“We believe that the taste of food comes from the quality and freshness of the ingredients, and the compassion that goes into preparing them. We have become friends with many of our customers over the years. The frankness, tolerance, smiles, thoughts, art, music, and talks, in a word, ’life', shared together and friendships established here, add zest to the foods. At dinner we serve a wide selection of mezes which rely heavily on istanbul cuisine, accompanied by the flavours of Anatolia and Aegean.”

Seasonal fresh fish; cold lamb’s brain; and wild greens with lemon and olive oil.

A buzzing meeting place and a top choice of Istanbul’s elite, with famous journalists, writers, and artists deep in conversation almost every night. Karaköy Lokantası brings a people from all walks of life to its tables. The lunch clientele is more low-key, with typical homestyle cooking. In the evening, the restaurant turns into a meyhane (Turkish tavern) featuring meze platters of seafood and wild greens drizzled with olive oil. The interior design, with its blue-tiled walls, is a modern spin on a traditional Turkish restaurant. Keep an eye on the corner window, where a local artist puts up a new installation made with kitchenware every four months.