Arkestra

Istanbul, Turkey

French cuisine can rarely be described as fun, but chef Cenk Debensason toys with technique and fuses it with his own imaginative style and, as a result, the menu is a concise collection of bar classics made better, such as the bite-sized katsu sando. Once a fleeting trend, now an irresistible must-order, it’s made with panko fried beef, homemade shokupan and tonkatsu sauce. Tuna sashimi and steak tartare get similar treatment, while the pesto agnolotti with lemon mascarpone has become one of the open kitchen’s signature dishes. Set in a former residential villa built in the Sixties, this is an all-night destination – there are pre-dinner cocktails in sexy glassware at the chic, fuss-free bar followed by as many seasonal courses as you can squeeze in. Later, head upstairs to the Listening Room to peruse the vinyl records or have an al fresco aperitif in the courtyard.

Key Information

• Average price per person $100
• Dinner daily 6pm – 12am, closed Sundays
• 902129707273
• Visit Arkestra's Website

Location

Dilhayat Sk, Istanbul, 34337