Mürver comes as a surprise on the top floor of Novotel Istanbul Bosphorus Hotel, which is a very conveniently-located city hotel in Karaköy. Their menu is supervised by Mehmet Gürs here, one of the pioneering chefs of the New Anatolian Cuisine (the creator of Mikla), while the uninterrupted vistas of the Topkapı Palace and the historic harbor give you a front-row seat at the show of Istanbul. The centerpiece of the restaurant is an amazing, blue-tiled brick oven and an open-flame wood-fired grill, where many of the restaurant’s specialties are cooked to perfection.
Mürver is a carnivore’s fantasy, though, serving daily fish and seafood sourced from the local seafood market, as well as meat aged, dried and smoked in-house. Trakya kıvırcık lamb (slow-roasted and presented with smoked firik pilaf and a spicy compote), ash-grilled octopus and yanık sütlaç (the oven-baked pudding with icecream) are some of the signature dishes of the restaurant that has been in operation since 2017. The wine list and the bar menu also meet up to the expectations for a scenic terrace like this.
What is there to see and do around Karaköy?
No visit to Karaköy would be complete without refilling your energy at Karaköy Güllüoğlu, by choosing among the encyclopedic list of varieties displayed on large trays. The Galataport and Istanbul Modern are two must-visits for those who would like to feel the pulse of the neighborhood. Kılıç Ali Paşa Hamam is also a stone’s throw away with its historic domed building that hides one of the best marble Turkish bath chambers in the city.
Make sure to try Trakya kıvırcık lamb (slow-roasted and presented with smoked firik pilaf and a spicy compote), ash-grilled octopus and yanık sütlaç. Thank us later!
Open during meal hours