A visit to Mikla in Türkiye's dazzling metropolis on the Bosphorus Strait
This past summer I had the opportunity to spend a few nights in Istanbul. While there we decided that we would make Istanbul the location of our first ever Michelin Restaurant visit. We researched locations online ahead of time and compared reviews, prices and availability. We decided Mikla was going to be our restaurant of choice given its amazing location and wonderful reviews. The evening we were going to visit the restaurant we took the ferry to Karaköy and then continued on the the Karaköy tram to aid in our ascent up the busy streets towards the restaurant.
The Michelin Experience at Mikla
Moving from the streets of Beyoğlu to the rooftop of the Marmara Pera hotel and you'll find yourself in Mikla, one of Istanbuls many (53!) Michelin starred restaurants. The surrounding neighborhood is near the vibrant and bustling Istiklal street which is an experience in and of itself. The famed Galata Tower can be found a short walk away.
Taking the elevator up to the top you are greeted by luxury at every turn. The view is eye popping from the outdoor terrace. A word to the wise for those who experience vertigo; request a table indoors. The sides of the rooftop terrace are a 5 foot glass wall overlooking the dizzying drop to the streets below. While you dine the sun slowly sets making for a stunning view.
The Menus
The menu changes depending on season and local ingredients but everything we tried was fantastic. You have the choice of doing a tasting style menu which offers about 7 courses with a vegan option available. You can also order from a prix fixe a la carte menu which gives you the option to select a first and second course as well as a dessert. bear in mind, the tasting menu can only be ordered for the entire table so if you have diverse diners, such as meat eaters and vegetarians alike, you're best to go with the second option.
Our group all opted for the prix fixe option with each opting for something different. We tried the Manti, Prawns, Sea Bass, Lamb and and Asparagus dish among others. There were also a few unannounced amuse bouches that showed up between courses with long pauses to let you savor each.
Booking and Cost
We booked our time about 3 months in advance and it is recommended you do the same to ensure you can experience this on your trip to Istanbul. They only had one booking per night per table so you can plan on spending about 3 hours over a leisurely dinner. There is no rushed dishes, and there is ample opportunity for conversation so it makes for a wonderful experience. We dined in August so it was comfortable without any jackets but the breeze coming from the nearby waterways may bring a chill on some evenings.
The cost of the experience will vary depending on menu choices and if those choices are paired with wine but a rough guide is below. All prices are in Turkish Lira, you can see the conversion rate here.
Prix fixe : 3300.00 TL
Tasting Menu: 4400.00 TL, or up to 8600.00 TL with wine pairing (6 glasses)
Vegan Tasting: 3200.00 TL, or up to 7400.00 TL with wine pairing (6 glasses)
In Summary
I hope your interest is piqued and you are inspired to go and see what one of Istanbul's amazing Michelin restaurants has to offer. This post was only about Mikla but there are so many more you can discover. If you have travel plans to visit Istanbul, make sure to include at least one evening at one of them and you won't regret the experience.
In fact, explore the Michelin Restaurants wherever you might be traveling. There is also a feature on their website that is called a Bib Gourmand where you can find excellent meals at a very reasonable price. These restaurants qualify for the rating if they maintain their prices under a certain guideline. Do a bit of exploring on their site and see what may even be in your own backyard.
Happy (and delicious) Travels!
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