Aheste

From start to finish, the experience was absolutely incredible. The waitstaff were warm, attentive, and impressively knowledgeable about the menu, enhancing every moment of the evening. The cocktails were not only delicious but also beautifully presented—each one a visual and flavorful delight. The wine list was expansive, featuring a diverse selection of international labels that catered to every palate. The food itself was a masterpiece: artfully plated and bursting with flavor. Each dish delivered on its promise, matching the excitement and creativity suggested by the presentation. The ambiance was intimate and romantic, making it the perfect setting for a memorable night out. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or simply indulging in fine dining, this place delivers on every front.

As a vegetarian, I often struggle to find meals that feel both authentic and exciting when traveling — but Aheste delivered on both counts. While not a vegetarian restaurant, they offer a separate vegetarian tasting menu with over 10 beautifully crafted Turkish dishes. Every course was creative, flavorful, and clearly made with care. The service was excellent — professional, English-friendly, and very knowledgeable about both the food and wine. We had a local Turkish wine recommended by our waiter, which paired perfectly with the meal. The atmosphere was quiet, cosy, and welcoming, a peaceful escape from the busy streets outside. Great value for a memorable dining experience!

Aheste is an incredible spot in Istanbul — perfect for both a romantic date night or a fun group dinner! The food was outstanding from start to finish — every bite was full of flavor and beautifully presented. The staff were awesome, super accommodating with our group’s different tastes and requests, and made the whole evening effortless and fun. We enjoyed some great cocktails and discovered a few fantastic local wines along the way. A must-visit for anyone who loves amazing food, warm hospitality, and a great vibe! 🍷✨

Aheste was the best dining experience of a two week trip through Greece and Türkiye. This well styled restaurant offers up a modern twist to Turkish cuisine and pairs it with great wines or cocktails. The design is simple and pleasing with a nice dark atmosphere and welcoming and helpful staff. The moment we walked in, they took care of us. Dishes and wines were recommended and taken. A wonderful tuna appetizer was the star of the show and the Zucchini Flowers were excellent. The Roast Lamb Shoulder was outstanding. They also have some small Turkish wines that make the meal. Looking for a special place to celebrate or just for an elevated dining experience, this is your place.

Came here with my cousin for dinner. And I must say. The food, service and atmosphere was just wonderful. We ordered 6 dishes and a couple of drinks. All were delicious and the cocktails were also very good. Service team were very friendly, and due to my belated birthday. They provided us with a nice small cake as well. All in all a wonderful experience, but price wise it's on the high side.

I was in Istanbul for a vacation and as soon as I started planning places to eat Aheste was at the top of my list — I’d read great things. The restaurant sits on Meşrutiyet Caddesi in Asmalı Mescit, Beyoğlu, in a street already filled with classy, beautifully designed places that make you want to wander by just to soak in the atmosphere. Knowing how popular it is, we made a reservation almost a month in advance. When the night came, we arrived and were seated quickly — no long wait, which immediately set the tone. The servers were wonderful: humble, warm, very attentive, and clearly knowledgeable about the menu and drinks — helpful when you want to try something off the beaten path. We kicked things off with drinks: “The Old Nutcracker” and “Callisto.” They were decent. I thought the Nutcracker was like an Old Fashioned but with a lighter touch of alcohol — enough to feel something, but not overwhelming. Callisto had its charm too, though it wasn’t quite as memorable as the Nutcracker for me. Everything at Aheste is sharable, which works well for trying lots of different things. To start, we had the dudi Persian rice and the artichoke confit. The artichoke confit was surprisingly good — rich, flavorful and well executed. The rice was okay; pleasant, but not outstanding, a little underwhelming compared to what else came. After that we tried the tuna kadayıf and stuffed zucchini flowers. The tuna kadayıf was excellent — really a highlight. The tuna itself was probably the best bite of the evening. The zucchini flowers were nice, delicate and charming, though not as strong in impact as the tuna. We were disappointed to learn that the main course we anticipated — the lamb shoulders — were out that evening. That was a shame, because it had been something I was looking forward to. Instead, we pivoted to dessert: a classic rice pudding and rounded off the meal with a digestif, Amaretto. Both were very good — the rice pudding felt comfortingly traditional, the amaretto was a smooth, fitting end to the meal. Overall, Aheste was very good. Service, food, ambiance — all near the top. It didn’t feel perfect in every single dish (some were stronger than others), but the strengths far outweighed the small misses. If I were back in Istanbul, I’d definitely go again, and I’d recommend it to friends looking for something special but not stuffy.

Honest take on a popular spot in Istanbul Aheste – Istanbul The restaurant was packed, yet the service was kind and attentive. The sea bream was well cooked, but the mix of flavors with the Turkish risotto and charred leek leaf didn’t quite work for me. Some dishes I wanted to try couldn’t be prepared without alcohol, which was a bit disappointing. I skipped dessert since there were only two options — rice pudding and baklava — both of which seemed a bit too heavy for me. I appreciate the effort and atmosphere, but I don’t think I’d return. Please note, 1. Dishes tend to sell out, I heard the waiters repeating sold out to customers for many dishes! 2. No parking. Overall rating 2/10 Overall 2/10

Excellent modern Turkish cuisine - enjoyed a selection of starters, though the tasting menu looks impressive, we wanted to try a couple of things that weren’t on there. Recommend the Persian rice & the calamaraki in particular. Nice wine & cocktail list too

Michelin Bib Groumand. Fabulous ambiance in an underground cistern. Try the multiple course tasting plus several wines. Great attention to detail, both in the food and service. The waiters explained everything. Next time, it will be easier to decide what to have because we now know what we liked. Loved the asparagus and almonds. The light Sauvignon Blanc wine from Hus.

We had the chicken, green salad and the octopus! I also wanted to taste the shrimp but they said that it was only included in the tasting menu. Five minutes later they brought us the shrimp and said that it was complimentary and it was diviiineeeeee! The inside of the restaurant reminds me of a relic ! It had high ceilings and was pretty

Tasting menu was good but not excellent. Service was tricky, some staff were friendly and nice but they did not explain the menu well, our booking was messed up a bit and then they were rushing us and at times a little rude. I also felt they were a bit pretentious and slightly rude with our elderly parents.

The ambiance was romantic. The interior is mostly exposed brick with very high ceiling giving off a tasteful rustic feel. The tasting menu offered a number of dishes. There were some creative yummy dishes using seasonal vegetables. The servers explained each dish. All of them was good. This Michelin Bid Gourmand restaurant definitely is worth my visit.

A must while in Istanbul. Great location, and very cool interior, unique from other upscale dining in the city. We did not get the tasting menu however I would on my return visit.

Beautiful restaurant in a really cool neighborhood. The food here is fresh and tasty. It's probably on the pricier side for Istanbul but you'll enjoy the food. The stuffed eggplants and meatballs were my favorites. Everything else was also good. I'd come back.

We had the tasting menu. Everything was delicious! I did find the entries a bit more tastier than the main course and deserts.

This was the best restaurant we had whilst in Istanbul. Everything was flavorful. Walking distance to Pera Palas and Istiklal Cad. We ordered many mezes and not one dish disappoint. We sat towards the front of the restaurant, and every 10 minutes, there will be a poor soul (usually a westerner) trying to finagle a reservation, but unfortunately, it was a busy time, and reservations must be had beforehand! For sure, much better than Mikla (I had to check that restaurant out as well since that's been in some sort of exclusive list), but Mikla tasted tired. If I remember correctly from what I was told at the table, Aheste was a fusion of persian and mediterranean, but I have not been to Iran so I have no comparison! My taste buds were tickled though, and cannot wait to be back in the next decade that I'm back again in Istanbul!!

Fantastic service, very creative food - inexpensive tasting menu! The restaurant in inside a cool building, completely "naked" stone walls, maybe a former monastery? All staff speak excellent English and every table around us spoke English. Young trendy clientelle.

Great place to eat something different, nice atmosphere and also very friendly service, on our 4 day trips we repeat this place twice at night and also try their brunch, service on brunch wasn't as good as the service at night, where I assume the owner spend time and have some drinks with customers. Very worthy to pass by and have dinner. Best JC

Aheste elevates Turkish food to a new level. And the service? Beyond great. We found this restaurant via multiple review site searches, coming up highly on many of them, and it made stopping in for dinner a no-brainer. Reservations are highly recommended but if you're willing to eat when they open at 6pm, you can probably walk in. They offer both a tasting menu and ala-carte dining, and either can be made vegetarian friendly (with some limited vegan options). We split a vegetarian tasting menu and I ordered some korcoreç on the side. Everything was fantastic. The cold and warm mezze offerings were super tasty. The stuffed eggplant was divine. And the korkoreç was done very well. I was dubious about this one, since it's such a low-key street staple, but this upscale version was delectable. Cocktails are very tasty. I'm always a fan of a good negroni. The old fashioned was a bit sweet for our taste but it was mid-range for this part of the world. We simply prefer our cocktails more on the dry side. The people working here a genuinely sweet. Friendly, welcoming smiles. Attentive service. The whole package. I can't recommend this place highly enough.

Really nice spot for brunch! Small spot, cozy, comfortable. They have Wi-Fi as well. We did also go first to the Aheste near Galata Tower on Serdar-ı Ekrem Cd, but that location's been closed for half a year. There was no wait at ten a.m.on a Sunday, though the tables near the front were reserved. Good music, very indie and international. I remember hearing Lykke Li and Peter Bjorn and John. They do have Wi-Fi here. Our server was very sweet; she knew limited English but others on staff helped when needed. The menu had a Turkish and English side, though they completely forgot to translate a few items. At the end of our meal, our server accidentally charged me the bill for the table next to us. She'd already run my credit card when I looked and wondered why our brunch for two cost 108 TL. She was really apologetic and gave us the difference (plus a couple TL extra) in cash. Our two coffees and two entrees cost us 50 TL before tips. Our brunch tasted like good homestyle cooking. See my photos for details!

Delicious food and wonderful atmosphere. Very friendly staff. It's a very small place and thus booking is recommended. However, they usually have space available for walk ins from 6.30 - 9pm. I would highly recommend for those willing to spend slightly more than average, but looking for great food and experience in return.

Truly one of the best meals I've ever had. Every dish was delicious and expertly prepared. The drinks were excellent, and the service was lovely. The interior is a beautifully rustic exposed-brick, with the feeling of an antique wine cellar. We were only in Istanbul for a week but we ate here twice!

Amazing restaurant. Super duper friendly staff. The food was so unique. Modern Turkish food. Delicate flavors. Exquisite. Reservation is needed or show up very early, they may be able to squeeze you in before the reservations show up.

Amazing tapas type dishes with fresh exiting flavors on a quieter street only a short walk from the Galata tower. We ordered several dishes and all hit high marks!!

Disclaimer: This is quite possibly my favorite restaurant in Istanbul. Pause: it is my favorite! Where to start? Ambience, menu, staff, cocktails are all on point. Though a little small and can get noisy on busy nights, Aheste makes up for any shortcomings with their 90TL, per person, tasting menu. Though some might find it to expensive, you really do get your bang for your buck. You are whirled through four courses of fabulous, fresh, and a modern take on Turkish cuisine. Very vegetarian friendly, except for the main courses, each dish rivals the next. Don't hesitate to ask for the octopus! My favorite dish is the four rice fried rice. Aheste is my go to spot for guests visiting this already amazing city, and they have yet to disappoint. The whole staff speaks English and the owner and manager are friendly and proud of their product.

This place has the best kofte in Istanbul, and have visited several times, but this review is for BRUNCH. Kükü sabzi and chard/eggs with a divine smoked yogurt. Decent sauv blanc, excellent service, beautiful presentation. I don't believe in brunch as a rule, but this was outstanding.

Great ambience, excellent service, incredible food. I still dream about the food here.

I went for a late brunch on a Saturday and the restaurant was pretty quiet. It is a small space so I'd imagine it could get crowded and loud at dinner as some other reviewers mentioned. It is beautifully decorated with a trendy vibe, similar to some of the other restaurants along Mesruiyet Caddesi. Although we went with our 7 month old baby and the staff were extremely accommodating (provided a high chair, played with the baby and even held him for a long stretch so we could finish our meal!) I wouldn't say it is an ideal place for kids as the entrance is a bit difficult to navigate and if the place had been full I personally would not have felt that comfortable being there with a baby due to the closeness of the tables and the size of the space. That being said, we had a great experience today. The service was excellent and friendly. For non-Turkish speakers there is an English menu and some of the servers speak English as well. We tried the Turkish breakfast salad, the scrambled eggs and the fried dough, all of which were well prepared. I saw some other tables ordering the traditional Turkish breakfast and it looked amazing. We took a look at the dinner menu and it looked really interesting as well, so hopefully we will be back!