1924 İstanbul

Eastern European restaurant · Asmali Mescit

1924 İstanbul

Eastern European restaurant · Asmali Mescit

2

Asmalı Mescit, Olivya Gç. 7-A, 34435 Beyoğlu/İstanbul, Türkiye

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1924 İstanbul by null
1924 İstanbul by Photo by Paul Osterlund
1924 İstanbul by null
1924 İstanbul by null
1924 İstanbul by null
1924 İstanbul by null
1924 İstanbul by null
1924 İstanbul by null
1924 İstanbul by null
1924 İstanbul by null
1924 İstanbul by null
1924 İstanbul by null
1924 İstanbul by null
1924 İstanbul by null
1924 İstanbul by null
1924 İstanbul by null
1924 İstanbul by null
1924 İstanbul by null
1924 İstanbul by null
1924 İstanbul by null
1924 İstanbul by null
1924 İstanbul by null
1924 İstanbul by null
1924 İstanbul by null
1924 İstanbul by null
1924 İstanbul by null
1924 İstanbul by null
1924 İstanbul by null
1924 İstanbul by null
1924 İstanbul by null
1924 İstanbul by null
1924 İstanbul by null
1924 İstanbul by null
1924 İstanbul by null
1924 İstanbul by null
1924 İstanbul by null
1924 İstanbul by null
1924 İstanbul by null
1924 İstanbul by null

Highlights

Step into 1924 Istanbul, where historic opulence meets rich Russian and Eastern European flavors, infused vodkas, and live music vibes.  

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Asmalı Mescit, Olivya Gç. 7-A, 34435 Beyoğlu/İstanbul, Türkiye Get directions

1924istanbul.com
@1924istanbul

₺1,000+ · Menu

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Asmalı Mescit, Olivya Gç. 7-A, 34435 Beyoğlu/İstanbul, Türkiye Get directions

+90 530 896 03 60
1924istanbul.com
@1924istanbul
𝕏
@360istanbull

₺1,000+ · Menu

Reserve

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Last updated

Jul 30, 2025

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@michelinguide

1924 İstanbul

"The original incarnation of this restaurant was opened by Russian refugees in 1924. Today diners can relive those glory days in a beautifully restored and opulent setting that exudes historical grandeur and features eye-catching panelling and mirrors. Live music makes for a buzzing atmosphere. Here they put a modern spin on Russian specialities. Think generous portions of stuffed pirozhki and beef Stroganoff, juicy meat and amazing flavour. And to drink? A glass of vodka from their impressive selection, of course!" - Michelin Inspector

https://guide.michelin.com/en/istanbul-province/istanbul/restaurant/1924-istanbul
View Postcard for 1924 İstanbul
@afar

"Dine like a Russian Émigré Istanbul’s location at the crossroads of continents has made it the hometown for many cultures. In 1924, Russians fleeing the Bolshevik Revolution opened the Rejans restaurant on Istanbul’s İstiklal Avenue, and it acted as a meeting place for other refugees, artists, and intellectuals for eight decades. The restaurant was reopened in 2016 as 1924 Istanbul, restored to its original glory down to the silverware, with a table permanently reserved for frequent customer Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, complete with a bottle of raki. Today, the restaurant serves Eastern European and Russian favorites like pelmeni dumplings, stroganoff, and lemon-infused vodka. Weekends have live music for extra ambience; bring your own old Russian soul."

The Best Restaurants in Istanbul
View Postcard for 1924 İstanbul

Syma Iqbal

Google
I had the opportunity to dine at the stunning and historic 1924 Istanbul, and what an unforgettable feast it was. Every single bite was bursting with flavor and soul. We started with their incredible cocktails, one infused with rosemary and rose, which was unlike anything I’ve tasted in all my travels. Not only were they delicious, but truly beautiful to look at. I also tried a cocktail made with beetroot that had the most delightful kick of zest, a real standout. Their infused vodkas were another highlight, with the salmon vodka in particular being a surprising and exceptional experience. Moving on to the appetizers and mains, I had the salmon and sea bass, and all I can say is wow. Perfectly cooked & richly seasoned. And the desserts? Easily among the best I’ve had anywhere in the world. Sweet, balanced, and the perfect end to a luxurious meal. But what truly sets 1924 Istanbul apart is its personality. From the moment you step in, you’re surrounded by history and warmth. The 1940s inspired décor, antique woodwork, and historic photographs transport you to another era. It’s not just a restaurant, it’s an experience. The service was impeccable, thoughtful, and kind. If you’re ever in Istanbul, 1924 is a must visit. You won’t just enjoy a meal, you’ll create a memory for a lifetime.

Jennifer Yan

Google
Amazing. Like travel back in time. There were tables that Attaturk or Agatha Christine used to dine at. Food was amazing too. We enjoyed borscht, pomeni, beef stroganoff and quail on buckwheat . Also an older gentleman was on piano and accordion- tunes like Moscow night and German songs. Unique experience. Highly recommend. Owner also has 360Istanbul, which we happen to have visited two nights ago. Completely different, a contemporary experience. Recommend both highly. Great restautanteur

Julia Jyde

Google
this is MY restaurant, it shot me straight in the heart. the atmosphere is gorgeous, the music (lord of the rings and wes anderson soundtracks merged with classical music and covers, i seriously thought they found my spotify) is amazing, the mysteriousness of the servers also adds to the vibe. i love that you’re greeted with a full vodka cart upon arrival, and the drinks were incredible. i especially enjoyed the fish bazaar for those who like salty things, and the dirty martini for a classic, but with the silkiest vodka i’ve ever had and a sexy smetana rim! the food is so nice, i went ham for the pickled tomatoes, very slavic. happy to also get some rye bread served. for starters, the caviar blini were solid. the russian salad had dill in it which is a very nice touch, not totally traditional but i liked it. could use a pinch of salt. the pelmeni were also quite good but i’d wish for a bit more sour cream to balance it out. as a main i had the quail tabaka, ideally paired with pomegranate and buckwheat. so Georgian and so sophisticated, i thought it was seriously perfect! i tried some of my boyfriend’s chicken Kyiv which was unfortunately a little dry, could use more herb butter stuffing. but i thought the flavours were balanced. dessert was nice too, they put on a flambéeing show for the pavlova which was light and fruity enough. i usually dont like lemon curd but this one had no bitterness and was a citrus masterpiece along with the light meringue and sweet berry compote. another fun show was the fabergé egg, but the chocolate taste was a little low and the cake slightly dry. i am also sorry to say that the medovik, my favourite dessert ever, did not live up to expectation. it was a little too dense and sweet, i think it would’ve been better with more sour cream in the filling. alas, i ate it happily because it had good honey notes. overall, i love eastern european food and vodka and these guys do that really well, in an interesting and engaging atmosphere.

Med Ali Elouali

Google
Me and my wife recently dined at 1924 restaurant and had a mixed experience. The atmosphere was pleasant, and the service was attentive, which made for a welcoming start to the evening. One of the highlights was the live musician, who performance truly elevated the ambiance. Unfortunately, the food did not meet our expectations. We ordered the duck, but it had an unpleasant smell, which made it difficult to enjoy. The other dish—meat with mushrooms and fries—was mediocre at best, lacking the depth of flavor we had hoped for. While the setting and service were commendable, the quality of the food left much to be desired. Hopefully, with some improvements in the kitchen, this place can offer a dining experience that matches its otherwise enjoyable atmosphere. And without forgetting that the meal was 200 us dollars

Yutong Dong

Google
HOW THE HELL COULD THIS PLACE RATE FOR MORE THAN 4 The food is taste less, it’s extremely lack of stuff. No body is taking the used dishes, we waited the check for more than 15mins , but the cocktails are good. Maybe just stop by for the drink will be fine, definitely overpriced and how the hell did they get the Michelin stars are the Michelin scamming people now ? The food is SOULLESS Anyways, drinks good atmosphere good, food no good.

Andrew CHEN

Google
I really wanted to leave a good review, but unfortunately, I just can’t. This was our first time visiting Turkey, and my wife chose this restaurant not only because it has a Michelin rating, but also because of its unique cultural story. At first, everything felt quite promising—from the thoughtful doorman who took our coats, to the overall atmosphere inside the restaurant, everything seemed to meet the standards one would expect from a Michelin-rated place. But once the food started arriving, things began to go downhill. In terms of taste, I can only say it didn’t suit our palate. That said, I understand flavor is subjective, so I won’t judge too harshly on that point. What truly surprised us, though, was the service. After we finished our water, our glasses sat empty for quite a while without any staff coming by to refill them. At that point, I started to wonder—is this really the service level of a Michelin restaurant? Even the waitstaff on the dinner cruise we took last night were much more attentive with water refills! The worst part was after we ordered dessert—we ended up waiting at our empty table for a full 30 minutes with no dessert in sight. It felt like we were just left sitting there doing nothing. I finally had to ask the waiter what was going on, and only then did they rush out one of the desserts. But the other one never came. When we asked again, we were told they had actually served us the wrong dessert in the first place! Absolutely outrageous. By that point, we had already lost our appetite for dessert and just asked for the check and left. And keep in mind—this is a restaurant that charges over $200 for two people without breaking a sweat. Honestly, I’ve had better experiences at casual kebab shops on the street. Extremely disappointed.

peggy lou

Google
Terrible experience — not worth the hype or price. My husband and I went to 1924 Istanbul last night for our wedding anniversary. We made a paid reservation in advance, and they charged 400 TRY per person via credit card, which is non-refundable if you don’t show up. However, even though we arrived on time, the deposit wasn’t refunded immediately. They said it would take three days. That already left a bad taste. Even worse, when we made the reservation, we clearly noted that it was for our anniversary dinner. Guess what? The restaurant didn’t prepare anything special — not even a single flower on the table. I even reminded them again in person, but they completely ignored it. How unprofessional! Environment: Okay, the decor is beautiful. Food: Honestly? Totally average. We ordered four dishes and two cocktails. The Çerkez Tavuğu (Circassian chicken) was the best one and cost 290 TRY. The cocktails were decent — that’s probably the only highlight. Service (or the lack of it): They automatically charge a 10% service fee, but what service? It took servers 5 minutes to refill water. Any question? Be prepared to wait. They barely speak English, and most of the time they were just standing around chatting and laughing among themselves. The most outrageous part: Before our main dishes arrived, they served us pickles and bread as an appetizer. We ate them — thinking it was complimentary, as it usually is in fine dining. But on the bill? They charged us for it! Unbelievable! Look, even if you’re a Michelin restaurant (which they claim to be), you need to inform customers beforehand if you’re going to charge for the appetizers. If I knew, I would never eat that sad excuse for pickles. When we saw the charge, we challenged it, and told the waiter it was unfair and ridiculous. He replied, “We charge every table like this,” basically admitting they do this to everyone. We refused to pay for it. He was about to hand me a feedback form, but then quickly took it away, saying the manager would come over. The manager never showed up. Another waiter came, said nothing, didn’t apologize, but gave us a new bill with the appetizer charge removed. We calmly tried to explain that they should inform guests if the appetizers are chargeable. The waiter laughed sarcastically. Unbelievable. No apology. No goodbye when we left. Is this what you call a 2,500 TRY per person experience?

Kumar Ghosh

Google
too expensive, this seems like the remnant of a bygone era of opulent Russian tourism: didn't even think it was that romantic tbh. We regret going to a Russian restaurant while on a Turkish holiday... For what you're paying, you don't expect to be visited by an accordion/piano playing guy selling his CDs at your table 🤷 but again this may be what their Russian clients like so can't judge
google avatar

Alona L.

Yelp
We loved this place so much that we went twice during our Istanbul visit. Food was delicious, service was great, atmosphere is amazing. We loved the guys who played the accordion there, it gave some vibe. Food was authentic and delicious. 1924 Egg dessert was amazing. The place is a little pricey and the drinks especially (around $20/cocktail) but I guess it is on par with other Istanbul places.

David R.

Yelp
Just happened on 1924 Istanbul , and what a fortunate moment it was . I walked through a crowded alley way and came to set of beautiful doors that lead up flight of stairs that may as well have been a time machine reliving me to another era of gastronomy and atmosphere. I hope to retain the memory of my evening for a very long time . Things not to miss : The Fish Bizarre Cocktail ( one of the best cocktails I've ever tasted, and I'm in the liquor business) . The Borscht was fantastic along with the house pickles spectacular! I should go back tonight to continue my exploration of the menu . The atmosphere including the wonderful accordion music was perfect along with service .
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Gökberk K.

Yelp
1924 is a gem! Formerly called Rejans, I kept hearing about this restaurant for years before I had the opportunity to try it. We picked 1924 for an anniversary celebration, from a shortlist of 4 restaurants. Briefly after entering the front door, we knew we had made the right choice. 1924 promotes itself as a "Time Travel Gastronomic Museum". The historic texture of the restaurant is very much alive. A very elegant, and chic decor, that does not feel old but very authentic, for the very simple reason that it was kept as it was for years. You can almost feel former diners like Agatha Christie sitting at the table next to you. The servers are very kind and they are happy to explain the items on the menu if you are not familiar with russian or caucasian cuisine. For entrée we had the Circassian chicken which was exceptional. The best one I ever tried. Pelmeni with beef and Topik. The circassian chicken was so good that it would be unfair for the other two entrees to compare but all dishes were good. I'd probably opt for something other than Topik next time but it's solely because the taste wasn't for me. For main courses we had Beef Stroganoff and Canard à L'Orange. The Beef Stroganoff is a house special so I would recommend to try. However if you are not in the mood for beef, the duck was also a very good choice. I must also mention cocktails; you must try the Spice Bazaar Martini if you like maritinis! They also have a large collection of house infused Vodka that we promised ourselves to try next time. All through dinner there was live music (Harp and Accordion) and it was a very good complement to the great food. During dinner Sashah Khan, the co-owner of the restaurant and very fashionable gentleman, came to our table to check if everything was ok and we were happy to chat with him. You will need a reservation as the restaurant is often full. We were able to choose a very nice table but, I'd recommend to come a bit early, so as to be able to choose your table (some of the tables may be a bit too close to each other if you are after a romantic diner). The prices are reasonable for a restaurant of this caliber in Istanbul. I full heartedly recommend coming here and will definitely come back!
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Angie R.

Yelp
This is one of the most beautiful restaurants I have seen! The ambiance is generous in lovely lighting, and private seating! The service was excellent and the food was superb! They infuse their own Vodka which was a treat to sample! The beef stroganoff was amazing! The owner is exceptional - sharing his stories and making each person feel special! This is a must visit!
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Mark H.

Yelp
1924 Istanbul - Formally known as Rejans - A Must ! Whilst strolling down Istiklal, I decided to venture down some of its alleys for a change.. who knows what culinary adventures may be down there.. I stumbled upon a complete gem! Just past Galatasary high school and opposite Misir Apartment, which is famous for hosting the restaurant/club 360 I came across a place called 1924 Istanbul. As I walked in I was totally blown away... the décor inside made me feel like I'd gone back in time a 100 years. High ceilings, massive mirrors, wooden paneling on the walls and two grandiose chandeliers.. I was gob smacked! The quaint old photos on the wall of who must have been dignitaries back in the day were all over the place. Special nametags of famous people like Mata Hari, Hemmingway and Agatha Christie were on brass plates indicating where they sat. I made my way to the bar, towards the back of the restaurant, I fancied something cold and wet (just for a change ) The bar reminded me of the drinks carriage of the Orient Express (or so I imagine) A long wooden serving area with a huge array of bottles in the back protected by brass rails, as if to stop the bottles from falling over if the train rattled. On the counter were these odd jars filled with different types of fruit, almost as if they were being pickled. When I asked the barman, he said they were infusions for their homemade vodkas.... YUM! Cenk was the barkeep who made the most delicious Negroni I have ever tasted. It had a twist to it, as it was smoked with apple chips.... I know that may sound odd, but believe me it was amazing. Priced at 40 TL it was most definitely worth it.. I've had some really run of the mill cocktails in Istanbul for much more than that! Feeling a little hungry, which means starving, for me most of the time... I do like my food, I sat down at Mata Hari's seat. I noticed just across the way, that there was a table with a sign saying forever reserved, a small bottle of raki and some white chickpeas. The waiter told me that was the great Ataturk's table back in the day... WOW ! How come I've never heard of this restaurant before... The fact is, this place had recently reopened as 1924 Istanbul. It used to be called Rejans. Looking at the menu, I was pleasantly surprised to see an array of food that you would not normally see. The food reminded me of The Russian empire, with dishes from Eastern Europe as well as mother Russia herself. Everything sounded amazing. I ordered the Piroshki, which is basically a Borek, but much lighter, stuffed with mincemeat. Some Pelmeni (something similar to ravioli, or the Turkish Manti) and Beef Stroganoff. The Piroshki was out of this world. Really light and crispy on the outside with an intense meaty taste on the inside. You could tell that this was lean ground beef with not additives. I was tempted to order another one, but wanted to save some room for what was to come... I'm glad I did ! Pelmeni are dumplings basically, but using the word basic is not at all fitting! These moist delicious balls of dough, that I assume are cooked in a ban-marie, are stuffed with an intense rich meaty filling, they were served with a jus reduction and a light sour-cream sauce. It was the jus that really caught my eye or taste buds I should say. Had I finally found a restaurant in Istanbul that makes its own stock... amazing, so rich and flavourful! The stroganoff was next. Now I'm used to seeing stroganoff on many menus around Turkey, and to be honest my expectations are pretty low in those places, so I was keen to see what this Russian/Eastern European restaurant was going to put in front of me. The head waiter or maître d' (short for maître d' Hotel), a lovely chap called Pierro, dressed in an exquisite suit had his grey pony tail tied back, wheeled over some copper pans.. He silver served me a very generous portion of glistening meat that looked creamy and smelled amazing. On the side I was served with the smoothest puree I'd every seen, almost silk like and some very finely cut potato chips. The flavours were to die for. Finally I'd found a place that really knew how to cook stroganoff properly, it even had slices of pickles. The thinly sliced beef was succulent and just melted in my mouth. Pierro asked if I'd like some vodka with my meal, so he wheeled over an iced trolley that had a handful of fruit infused vodkas.. who could say no.. honestly I had the lemon one which really had a kick to it, yet it was smooth going down. He left the bottle for me in an ice bucket and told me that I'd only be charged for what I drank... fantastic. Overall, this place is really quite something. A must try experience. Drinks and food cost me just under 100 TL.. An absolute bargain !

David W.

Yelp
If you're in Istanbul and you don't visit this restaurant, you are doing yourself a disservice. It's amazing. The history, the ambiance, the cocktails and of course the food. You'll feel as though you've traveled back in time and the service is impeccable.

Buket K.

Yelp
If you are a tourist visiting Istanbul, love history and would like to learn about the cultural diversity of this city, dining at 1924 Istanbul is a must do. It is a unique experience, which I would highly recommend. It is very nice to see that traditions are cherished and preserved in 1924 Istanbul.

Shawn K.

Yelp
I just came back from Istanbul , we were in Taksim area when we discovered this amazing little Gem up the stairs behind the big door only to find a beautifully designed dining space with great food ,hospitality & respectful wine list to match , all this at a very reasonably priced value. An added bonus was this great musician to spice things up ! Truly we enjoyed our evening @ 1924 !