Mürver Restaurant

What a wonderful find! Great views, amazing food, nice location and good service. Can recommend! We went for dinner after a long day of Istanbul exploration. A little bit hesitant as this restaurant is on the top floor of the Novotel. But we had worried needlessly. We received a warm welcome, were taken tomorrow table and greeted by our waiter. He had good recommendations for food and I ordered an excellent Turkish wine. The grilled octopus was delicious. As main, the lamb shoulder with the „Turkish Risotto“ was amazing - all topped off by the grilled Apricot. Literally every course and every dish was on point. Stone bass also good but the least fancy of them. Worth it. The atmosphere is buzzing but not overwhelming. Would definitely go again! The food was the best we had in Istanbul.

Definitely a highlight from our trip. Has a fun atmosphere but at the same time very romantic. We had a cocktail evening and the cosmopolitans and spicy margaritas were delicious. The artichoke starter was very interesting, it a small tartlet and was a great choice to try something a bit different in Istanbul. We also had the octopus, the lamb loin and beef entrecôte. All cooked perfectly and very tasty. We requested a romantic seat when we made the booking and hoped to be seated close to the exceptional views - this was organised and very beautiful. As with most exceptional restaurants, it was expensive. There was great service, great food and overall a wonderful experience.

Cool top floor restaurant with nice vibes and great views. Nice to have a drink in bar first. Food was very good and a large decent menu. Service was good if not outstanding and not bad value overall from the setting etc. Definitely worth a visit if in Karakoy/Istanbul and worthy of inclusion in the Michelin Guide

This is one of the top restaurants in Karaköy. The service is excellent, the dishes are tasty and well presented. I especially liked octopus. They also have a completely open kitchen, so you can watch everything being prepared. The views from the terrace are stunning! This is an expensive restaurant, but worth it in my opinion.

In Istanbul for son's wedding. We had an excellent pre-wedding dinner at Murver. Delicious food, great service and a spectacular view of the Bosphorous. The highlights included a whole fish grilled to perfection served with a buttery berre blanc, beef short ribs were melt in your mouth tender, artichoke heart appetizer. The seafood stew bathe in a vibrant green herb sauce was also delicious. We ordered family style so we could try lots of different dishes. Absolutely delicious, highly recommend!

Beautiful views and fantastic food and drinks. It's modern European fusion rather than Turkish, small plate style great for sharing. Every dish we tried was really delicious, we particularly enjoyed the Octopus which was fantastic. The setting is very trendy and has a great view, later at night there is a DJ set so a great place to relax with a few drinks.

Attentive service and great view. However I was expecting to be more impressed with the food given prices. On their website it says modern but authentic and regional recipes, it really should say modern European fine dining, nothing local I can see. Each dish was well grilled but that’s about it. Perfect venue if you’re looking for ambience and a view, not so much if you want good food. 6,000 Lira for a starter, main, glass of wine each for two. The main saving grace is that this standard of value is probably common across Istanbul. Best to ask locals for recommendations, save the fine dining for elsewhere.

An amazing view, impeccable service, and incredibly delicious food and desserts make this a truly perfect place! Its unique ambiance and warm hospitality provide an unforgettable experience. This is definitely a place you'll want to revisit.

KenScale: 8.25/10 Visit: April 2023 One piece of advice for all travelers looking to check out Istanbul, Turkey. I highly recommend skipping the city during the Eid al-Fitr holiday weekend marking the end of Ramadan. When my wife Jun and I were in the city for the last day of our Turkey trip, we found ourselves being swarmed by a crowd of unprecedented size and density. Perhaps because it was the first holiday weekend after the loosening of the pandemic's grip or because we were in the touristy Sultanahmet neighborhood with all the top sights like Hagia Sophia, we just couldn't walk around at a decent pace and genuinely feared that we might get trampled. Our initial plan was to walk across the Galata Bridge and check out the Beyoğlu district but it took us over an hour and a half to cross the bridge for a distance that would've normally taken at most 30 minutes. By the time we finally crossed the bridge, we were beyond exhausted and decided that we would just go to the Novotel hotel where our dinner reservation was at. After all that struggle, the outstanding meal at Mürver couldn't have come in a timelier manner. The central concept at Mürver (led by chef Mevlüt Özkaya) is cooking over live fire, with a giant wood oven in the middle of the kitchen. If you would rather focus on seeing all the magic happening at the kitchen instead of enjoying your meal in the outdoor dining area with a scenic view of Istanbul, I recommend sitting at the counter area. It was our first fine dining-style tasting menu in Turkey, and I honestly didn't know what to expect at first. But then the gently smoked seabream came out and I realized that the restaurant was really on to something. One of my favorite dishes came next, a dish with a playful take on a meatball-like dish called topik with Armenian origin. Mürver brought out a version with duck and hummus instead, a surprisingly wonderful combination that I had never encountered in my culinary journey with Jun. Why didn't more restaurants come up with this idea, I wondered while joyfully savoring this dish. There were so-so dishes like octopus which was slightly tougher than the ideal texture, and an expression of düve sucuk (think sausage similar to chorizo) that was a bit too strong in flavor. But the restaurant had more hits than misses, like the competently prepared grouper with charred leak and sorrel sauce, followed by another favorite of mine of the night, slow roasted lamb shoulder with pilaf rice and salted yogurt. We certainly had our fill of lamb dishes throughout our journey in Turkey, but this lamb shoulder was undoubtedly the best one I've had, with exceptional texture and no gamey flavor. For dessert, a colorful dish of pistachio and cherry ice cream offered a delightful finish to our meal. The restaurant's dining space is fairly sizable so it wouldn't take too much effort to book a reservation. Another plus from the dining experience at Mürver is the expansive Turkish wine list. We had a bottle of kalecik karasi (think a light- to medium-bodied red) from the Ankara region that had similar characters to a good pinot noir. The upscale décor of the dining space makes the restaurant a fantastic place for a romantic date night in Istanbul. Turkey has no shortage of good to outstanding restaurants, especially in Istanbul. If you are open to splurging (our tasting menu didn't come cheap by Turkish standard at around $120 per person based on the exchange rate at that time) for an outstanding modern Turkish culinary experience, Mürver is one place I highly recommend.

We paid ~$85pp for this place! Overall, it's a beautiful ambiance since we were seated on the rooftop and got to witness the sunset and fireworks. I didn't think the food was all-that to be quite frank. I ended up liking the drinks more than the food. Additionally, we asked the waiter for a birthday surprise for our friend, and they ended up auto-choosing the dessert without asking us and charging us as well without checking in.

This is the place to go to if you're interested in trying a modern take on Turkish cuisine! Great view of Bosphorous with delicious food and cocktails. The octopus was tender and cooked perfectly. The veggies were fresh and flavorful. Service was warm and friendly. It is a little on the pricier side but totally worth it!

I am usually suspicious of restaurants with a view, as the food has never wow'ed me at these restaurants, even if they appear in the Michelin guide. From its terrace, Murver Restaurant has a gorgeous view of the Bosphorus, Hagia Sophia, and Blue Mosque, *and* serves great food. I would describe its food as modern Mediterranean -- interesting takes on some traditional Mediterranean flavor profiles. Our group's favorites: * Duck with cinnamon, cherry, hummus, walnut * Burnt pumpkin with yogurt sauce * Baked artichokes with spicy raisins, artichoke sauce, and celery oil * Octopus with vegetables, sumac, isot, and pomegranate syrup * Grilled chicken with sliced potatoes * Grilled sirloin steak * Seafood stew with green herb sauce When dining here, I can easily lose track of time. The view of the slow passing cruise ships is very relaxing. I could order drink after drink just to sit here. Hey, I didn't say they have to be alcohol.

Rooftop restaurant located atop the Novotel Hotel. Huge patio overlooking the Bosphorus. Gorgeous space for drinks or a meal. They served a complimentary bread with a oil dip. Bread was light and airy with a crunchy exterior. I think it was a buckwheat sour dough. For appetizer we ordered the roasted zucchini. Served with seeds and a delicious sauce. For the main course, we shared the lamb roast for two. Lamb was delicious. Light char on the outside with a thin layer of rendered fat. Meat pulled apart nicely. Served with a yogurt and freekeh. The freekeh was outstanding. One of the best grain preparations of had. For dessert, we shared the chilled chocolate mouse with berries, nuts, and chocolate sauce. I also had raki - a fermented grape liquor. They had a great selection of whiskeys. There were gendered restrooms. I believe they were handicap accessible. Service was attentive and helpful.

This was a favorite from my visit to Istanbul and we tried a number of restaurants. I appreciated the numerous vegetarian choices and the artful presentation. We were there in January so it wasn't the busiest tourist season and the service was wonderful with a busy but not overcrowded restaurant. The view was delightful and the food was so good. There were also fun cocktails and an assortment of drink options. So glad we found this place!

Located on the Novotel İstanbul Bosphorus rooftop Mürver features the cooking of Chef Mevlüt Özkaya, a focus on seasonal open-fire cooking yielding big flavors that pair well to Turkish Wines and a privileged view of the Golden Horn plus Asia. A trendy spot by Turkish standards, with music and a lounge setting the tone, it is en route to seats that guests will notice an open kitchen where fire burns brightly turning out everything from small plates to large format shareables and a Tasting Menu. Centered on the oven, a youthful team working quietly, warm Sourdough arrives to accompany crisp local Riesling with an Arugula Salad, smoky Pears and cave-aged Sheep's Cheese soon to follow. Known for grilled Octopus as well as Confit Duck with cold Hummus, Cherries and Walnuts, it comes as no surprise that Lamb is featured in several forms including smoked Shoulder served rare between Quince and Walnuts. With the Restaurant since day one, Chef Özkaya officially taking the reins in 2021, Bükme elevates comfort Food with flaky Pastry containing Beef ready to be dipped in Yogurt while housemade Pickles cleanse the palate between bites. Raised at Grandma's elbow in the kitchen with training furthered at some of Turkey's top tables Dessert sees Mürver update classics with technique and quality produce, the "Burnt Antep Pistachio" something of a Pave beneath assertive Ice Cream while Charred Pumpkin dances thanks to savory Sauce and a cold perfume of Cumin.

Amazing place: great food, great view of Bosphorus, great music. I also like their restaurant on the first floor -- a great place for lunch.

The Restaurant caught our attention because of its location. The wine and the food was absolutely fantastic! We had the seafood stew and the short ribs. The appetizer was a duck pate, and the bread and the oil that it came with was phenomenal.

Beautiful location and delicious food. We were sat slightly inside (still felt somewhat outside), but really appreciated that they moved us to a truly outside table when one opened. The roasted lamb was fantastic

The food was alright, the service was what you'd get at a mediocre tourist trap. I've been to many Michelin guide restaurants (though none in Turkey) and this comes nowhere close to the bar I'd expect for them. The server didn't take our order for more than 30 minutes after we sat down, elbowed my wife's head twice (he did apologise the second time once she called him out on it), chided my sister for not being able to hear him over blaring loud music while she was mid conversation as he tried to get her attention from 6 feet away, and didn't take our dessert order for 30 minutes after dropping off the dessert menu. I have a lot of empathy for busy restaurants and overwhelmed servers, but that empathy disappears when they're rude or condescending and we pay through the nose. Some dishes were good, most were just about ok. What a waste of a beautiful venue.

The lamb was outstanding; the service was excellent; large restaurant which was a bit loud at some points Excellent choice

Amazing food in an amazing restaurant. Great view of Bosphorus. Service was also perfect. Definitely 10 out of 10! We had mezes and perfect lamb dish with great wine. Go this place without hesitation!

It's very good and well worth a visit. We went here for Fathers Day upon the recommendation of the hotel concierge. Apparently this place is known for cocktails and they have a huge list. I went with a Smoky Mary which was some type of Bloody Mary with a peppery kick to it. It was excellent. Daughter had a mock tail which was sweet and delicious. Not sure what was in it. After a drink we sat down at a table with a great view of the Bosporus and city. Could see Blue Mosque and Ayasofia from our chairs. Went with hummus and herbs encrusted in dough to start. Very good. Mains were roasted chicken which was cooked nicely and a sirloin steak. We skipped desert. Prices reasonable to boot for what we got. Check it out!!

This restaurant is on the top floor of the Novotel hotel. I went there for lunch based on their Google review and was not disappointed at all. The interior is very well decorated and the view is amazing. The olive and bread was amazing and I had the spicy Sucuk ( Turkish sausage) which came with a really tasty mashed potatoes and both were really good. For main dish I got the braised oxtail which had smoked yogurt on top and was delicious!

The food The service The view The music The ambience all 5 One of the best restaurants we have ever been to in the world.

Beautiful views, great cocktails and wine but the food was NOT a good value at all....very very poor service...and the staff kept emphasizing that "service was not included ".....

Great view (go before the sun sets) and great outdoor space for drinks or dinner. I have only a vague idea of what we ate, since I trusted our Turkish friends to do the sharing in the middle plates. For starters..We had octopus, hummus with lamb which was excellent with a sweet cinnamon flavor, a intestine pizza sounds gross but was quite good, a thick yogurt and nice crusty bread also as sides. For our main we had lamb with a lentil side- a great crisp skin and a oxtail on a light bread with a creamy cheese- very good with a rich flavor. Wine pairings and cocktails also very well done. The waiter spoke English for me and they have English menus, so don't feel intimidated. Great night out.

You don't come here for the food (which is of a high quality), you come here for the view and the outdoor setting, which is beautiful. A well thought out wine list also deserves a mention.

Gorgeous views of the Bosporus and city lights of Istanbul. Great wine list. Lamb chops were awesome.

We just got done with a phenomenal meal at Murver in Istanbul. The grilled, smoked octopus was the best I've had in my life, and I've had a lot of octopus around the world. The bar scene was fantastic and the view from both the bar and restaurant is magical. In terms of service, the bar service was impeccable and the transition from bar to table unparalleled. Once at our table, the incredible service continued and I'd be remiss if I didn't call out Hakan for his attentiveness. Overall incredible experience. I highly recommend this place if you are in Istanbul.

Very trendy spot with excellent food. Delicious food and beautiful views. It's inside the Novotel and has great service.