular place and most likely will not be able to get a table if you just show up.
So on to our experience. Mikla is on the top floor of the Marmara Pera hotel. I believe it is 19^th floor? The first thing you notice as you walk in is the amazing view of the city! If it is early enough you can walk out to the balcony and take pictures or just take it all in. We were there at 7pm and the sun was just about to set so very romantic. I think they close the door to balcony once it gets dark (there are tables there so people are already sitting).
Their wine menu is quite impressive. We decided on glasses of different Turkish red wines, which we’ve never had before. They were delicious! For dinner we ordered the 3 Course a la Carte menu ($ 65 USD per person/​175 TL). We had octopus, dried tenderloin from BIR; Lamb chop and monkfish from IKI; and UC (dessert) had the intense chocolate and apricot. Everything was excellent! I thought we would still be hungry because the size of the dishes are on the tiny side. but we were stuffed just right. I thought the quality of the food and presentation was top notch.
Service was world-​class. Everything about our experience was just amazing and memorable. And best part is we always felt welcomed. You know how some places on this level you just feel out of place. Not here. there was such variety of people dining there. It has such a thoroughly modern vibe to it that I really liked.
So yes I highly recommend Mikla! I think it does make a «great last moment in Istanbul». Go and enjoy!

Came here while on a business trip. We ordered the 7 course tasting but they allowed us to swap in a different dish and order an extra one (the octopus which was an amazing choice). All of the food was very well prepared and the portions and speed were just right. We were not too full nor were we waiting for long periods of time. The view from the top of the restaurant was amazing as you can see all the way to Galata tower. This would be a great place for a date rather than my business partners. I’d definitely come here again

Spectacular views, outstanding service, world class cuisine. I can not praise our experience here enough. If you are worried about the price point then don’t… this place was worth every lira.

So glad we started off our visit to Istanbul here! We arrived a bit early for dinner and began by browsing the wine list at the bar while enjoying the view. We chose a 2008 Primitivo and were served a 2006 – a real bonus! We ordered dinner from the prix fixe menu and the waiter was very helpful in accommodating my food allergies – the kitchen made adjustments seamlessly. They even served amuse-​bouche that I could eat. The quality of the food was excellent; it was prepared perfectly and presented creatively. I particularly enjoyed the sardines on toast presented standing up in river rocks.
We left feeling satisfied but not uncomfortably full, in contrast to the usual sensation after a Turkish dinner. Prices are a high but the experience is well worth it; everything was impeccable. Our waiter was sharp – he spotted an error in our bill before we did, preventing an overcharge. This is a great place for a special occasion – I cannot wait to return!

Outstanding view of the city, great environment and atmosphere and a great selection of food. You won‘t regret. My wife and I had a wonderful night in this restaurant.

We were a party of 8 whereof 4 children. The staff paid excellent attention to our children and gave them an excellent service.
About the food… an incredible mix of Anatolian cuisine with a Scandinavian touch.
We want to come back!!!
Thanks for a great service!!!

Gutes Edel-​Restaurant mit phänomenalem Ausblick über Istanbul. Die (tätowierten) Kellner sprechen gut englisch und sind sehr zuvorkommend. Im Sommer gibt es eine tolle Rooftop-​Bar.

La meilleure table d’Istanbul durant notre visite d’une semaine. La cuisine n’est pas très originale mais compte-​tenu de ce que l’on peut trouver dans la ville ce fut une pause agréable tant au niveau de la cuisine plutôt raffinée contrairement au reste de nos escapades gustatives que du cadre très joli. Le personnel est attentif et souriant.

Wow. I spent 4 months in Istanbul last winter and while I enjoyed much of the native Turkish fare (kebab, etc.) I really had a hard time finding exceptional cuisine. That was until I discovered Mikla. On the top floor of the Marmara Hotel in the Taksim area of Istanbul, the restaurant has almost 360° views of the entire city.
The cuisine is Turkish-​Scandanavian fusion which sounds strange but works out very well. My advice is to get the full tasting menu which can go toe-​to-​toe with any Michelin star menu in the world. All of the dishes are super creative and delicious from the vegetables to the meat. If I remember correctly I think you get 12 or so courses of wonder with the most expensive tasting menu. Despite the exotic theme, every dish has a familiarity about it that makes the food accessible to your more squeamish of eaters. Additionally their wine list is exceptional and will introduce you to the best Turkish wines.
In terms of service, as with their food, it is equal in quality to any Michelin star restaurant.
While pricey, Mikla is worth every penny if you’re looking for some top-​notch haute-​cuisine in Istanbul. Hopefully the Michelin guide will discover them soon!

Une belle table qui marie produits locaux et modernité à l’occidentale avec réussite. Les plats sont bien cuisinés mais il né faut toutefois pas s’attendre à de grandes découvertes, l’ensemble manqué de subtilité.
La vue est quant à elle est splendide, particulièrement à la nuit tombée, et le service est aux petits soins, chose rare dans cette ville.

I came here just for drinks on the rooftop. When you get off the elevator, take a sharp left and then another sharp left up a flight of stairs, this will lead you to the rooftop area with its own bar. I suggest going just for drinks as of course this place is very pricey and the rooftop bar has the best view anyway. Fantastic view of the whole city, we actually (surprisingly) came with a local and he said the roof is always not crowded everytime he has come, so you can probably count on having an easy time coming and getting a spot. I had a glass of wine for 24tl, so about $ 12 dollars (reasonable by NY standards) The wine goes up from there. Altogether for the glass of wine, a gin&tonic and a Jack Daniels it came to 80tl. Cost more than dinner but what can you expect from a rooftop! Great view, good place for an early drink but it doesn’t get wild up there so may want to go elsewhere after.

4.5 Review. We spent our May Bank Holiday weekend in Istanbul with some friends. In rare fashion, we actually did a small amount of research so it wasn’t our usual «Walk Until We See Something Cool» exploration. I read several articles around the top restaurants in Istanbul and one that seemed to be on every list, was Mikla. I expected something this well known must be a huge tourist trap but it got rave reviews and had a lovely menu so figured, why not? The first thing you notice when you walk into the restaurant is the view. It is on the top floor of the Marmara Pera Hotel and you can see for miles and miles. We decided to place our food orders and then take the wine to the outside terrace while we waited. Enjoying wine outdoors = nice. Enjoying wine outdoors, on a rooftop, while watching the sun set over the Bosphorus = EPIC. For the meal we went with the Prix Fixe a la carte option so each of us selected our own three courses. For a starter, two of us ordered the Octopus, one ordered the Balık Ekmek and the fourth ordered the beef tenderloin and humus. I found the octopus really nice — good texture and tossed in a lemon sauce. I did not try the beef but my friend seemed to enjoy it and the other starter was some kind of a smoked fish on bread. For mains we had a nice variety with the Grouper, Lamb Shank, Trakya Kıvırcık, and Beef. My grouper was delicious. It came with fava beans, asparagus and some kind of vinaigrette. A little on the rare side but extremely enjoyable. J had the Trakya Kivircik which was Shredded Lamb Shank with mushrooms and green lentil humus. So tender and well seasoned — definite winner. Our friends had the Lamb Shank and Beef which they devoured nearly as quickly as we did, so I’d say good reviews on that front as well. To end our evening I was the odd man out as everyone else ordered the chocolate dessert. It was a delicious mousse of sorts with unique flavors and a strawberry sorbet — and don’t worry — the «birdshit» was made from pistachios. I went with the sour cherry dessert and loved every bite. Honey ice cream with cherry compote, almonds and graham cracker like crumbs. Mikla is definitely one of the more expensive places to eat in Istanbul but had high quality food, great service and a memorable view so I would highly recommend.

On the top floor of the Marmara Pera hotel, Mikla serves up perfect modern Mediterranean cuisine to an international clientele. The chef strictly use the top-​notch ingredients. Kıvırcık lamb cutlets is a favorite choice. Also follow it with pistachio and halva ice cream and it’ll be your new addiction. The rooftop in summer, inside in winter time and make sure to ask for a table with a view of the Old City.

Our one splurge in Istanbul.
Unparalleled view. Michelin star quality food. Sophisticated dining to wow all your senses.
The 3 course ala carte prix fixe is more than enough food. Everything was excellent. There was four of us, each had something different (just about) and not a single disappointment.
My advice? Please show some respect and dress to impress. If I have to see another geriatric in a sweatshirt, grandpa/​ma jeans and orthopedic sneakers …
Also? Make reservations, go early and nab a window seat. Get there 20 mins before sunset and have a drink at the terrace and soak in the view. Then, eat like a King!

Aside from Google maps failing us as we made our way there, it was a wonderful, wonderful night spent at Mikla. Fine dining on the rooftop level while overlooking the Bosphorus River that separates the European and Asian sides of Istanbul (Mikla is in on the European side of the city) and without a pompous vibe? Yes, please. The chef hails from a combination of Turkish and Scandinavian backgrounds and serves to transform local ingredients into a contemporary twist. And, this concept works. He does the Istanbullus proud.
From start to finish, every course featured local ingredients with a contemporary spin. Our bread platter came with Turkish olive oil, sea salt, goat cheese with toasted hazelnuts. Hazelnuts are fantastic in Turkey too, not just pistachios. The «half cooked Dentex» (and I just learnt that Dentex is a type of fish!) was served in fish consommé. The skin of the fish was charred until crispy and the meat was soft. The dry aged tenderloin was served; definitely very interesting and we saw that as the restaurant’s own take to steak tartare. The lamb was very distinct with its very deep smoky flavor and not gamey. The sutlac was another attempt of turning a traditional dessert to a contemporary one. The rice pudding was deconstructed and served with green apple sorbet, strawberry purée, and graham cracker crumbs. The cheese platter greatly showcased several types of Anatolian cheese.
Service was professional and definitely in no rush. This place may offer great views but it’s not one of those cheesy rooftop touristy places. It has wonderful food!

Overated and pretentious. Dried tenderloin was cut in very thick slices and came with two leaves of bland salad. The grouper was not cooked enough. For desert I had the crunchy pumpkin, with pistachhio ice cream, disastrous.
Service is obnoxious, except when it’s time to pay.