Beyoğlu Culture Route: the soul of İstanbul

Step into the world of Alaf, where Chef Deniz Temel redefines the essence of Yuruk cuisine. Join us as we explore the stunning ambiance of Alaf’s ...

As you would expect in a famous holiday destination like Bodrum, there are many stunning hotels renowned for their views, service, bars, and cocktails. However, some of these hotels also stand out for their restaurants, such as Kitchen by Osman Sezener at The Bodrum Edition and Maçakızı led by Aret Sahakyan—you’ll want to visit them even if you’re not staying there!

In Bodrum, there is a place for everyone, whether authentic, secluded, or vibrant. Bağarası, Dereköy Lokantası, and Kurul Bitez are proof that Bodrum restaurants are not limited to a single type of cuisine. These restaurants offer flavors of different cuisines but have something in common: the pleasure of dining beneath lush trees.

Among the fine-dining restaurants in Bodrum are some of the most celebrated cuisines in the world. Some of them stand out not only for their delicious dishes but also for their cocktails, sunset parties, and vibrant atmosphere, such as Isola Manzara -the representative of Italian cuisine, Zuma -one of the leading restaurants of Japanese cuisine, and Hakkasan which introduced Chinese cuisine to the world.

İstanbul’s centuries-old, rich, multicultural cuisine displays diverse traditions in various locations today. Some restaurants reunite people with the palace cuisine, some reinterpret familiar flavors with a chef’s touch; some try to serve the dishes everyone likes in a usual way, and some recreate familiar dishes from scratch. Frankly, there is room for everyone in this great metropolis.

In almost every country, the capital city evokes images of “refined cuisine” due to its association with palaces and aristocracy. In Türkiye, the spotlight naturally falls on the “old capital,” Istanbul. First established as the capital by Emperor Constantine, Istanbul has maintained this prestigious status for centuries.

Sankai by Nagara is one of the latest One-Star restaurants in Istanbul. It serves the city’s most sophisticated Japanese flavors and promises to offer an authentic Japanese dining experience with a kitchen led by Chef Nagaya and Chef Shibata. And how could they create this “authentic Japanese dining experience” in Istanbul?

Front-of-house teams are made up of professionals who can elevate a dining experience to a whole new level. The team at Restaurant Tuğra in Istanbul, headed up by Ismail Kahveci, is a case in point… and recipient of our Service Award. This article is supported by Mastercard, official partner of the MICHELIN Guide Istanbul, Izmir & Bodrum.