Best food in Turkey 100%. With everyone one calling at you while walking it’s hard to navigate the streets. But I’m so thankful we were ushered to Ararat because the food, drinks, service and ambiance were the best I’ve had in my travels around Turkey. Their chicken with pistachio and cream was sooo good and was very much a part of the clean plate club. Of course you have a gorgeous view of the blue mosque, but the food really grabs your attentions. MAKE THIS RESTAURANT A PRIORITY!

I came here with my family and we had a wonderful experience! I had grilled fish with potatoes and pine nuts and It was amazing, the fish was fresh and delicious. We also ordered a few starters that were also great. I was very glad to find Salep drink here, it was also delicious. We overall had an unforgettable experience and the staff were also very friendly and attentive. We reserved a table and got one with an amazing view of the blue mosque.

TL;DR: slightly more expensive than other places, but you get what you pay for in terms of flavour and an incredible view. We were a bit nervous to visit this restaurant after reading some of the recent (negative) reviews, but it was unwarranted. The rooftop and view was better than expected and the meal was the best we have had in Istanbul thus far. Everything was delicious, but the vegetable casserole with saffron was very special. Drinks were a bit more expensive than what we've encountered elsewhere: 300TL for 50cl of house wine. Cost of food was about the same as other places in the area: around 140TL for each vegetarian main, around 80TL for a salad. I was expecting the cover charge of 10% because I had read reviews warning about this, but couldn't see it listed on the menu. With 10% tip, we paid about 790TL (€44) for 2 (vegetarians). The complimentary baklava and tea makes it feel like you're getting something in return for the cover charge. A worthwhile stop for any visitor!

I came in for drinks while waiting for the whirling dervish show/ceremony nearby. The wine is good, the views spectacular, and the service was excellent! Shoutout to Mauro for setting up the heating lamp for me & giving me a warm blanket.

Mumtaz 😘😘😘 Pot kebab. Butter Shrimp and calamary fries So delicious. My family so love it. The staff so friendly. We are so enjoy dinner at the rooftop. This restaurant so recommended. The view from restaurant is blue mosque, hagia sofia and the sea.

I don’t recommend this place at all. It’s so expensive and not even that good. Limited vegetarian options and the quantity is so small. I came here for the scenic view and I really enjoyed that. However, the food was not worth it. Furthermore, they pressure you to write a good review for them and it’s so incredibly annoying.

When you enter the restaurant up the skinny staircases to the roof, it looks doaconxertingly scruffy, but whilst the rooftop restaurant is fairly plain, the food is excellent, the staff are sweet and attentive and the views are beautiful. Some of the best calamari I've had on this trip. I recommend the clay pot chicken also.

We had a wonderful late night dinner at this fantastic place. Served by „turkish Michael“ we felt very comfortable and enjoyed a great evening with a stunning view on Hagia Sophia from the terrace! Little advise, if you want to sit on one of the 3 tables in front of the mosque, let them know when you make the reservation!

Beautiful rooftop with a view over the Blue Mosque, Aya Sophia, the Bosphorus, and the Arasta Bazar. The environment is welcoming and the staff are friendly. Now to the food: really good, especially the pistachio ishli kofte and the cheese pastry with honey (heavenly)!

Amazing food, fresh and awesome taste. Pure turkish cuisine. The view is to die for and ambiance is just excellent.Miko went out of the way to make our experience delightful, so friendly and polite . Honestly, he shd be a photographer.

Come for the view, not for the food. I wonder what everyone else ate that i didn’t order. i had grilled butter octopus to test the food before i ordered more and I’m so glad i did. The grilled octopus wasn’t fresh, so as a seafood lover, i could immediately taste it. to mask the stale octopus, the chef overcooked it so it was gummy and gross. and the mojito was weak. it’s a big no for food. get tea, feast with your eyes and leave.

Only having two days in Istanbul, we decided to visit this restaurant on our final night. So glad I did, the views were amazing, having the Blue mosque, Hagia Sophia on one side and the sea view on the other side. The restaurant itself has great customer service, very friendly and welcoming staff. They provided shawls at each table to keep customers warm. Our waiter was very kind and made our experience very pleasant. He knew we were visiting and offered suggestions on what food to try. We also received complimentary Turkish tea and baklava to end our night. The food was delicious, the atmosphere was great and the general overall experience was amazing. I would highly recommend this restaurant if you are visiting Istanbul.

The best restaurant to visit in Istanbul, unforgettable views, great location, delicious food and great atmosphere. Personalized attention to the customers by the owner and specially Hakim and Mazlum. We had a lot fun here it was my b-day and they did all their best to make me feel as at home. I will never forget your kindness. Thank you so much for the great time at your place.

The place is wonderful. You have a great view to the Blue Mosque. The service of Mauro was great, taking time to explain the dishes and providing good and fair suggestions on the quantity of food. The price could be on the upper side, but you will never get a better view of the Blue Mosque.

Such a great restaurant, well worth all the stairs to the top of the gorgeous roof terrace. The view was stunning and the food was amazing too - baklava and tea provided as we paid our bill. Eyüp was a great host, he made us really enjoy our experience! A must-visit restaurant for everyone :)

Amazing roof top restaurant. Wasn’t disappointed at all from all the reviews. The view was spectacular overlooking the Blue Mosque and the sea. Friendly service and hospitality. As we already had lunch and stopped here in the afternoon, we just had some drinks and decided to taste some of the dishes which was delicious. The grilled fish was the signature!!

Delicious food, excellent view, and great service. I highly recommend this restaurant everything we ordered was delicious and perfectly prepared. The waiters were very welcoming and hospitable. The view of the blue mosque was excellent, you could also view Aya Sofia and the sea

If you only have one late evening in Istanbul, I would highly recommend Ararat Terrace Restaurant! They are open until 12am and have a beautiful view overlooking the waters, Hagia Sophia, and the Blue Mosque. 🌊🕌 I would recommend going before sunset as the views would be spectacular. 🌅 There are a lot of places around to shop + see. Our waiter was very kind and made our experience very pleasant. 😊 He knew we were visiting and offered us authentic Turkish dishes to try, as well as a courtesy Turkish tea + baklava to end our night. ☕️ Great hospitality overall. We ordered a variety of food/ platters and everything was delicious. 🍗 NOTE: you do have to some stairs to get to the rooftop, so be prepared if you have injuries.

I was here with my family, and it was such wonderful experience. The waiters were lovely and attentive, and the food was SUPERB. I had the walnut lamb and it was maybe the best dish I've ever had in my life.

Great food, spectacular service and perfect location. There is indoor and outdoor seating. The best view of the Blue Mosque and there is also a great view of the water on the opposite side. The waiter was so kind to give me a complementary Turkish tea and bakhlava. The service is fast but they don’t rush you to leave. When the azaan (Muslim call to prayer) plays they turn off the music so we can hear it clearly. Everyone should visit this restaurant at least once for the experience.

Lovely little terrace restaurant above a hotel, with absolutely stunning views of the Blue Mosque and great view of the river. The food was decent and the staff were very friendly and accomodating. I would certainly recommend coming to enjoy the views.

The restaurant has nice house wine and grilled fish (The best fish we’ve had in our Turkey trip). It has a very nice view of the blue mosque as well (Probably one of the best views). One just needs to climb up 3-4 stairs to the restaurant and rooftop as they don’t have elevators.

Shoutout to Mauro who has the best customer service in Istanbul, so hospitable and entertaining we had a good laugh. The place and ambiance is lovely. Its worth visiting Istanbul at night time. Food was so delicious, yummy and sumptuous. Forgot to take a photo with our mix seafood platter which is the best. We love the complimentary baklava and turkish tea. Highly recommended😊

Absolute hidden gem!!! Beautiful food, amazing service and stunning rooftop views! My husband and i visited this evening and the staff are so kind and caring and helpful with orders and service. Definately worth a visit!!

Amazing service, Mike is such a gentle and friendly waiter. The views are lovely at the roof top. Really good food quality good price and service. Also location is unique. Coming back for sure!

Ararat restaurant offers an incredible experience with its breathtaking view, delectable food, and pleasant ambiance. The scenic view is perfect for social media content or simply enjoying the sight of the vast sea or Haga Sofia at night. The proximity of the view adds to its majestic charm, making it even more stunning. The food is delicious, especially their must-try traditional dishes like fresh fish and various dips. For dessert, the traditional baklava or the favorite Knafeh, soaked in sweet syrup and layered with cheese, is a delightful choice. Don't forget to pair it with Turkish black tea. The soft, Turkish music playing in the background adds to the overall experience, transporting you to a different place. The service at Ararat restaurant was outstanding, as they flawlessly executed all the steps of their service. They were attentive in offering drinks, skillfully coursing the meal, and promptly clearing plates and silverware between courses. The staff was not overly pushy, allowing guests to enjoy their dining experience to the fullest. Special recognition goes to their server, Mauro, who provided exceptional service and deserves a 5-star rating. Great work, guys! Keep up the excellent job!

I visited Ararat Restaurant yesterday evening and loved it! The view is gorgeous and the food was amazing!!! The Adana Kebab was so good!!! Also so reasonably priced! The service was also great, especially from Ahmed. The staff are really lovely and honest! I forgot my phone in the restaurant and came back half an hour later and they had hidden it away for me!

Mauro was our server and he was so patient and helpful! This restaurant is a must! The food, view, and service is excellent. Please check out. You won't be disappointed. The Sultan Ahmet mosque is beautiful and right in front of you. The other side of the terrace has a beautiful water view. It was mesmerizing

Best rooftop, soo good place. We enjoyed to much. Fish was really good. We had also lobster. Kg price was 1.500 tukish lira. It was alive lobster. We saw it. Fish in salt wasvery nice and it came with the fair show. Service is very good in here. Waiter are very good and friendly. We Will be back here.

Such a great restaurant! Our waiter was called miko, and everyone was really friendly perfect for tourists!!!!!! The terrace has the most perfect view of the blue mosque. We had an especially amazing experience as once a month the mosque changes its colours and it’s very beautiful. If you go around the right time you can listen to the adhan (call to Islamic prayer) the food was the best I’ve had in Istanbul, the fish was great and there are so many options for your taste including a children’s menu. Price wise was a little bit on the expensive side but for the atmosphere and many on the house treats, I think it is absolutely fair

We stumbled across this wonderful hidden gem completely by accident , and I am so glad we did! The views are absolutely stunning, you can see the beautiful blue mosque, the sea and hear the wonderful , soothing azan. Our waiters were exceptional, Ayoup and Younis. They were kind, funny and charming . This is the most wonderful restaurant ever! Can’t wait to come back.

I’ve been here 4 days and went to this place 3 times. 😃 The initial appeal was the terrace (you can see the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia, and the water!), but the food and service were so great, I kept coming back instead of trying other rooftop restaurants. When I first returned, Ayub recognized me and remembered exactly what I ordered 2 days prior. He and his colleagues were so kind and attentive. I should point out here that, as a solo female traveler, I am skeptical of any male attention, and the attentiveness here was very neighborly / brotherly. As an example, it got a lot cooler while I was having dessert on my last night, and someone brought me a shawl to stay warm. In terms of menu items, my favorites were the eggplant-goat cheese appetizer (see photo) and the lentil soup. If you have spent any time in Istanbul, you’ll know that there’s a huge supply of pomegranates, which is my favorite food in the whole world, so be sure to get something with that. Cheers!

We had the most AMAZING dinner we have had in a while. Food was superb and service was even better. And what a location! It’s worth more than 5 starts! They really love to cater to your every need and were so genuine in their service. If I had to fault (and it’s really isn’t) it’s a bit pricey, but we’re totally happy to pay.

Sunyy was our waiter and he was very attentive to our needs, taking our orders and serving us with a smile. He was also very friendly and helpful in taking beautiful photos for us. The food was of course superbly delicious without a doubt. The view was gorgeous, of the Blue Mosque and the Bhosphorous River. We would recommend it to anyone who visits Istanbul! 👍👍👍👍👍👍

Wonderful terrace, with amazing views of the Blue Mosque and above the Marmara Sea. The food was delicious, really delicious. That’s why we went back the day after. However the Ararat Terrace wouldn’t be complete without the nice and attentive people that make this place work out. Thank you Eyüp and Sergio for a wonderful time #5 stars service!

We can see why this place consistently gets good reviews! The view is beautiful, food was out fast and was delicious - the added tea & baklava was great. The staff were friendly and even had blankets ready as it was windy. Highly recommend if you are in Istanbul 😁

The place is really pretty with a view. The drinks were good but it tasted like it was old or fermented. If that makes sense. The food was also good. Had appetizers. Generally loved the place and the service. I went there during renovations for the hotel and they have a lot of stairs too, with no elevator.

This place was so good ! My sister and I came in during our first trip to Turkey, and this was the first restaurant we visited. Right across from the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia, this rooftop restaurant was the perfect place to stop after a day of walking. Our host, Erhan, was super sweet to us, and he even showed us around a bit! The food was amazing, and the dessert and tea was even better! He asked us the songs we liked, and he played us his favorite music as well! The owner loves to laugh, and we cracked jokes and bonded as the dinner went on. If you’re not accustomed to exceptional service from the moment you walk in to the moment you walk down the street, then you need to come experience it !!

The view is majestic!!! The food was good, especially the fish can’t remember the name but it's yellow color. I like that they prepared a scarf at each table in case the weather gets too cold. Mauro was the best waiter!!!! He even put on the scarf for us. Excellent service. Recommended ❤️❤️❤️