Pera Antakya

It is my first time having turkish cuisine and i love it! Every dish was accompanied by bread that goes along perfectly with the dish.

Service was excellent too. They were all attentive and served the food accordingly to the pace that we were eating.

10/10!

Our visit to Pera Antakya was remarkable, largely due to their incredible wraps that offered a taste experience beyond the ordinary. The staff were friendly, and the place was very welcoming to children. Highly recommended for an unforgettable dining experience.

One of the best in Istanbul! That grilled cheese with butter and garlic was top notch! Their customer service was also fantastic. Highly recommended.

Read about it and always wanted to go. Went yesterday without reservation and they accommodated us. Great food… the lambchop and kebab were tasty. The dessert was good and not too sweet. Worth going back but the price may be high by Turkish standard. Still the value is good.

Pera Antakya

Our rating is 4.5. I have divided my review into parts so go to a specific paragraph to skip the introduction. Paragraph 2 - introduction. Paragraph 3 - food and wine menu in the photo, interior, service impressions and information about the wine. Paragraph 4 - a description of what we ordered to eat. Paragraph 5 - a summary and why I deducted half a point. Please note that prices in Turkey fluctuate due to massive inflation, so the price card photos may be out of date, but they give you an idea of what to expect.
Every year during the holiday season we try to leave London and spend time in a place where the temperature is at least a few degrees higher. This time we spent an unusual Christmas Eve dinner in Pera Antakya. And at the same time, this is where we started our culinary adventure in Istanbul. We worried that the restaurant would be closed or, worse - full of customers but we were lucky to dine in. We did not make a reservation because we were afraid of a flight delay and it was difficult for us to estimate how long it would take to get from the airport to our accommodation especially we wanted to leave our luggage and change outfits to more festive ones. It only took us a moment to check in, take a bath after a long journey, change clothes and set off for dinner at a brisk pace. We arrived at the restaurant, had a short conversation with the staff and we were sitting comfortably with the menu in our hands.
Very cozy restaurant. The tables are not too close next to each other. The lighting was as we like - semi-darkness, but you still know what's on your plate. And the most important thing for us - cozy warmth, just as it should be. The staff was helpful from the very beginning, very nice and all spoke English. First, we order Turkish Bomonti beer to quench our thirst. I started choosing wine, and Paulina chose what will make our Christmas Eve dinner more enjoyable. After a short conversation with the waiter, I chose a bottle from the KAYRA Buzbağ Rezerv Öküzgözü Boğazkere winery - Vivino scored 3.8. Very good wine, but needs to breathe. We were satisfied with that choice and in my opinion, this wine deserves a higher score, but of course, this is only my and Paulina's opinion. A photo of the wine list is attached.
We started ordering. I would like to point out at the beginning that I was very hungry, so the number of dishes may be a bit scary. But at the same time, we asked the waiter if the dishes were large because we didn’t want to waste food or take it away. Traditionally, we received baked Turkish lavash - very good. We ordered a meze consisting of eight small dishes. And this is where the highway to heaven begins. The meze is perfect and every bite brings joy to the palate. As a main course, we ordered lamb chops. Soft, melt in your mouth, and smell wonderful of barbecue. And the other dish was pera Antakya wrap or lahmacun (can't remember which is which but they are 2 wraps with minced beef - very tasty). We also ordered the baked cheese recommended by the waiter - the restaurant's specialty. I don't know what it was, but it was delicious, so I'm adding another point to my review. To sum up, the food is a solid five. We have nothing to complain about. Very aromatic, warm, and served on time.
We highly recommend this place. We are very pleased with the food, wine and the restaurant itself. We deducted half a point for not informing us that they close at midnight exactly, which meant we had to drink the wine in a real hurry and couldn't just sit and chat a little bit after the meal. The restaurant is also a bit overpriced compared to others we have been to. Be sure to try this cheese.

Absolument worth the price! The Petra Antakya beef is a gem, so tender and perfectly marinated. The bread is so special and won our hearts.

Truly the best food we've had in Istanbul. Thank you so much for your wonderful, warm hospitality and quite frankly insane food ♥ From a YouTube video recommendation to actually experiencing it for ourselves - wow, a MUST visit🤩 The mezze dip start was biblical, and the lamb shish equally as mind-blowing😍 The Turkish wine was equally of high standard and served in a carafe which only enhanced the flavour. Well well well worth the extra cost - please do visit if you're in Istanbul!! Thank you again 🥰

By far the greatest dining experience I have had during my stay in Istanbul and in all of Europe. The owner is a world renowned Chef and has blessed 22 different countries with his talents and has the most genuine and sweet vibe. The Mezze platter is a MUST, the lamb chops melted in my mouth like butter, and the beef kabobs were immaculately seasoned and tender. My biggest regret is that I no longer want to explore different restaurants in Istanbul as I know it will be a mistake to eat a meal anywhere else. We were treated with free dessert to top off the wonderful experience. I cannot wait to go back, this is the type of place that inspires me to exercise to create a larger appetite so I can experience the entire menu hahaha

Delicious food and very friendly staff who made our dining experience a great one. The mezze platter comprising eight different mezzes was perfect for four people. The grilled meats were very tasty. The accompanying flatbread was also delicious and different from the bread that is usually served elsewhere. We received an incorrect order (lamb shish instead of lamb chops) but this was quickly rectified by the kind staff.

I had made a reservation by messaging Pera Antakya via WhatsApp. This was really easy and they were very quick to respond and accommodating when we were running late and had to push the booking back. Highly recommend this restaurant.

The best place I have tried in Istanbul. The location is super nice and the staff couldn't be kinder.
The flavours and the food are amazing, we came two times and tried a lot of stuff and there was nothing we didn't love. Prices are very reasonable, you can try plenty of things for about 20 euros per person. At the end of the meal tea and a small dessert is served.
Really recommended to eat turkish food with a twist

This has to be the best food we had in Istanbul so far. Perfectly cooked Lomb chaps and beef tenderloin.

The desert that the waiter gave us at the end was wonderful!

One of the best restaurants and most delicious food that you can have near Istiklal Street.
The other Antakya cuisine is very diversify in the menu and ingredients are awesome.
The Ayran drinks is one of the best that you can have in Istanbul if not in turkey.
The restaurant is slightly small in size, but still give it warm atmosphere .
It’s good for family, friends and Business .

Very delicious food. When you are there ask for the 5 course menu. You will get delicious food. Service is great and food is amazing!

This restaurant served the best Mezze platter I have ever had. Each cold Mezze had bold flavours and was just brilliant. The spiced pita bread was also out of this world. They also served me some free pumpkin dessert and Turkish tea on the house which was a great touch. Would definitely recommend if you are visiting Istanbul!

Hands down the best food in Istanbul. The staff is exceptionally nice, the setting is gorgeous and rustic and the food…well, there’s a reason they have a 4.9 rating out of 1,500 reviews so far. You can’t come to Istanbul and not pay these guys a visit.

Must try dishes?
> The farmer cheese from the oven
> The Kunefeh dessert

You can’t go wrong ordering anything here, but we loved the lamb kebab, chicken shish and mezze platter. Lovely ambience as well. This was so delicious and we really felt welcomed and cared for by Hasan.

Great authentic restaurant. We shared the starter plate and for main had the lamb chops and lamb shish. The lamb chops especially were amazing. Also the service and the friendliness of the staff was something outstanding..... definitely recommend

If you are planning to skip Antalya, this is a true representation in Istanbul. We had Tepsi kebab and was treated with Kabak Tatlisi which is pumpkin based Turkish dessert. Try the lamb shanks here as well.

Great place for a cozy meal. Modern vibe, nice music and delicious food. Tried the mezze platter and lamb kebab, it was amazing. Staff is super nice and helpful. Highly recommend.

I love this place. It is very cozy and the food is excellent. Would recommend it to anyone visiting Istanbul.