Antiochia

I was disappointed by this restaurant especially because it seemed like we were the only tourists there but I left feeling like it’s a bit of a tourist trap. Our meal total was around 5-6k lira for 3 people, the most we paid our entire trip by far. All the food we got is pictured except for the spinach pide which was miniature. Two of us got tea for 4x what we paid in other nice restaurants. Maybe they have a tourist priced menu lol. I definitely wouldn’t go back or reccomend. Overall, the mains were just ok and expensive. The service was on the slower side. The mezze sampler was the tastiest item and best priced. The spinach pide was ok, our beef main dish (pictured) was not that much food for 2 people and wasn’t super flavourful (but it cost nearly 50 usd). Our friend got a veggo kebab and said it was ok. The kunefe wasn’t anything special either. The ambience was nice and it wasn’t too loud or chaotic feeling despite being busy. We did get a spot on a Saturday night as a party of 3 with no reservations. Staff was nice but not super attentive.

The lamb chops here were cooked beautifully, with a perfect char and very tender meat thanks to a higher fat content. Flavor-wise, the lamb really stood out. I enjoyed the rocket salad as well. However, the bread the meat was served on was stiff and cold, which felt like a missed opportunity. It soaked up all the juices but wasn’t pleasant to eat. I would have preferred the meat served directly on the plate so I could use the warm bread on the side properly. The second-floor interior has exposed brick and excellent lighting, creating a very appealing atmosphere. There were no tomatoes or peppers included with the dish, which made the plate feel a bit less complete. Service was noticeably less friendly and attentive than expected. Next time, I would add a mezze to round out the meal. Great lamb and ambiance, but some execution and service details could be improved.

Antiochia, tucked behind Tünel, draws its name and spirit from Hatay – the old Antioch – where cultures and cuisines converge. The loft-style brick interior is modern, but the flavours are rooted in red pepper paste, za’atar, and smoke. Cold meze set the scene: parsley-bright tabbule, walnut-rich muhammara, smoky aubergine, herbed yoghurt. Sauced flatbreads griddled with biber salçası remain the house signature. On one visit, lamb chops – juicy, well-marinated, just shy of perfect char. On another, tavuk şiş – high-quality chicken, a touch underseasoned – served with grilled tomato, chilli, and salad. Suave service, warm welcome, Hatay on a plate.

Having found a long standing review from the Guardian, my wife and I ventured to what we thought would be a nice Turkish dining experience. What we got was food that came quickly with all mezes all prepared on the plate. The meat, which tasted good, was not hot which is what you expect. What was more shocking was the price. We spent £83 for a deconstructed kebab where we had one glass of wine and one beer 450tl. The 10% service charge seemed rather extravagant for what we got. People were nice but would say that venture here if you want to be over charged. Upon reflection very dissappointing. These are uk prices in Istanbul.

Atmosphere is serene, space is beautifully and authentically decorated, dishes we tried were all very delicious. Great spot very close to Istiklal yet away from the crowds!

This was one of three top-notch consecutive dinners in Istanbul and the most traditional Turkish food of the three. Antiochia is right smack in the middle of the very popular Beyoglu, just 5 minutes by foot from the tunnel station. The restaurant is casual yet nice, and the vibe is lively. The service was fantastic, and the food...delicious. I went with the lamb chops and added a couple of mezze. Everything was tasty, and I would definitely recommend it.

Great secluded place from the main street that goes to taksim square. The menu is not with many options but everything is very tasty. The mezes are great. The minced beef kebab is tender and full of flavours.

Really good place overall. Great staff, they gave us table without reservation just adapting our stay. The food amazing, what a tasty food, espectacular flavors. Good recommendation from the staff helping us to select good dishes. The place is cozy and elegant. Highly recommended, but much better if you make a reservation before going there. It is located in a very popular area plenty of bars for drink, full of people enjoying life. A must go definitely.

Great quality food here. The tenderloin was super tender and top quality. Both the wrap and the solo dish. I would have liked some mor seasoning on it but the quality was excellent.

This was our first dinner in Turkey, and we thoroughly enjoyed it! We were absolutely blown away by the kebab durum - it was saucy, meaty, and super flavourful. We ordered a kebab durum with meze and an alinazik to share. The alinazik was okay; the portion was good and we enjoy the eggplant yogurt, but it was nothing spectacular. The durum was the star of the show. It was served fresh off the grill, so you can taste some of the char (wok hei). It was slightly gamey and super juicy with the tomatoes and herbs. I also liked that the lavash was thoroughly coated in juice and grease, imparting a rich flavour. The durum was so good that we got another one! In terms of the meze, the hummus was super nutty and rich - in fact, it almost tasted like pure tahini. We wish it were a bit lighter with some more olive oil. The muhammara was just okay, but my personal favourite was the abagannuc. I don't usually like eggplant, but this country has shown me a whole other perspective! We were stuffed by the second durum, but of course had to order a kunefe. It was delicious! Hot, not too sweet, and with a beautiful crunch on the outside. Not too cheesy either, but you could definitely taste the cheese. Only thing that could've made this better would be some pistachio bits and perhaps some clotted cream (or ice cream)! Staff were friendly as well, and the ambiance is dark and romantic... fitting for a date spot!

Upon walking into the restaurant, you immediately embark upon a open-fire grill. The smoke coming from it made me crave the not-yet-ordered grilled meats. For appetizer, my friend and I shared the mezze platter consisting of eight different spreads. It was a great choice because it let us try several different spreads. My favorites are the eggplant spread and the hummus. For grilled meats, we loved both the grilled filet mignon and the grilled chicken skewers. The meats have been aged and seasoned to perfection. It was the best meat we have had in Istanbul. You really can taste the difference between other inferiorly prepared meats. The meats come with grilled flatbread, which was delicious as well. For dessert, I had the best kunefe ever! I was so full at the end of the meal that I almost could not drink their sweet complimentary tea...almost. P.S. Warning: The long pepper that comes with the meats is extremely spicy. Don't say that nobody warned you.

Holy moly, if you want to eat well and have a great experience, this is the place Travelled from Canada and found this gem of a spot

This is the best food I had while I was in turkey. The restaurant was beautiful and very welcoming and warm. The ambience was peaceful and cozy. I can't recommend just one thing because everything was amazing. I highly recommend this place.

my husband and I had one night to have dinner in Istanbul- actually today. As per our son's suggestion we went to this Antiochia restaurant for dinner. The service was outstanding and the food both fresh and delicious! He told us that his Turkish colleague's parents consider this place as their favorite !! Both the owner Suleiman and the person who helped is with service Omud were very helpful! So this place gets my 5 start recommendation!!

If I could give 6 stars I would. We came here based off of reviews and were blown away. We came at 6 on a Friday and were told by 7 it would be packed, and they were right. We liked everything on the meze platter, especially the eggplant and yogurt dip. As far as meat, I've never had more flavorful chicken, lamp chops, or beef as I did here. Going back to the US is going to be hard after having food this good. We will probably come back a second time before leaving Istanbul.

From the beautiful brick and black decor to the final yea to end, this was a great experience. The lamb and veggie wrap are amazing to share and the Mezze starter can't be missed. So so lovely.

Came back twice in 2022. Still great, nothing has changed. Grilled chicken and minced meat kebabs seasoned well and tasty. Now have giant simits served with cumin spice.

Tourist scam: rude staff + over charging Went to this place as I found the online reviews. Good food and shitty staff. The waiter was literally forcing me to order more food. When the food came, they had added something I did not ask for. I had to literally walk to the counter to get my drink since the staff ignored me for 10min. When went to pay they had intentionally added 2x extra cokes and 1x water to my bill. (WTF?!?)

Discovered this place on my first trip to istanbul and returned the next time because we loved it so much! The exposed brick interiors are cozy and intimate which creates a high-end feel, but the prices are very affordable! Our go-to both times has been the mezze sampler, a great selection of dips to try with the fresh bread. We'll definitely be back here on future trips, highly recommend if you're visiting the Galata tower area!

Have you ever gone abroad, at a great restaurant, came back home and thought to yourself: "Damn, I miss that restaurant's service." That was the first thought that came to mind when thinking about Antiochia. Istanbul in itself was a lovely visit, but there's something about Antiochia that makes me miss it, now that I'm back home... Is it the delicious kefta and kabak and more, I had while there? Is it the fantabolous waiter that catered to us, that made me feel respected as a client and that made me feel like I was being served at home? Or is it the fact that we passed by close to closing time, that there were barely any other people there, which accentuated the coziness of the place? Can I say it was all three? Maybe. What I know is that I ate well, that I felt warm inside when I was there and that for that short hour and an half, that the whole of Istanbul was quiet, as I enjoyed the delicious kefta in front of me.

Great restaurant, beautiful inside , food was amazing. Try the fried cheese and merlot. See Suliman.

Exceptional customer service .... And the food melts in your mouth.... It is hands down one of the best foods I have tasted in Turkey... We were complete strangers here and this place was recommended and we were extremely surprised. If you want good kabob that is the best kabob ever best filet... , as a middle easterner I would swear on how amazing this place is. They have two restaurants one that is newer and one that is the first one with more outside but both foods are amazing.... Thank you for a great experience ....

Ambience is very nice as well as the service however it's an overpriced turkish restaurant. Food is ok. We ordered meze combo with 8 different mezes included yet portions for each maze was small. Kofte was a fusion version of traditional kofte which was not very impressive. Main dish- kabab was delicious. Would not go back.

Best meal I've had in Turkey so far. I ordered the beef dish off the grille menu with the mezze sides. The beef was tender and perfectly cooked. The mezze consisted of hummus, eggplant, olives, and yogurt. All amazing. As were the two types of bread. Don't miss out on this place. Value: beef grille and mezze + 2 teas, 1 water, and 1 Turkish coffee (135 lira=$23)

The food here is amazing. The Turkish bread they bring when you get in is super tasty! The ambiance is nice and the staff is very attentive. We both ordered the sis with 4 mezza and it was DELICIOUS! Highly recommend.

Great food and atmosphere. The dining area is small and quite and the host was helpful with helping pick out a delicious meal.

1- ambiance: cozy industrial. Love it 2- service: classy. Respect it 3- food: deliciousness. Great place for a date, wine and fine food. The prices aren't high, but not cheap either!

This was one of the best meals I had on my trip to Turkey - certainly one of the pricier meals we had, but well worth the extra money. I'd highly recommend coming here if you're looking for a nice ambiance and dinner. We started out with 6 bowls of meze - the server chose for us, but there was not one that we didn't like. There was roasted eggplant, fresh hummus, a walnut spread, tomato and mint salad, a homemade yogurt dip, tabouleh, and olives. My favorites were the roasted eggplant, hummus, and walnut spread. I don't even like olives, but these olives were actually pretty tasty. You can't really go wrong with any of the mezes, but don't leave without eating a few (or a lot) of these. The server also brought us some couscous-batter appetizer filled with minced meat, which was really delicious, and a piece of grilled cheese. I hadn't had either of these dishes, but they were great. Other than the mezes, the highlight of the meal was 2 skewers of the most tender, perfectly cooked steak kebabs. It was better than some pieces of filet mignon that I've had a steakhouses. It was just the right amount of pink inside, and we were all ooh-ing and ahh-ing as we ate this. It came on a piece of durum wrap, and with some chopped tomatoes and roasted tomatoes. Don't miss this dish. The durum wrap was also good, filled with steak that was great quality, tomatoes and red onions. I enjoyed this, but after eating at a bunch of other places in the city, you can probably get elsewhere (check out my review for Durumzade) for cheaper. Nevertheless, it was delicious. We finished our meal with some candied pumpkin, tahini sauce, and crushed walnuts which is pretty typical. I liked this dessert but wouldn't say that you absolutely need to get it. If you come (and you should if you like good food), make sure you get the steak kabobs and meze. The service was really great as our waiter was very attentive, friendly, and talked with us a bunch. The ambiance of the place was beautiful with stone walls, arches, and an open kitchen so you can see them grill the meat. It wasn't a cheap meal (relative to other places in Istanbul), as we paid 400 Turkish lira for 5 people, but it was certainly worth the money and experience for a finer dining experience. I'd come back here again and would recommend this place!

Hidden in a small side street off of Tünel plaza Antiochia is a great place to get and hang out for dinner. It's a beautiful space, service is extremely friendly, English is spoken fluently, recommendations are spot on. Food is great!!! So why only 4 stars and not 5? That's maybe not the restaurant's fault! The place is way more expensive than one would expect.Make not mistake, it's worth every Lira but be prepared to shell out More than what you were thinking you would. Conclusion: highly recommended - but comes with a price! Missing: menu is not posted on the website

This place has traditional Turkish food. I suggest you order the dish inside the ceramic urn. It's a real interesting dish and the preparation of the dish is presented right in front of you. Just look over your bill, they do tend to over charge tourists.

I was pleasantly surprised to find such a good restaurant in such touristic place. Service 5 stars Food 5 stars Location 3 minutes from Russian embassy

A total gem. Locals mostly but very high quality . The owner /manager was an amazing host, and we just trusted him to order our food. He started us with a mezze assortment - a walnut based muhamara dip, olives marinated in thyme and pomegranate juice/ molasses excellent hummus, taboule with rocket, roasted eggplant, spicy lavash, blasted with an urfa pepper oil then lightly grilled. Very tasty! A dip made of 3 different yougurts and cooked eggplant. Desserts were a cheese with caramelized and breaded cheese then another dessert that was chopped sweetened walnut

they are stealing from their customers and double charging people! do no eat here!!!!!!!! this is the worst restaurant in all of istanbul! not only was the food terrible, but the waitstaff and customer service is despicable! i ate there three weeks ago. when it came time to pay the bill i gave my credit card. the waiter told me they were having problems with the machine, so my transaction did not go through. i showed him that i received a text saying the transaction had in fact gone through and that i had been charged. the manager came over and explained that they cancelled the transaction and they would need to charge my card again. now i have paid for my meal twice. i have been fighting with them for three weeks to get the money back to my account to no avail. i have been in touch with my bank and they said that the restaurant simply needs to cancel the transaction on their end. the restaurant says "it takes a week for the transaction to apper in my bank account." its been three weeks!!!!!!! i still have not received a refund! i suggest finding a better restaurant with better quality food. one that will not steal from it's customers

This review 3.5 FYI. Small, quaint restaurant, with quick and friendly ish service. The food came out pretty quickly, and it was good. Not amazing but good. Tasty mezes, but not really up to the hype that I got from other reviews. I ordered the chicken shish and it was really tender and tasty! Dessert was the crispy pumpkin with walnuts and tahini. It was cool to try but I wouldn't get it again. The restaurant was empty when we went at 8 pm and the music was kind of killing the mood (slow covers of maroon 5, ymca and stuff like that). Overall, good food, and good service :)

My boyfriend and I ate here on one of our last nights in Instanbul. The ambiance and service were great - we felt pampered and all loved up from the dim lights. The food was great - we ordered several small dishes to share and each was more delicious than the next. Our waiter recommended a wine for us and it was also great. After our giant meal, we meandered around the neighborhood, which is also great for drinks and dancing. Winning!

This place is a total tourist trap. The prices are extremely high, the service is bad, and the food is just mediocre. If you are considering this place, instead go to Zübeyir Ocakbaşı. You will have a much better experience. We visited this restaurant last week. We were repeatedly pressured to order quickly. I even asked the waiter why he was rushing me, were they closing soon? We ordered and all the food came out instantly. Our starers, our mains, everything at once. In fact, it came out so quickly that there was no way the food (chicken) was made to order. I asked the waiter why he brought everything out at once and he came some BS reason that he didn't think we were sharing the food. But more surprisingly, he was arguing with me (the customer) in front of everyone else in the restaurant. This was clearly the manager, not a junior staff member. Once we got the bill, I saw it included a cover charge AND A SERVICE CHARGE. I asked why there was a service charge, and if that was disclosed on the menu. The waiter walked away and brought me a new bill with no service charge. I asked why I had been charged one and he simply walked away. You can eat better food for way less money. Don't give this place your business. And watch out for hidden service charges everywhere you go!

Antiochia was recommended in our Lonely Planet Istanbul guide so we made a reservation for 9:00pm on a Saturday night. This is one more restaurant in town where a reservation is merely a ticket to enter, since you'll wait for 20-30 minutes for a table anyway (as was our experience). The hosts and service are extremely friendly and obliging, but some patience is required as you wait and hungrily see all the delicious dishes passing you by on the way from the kitchen. Anyway, we were finally seated and the friendly waiter came over and offered a few suggestions. We ordered a course of six meze dishes along with a mixed Turkish salad, and a grilled meat wrap (I can't remember the name in Turkish but this seems to be the dish the restaurant specializes in). The waiter encouraged us to order more, but this was really more than enough for two people. The food was all delicious with the mezes being light and flavorful, Paired with a couple of rounds of raki and a Bamonte beer, this was an exceptional meal. We finished with semolina halva for dessert and some complimentary tea which was great. The restaurant itself is beautiful - a cozy, vaulted brick space with lots of tables close together and lots of groups having a great time. We really enjoyed this, and I'd recommend it if you're looking for an interesting, centrally located spot in Beyoğlu.

Kindness is the trademark of this restaurant from the moment you walk in. The atmosphere is the right combination of being fancy but without losing a Turkish touch. The service is quick and very attentive. The food is tasty and well presented.

I love this place. I've only ever dined in the newer establishment next to house cafe in Tunel. The food is consistently good; from the eggplant mezes to the grilled meats. They also have a fantastic mezes platter for sharing and don't worry if you are eating alone they also have grilled dishes with four meze samplings. Delicious. And did I mention the bread? The service is also great and I love the fact that the staff remember me and welcome me back. Prices are good as well.

This is a lovely restaurant and the best food we had in our ten days in Turkey; it was prepared well using fine ingredients, and their olive oil is excellent. The atmosphere is very nice and we liked Antiochia so much, we ended up going back a couple of times. It's also in a great neighborhood and just around the corner from a bunch of very hip bars where it's fun to grab a couple of drinks and people watch after. We made friends with a guy from the old city, and this was the one restaurant he recommended in Pera; apparently they had a sister restaurant near his house in the old city that he loved. We had Bulent and Sinan as servers and both were authentically nice people and we enjoyed talking with them greatly (there are plenty of smiles for a tourist in Turkey, sadly most of them are fake). And aside from making us feel really at home and explaining the food to us, Sinan made excellent suggestions in pairing wines with our meals. They were so sweet, they even gave my wife a little parting gift on our last night there. (Writing this made me think about how good their food is, and I would go there right now if I could!)

Great Turkish food at this place. The mezes are particularly tasty and the staff welcoming !

The best food in Turkey that we had during our 12 day stay in the country. We tried a lot of different types of kababs, but this place surpassed them all. The staff were awesome and polite, and the place is cosy and warm. Five out of five.

Yum. Clean eating at it's finest. Will fly back from Manhattan to eat here again.

Amazing food! You have to try this place if you are in Istanbul, its a must! The staff is great, the food is high end with a very fair price.

A wonderful and authentic restaurant near Taksim. Southeastern Turkish delicacies, great ambiance, wide selection of drinks. Definite must.

Our only complaint was that we ordered too much and ate too much (they do try to get you to add items to your order). Otherwise, the food was excellent - could be considered a slightly upscale take on standard Turkish street foods? Service was slow, but restaurant was busy.

Great ambience. Smoke-free. Delicious food - a bit modernized Turkish dishes. Great service.

This offers the most amazing Turkish food we've had! The service is superb! The flavor of every single item is clean and fresh. The mezze are fantastic! The chicken and lamb sis are cooked perfectly, tender and flavorful. It's affordable. Check it out. It's worth your money!

Oh my holy Durum. the meats are grilled well and smoky with that real charcoal kick. the ambiance is very romantic for quiet little spot near istiklal. We loved the meat rolls.

Great little place in Pera district....food is quite fresh and authentic!

It was a great experience. The food, the service, the atmosphere, and the raki! I definitely recommend it!

Mezze items were pretty tasty (take this coming from a Lebanese food snob) and kababs were actually well spiced and, at least the one we ordered, come wrapped in this delicious bread. Reminded me of a kati roll. Nice ambiance, too.

The food was amazing! Service was excellent. Definitely a must try!! Beef and lamb were delicious, a must order!

Down a winding alley in the lively Galata district is this highly recommended kebab restaurant. We started with six lovely mezze, followed by a wonderfully tender kebab of filet. Good service in a setting clearly enjoyed by tourists and locals alike.

A friend took me here and I was AMAZED! They serve southern Turkey's Hatay region cuisine. Great entree's, super tender meat. Friendly waiters, lovely little alley. My favorite restaurant in Istanbul

This Lonely Planet recommendation met our high expectations. Antiochia is a tiny restaurant in a chic part of Beyoglu serving food from southern Turkey. The menu included a wide range of appetizers - we ordered two sampler plates that covered the full range including Abagannuc, Aubergibr and Hummus. The main dishes were wonderful unless you're a vegetarian, including wraps, kafta, chicken kabob and veal dishes. The restaurant is small - making for an intimate experience. We called an hour in advance on the weeknight for a reservation. The servers were outstanding and very personable. Highly recommended for a unique taste of Turkey.

On a vacation to Istanbul some friends and I decided to try Antiochia based on yelp reviews, it was adorable, friendly and the food was very tasty! I highly recommend the mixed appetiser plater!