Last updated on April 25th, 2025
The Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul At The Bosphorus has several food and beverage outlets to consider and during my most recent stay (which you can read about here) I had a chance to enjoy two of them. The first I tried was Aqua, which you can read about here and second was their traditional Turkish kebab restaurant called Ocakbaşı. Ocakbaşı Restaurant is located directly on the Bosphorus Strait which offers beautiful panoramic views. Throughout the evening we were taken care of by the wonderful Eyüphan who truly provided top-notch service!
The dinner feast started off with a bit of Turkish Raki which is an anise flavored liquor that is simply delicious. It is clear and when mixed with water turns a pleasant milky white. To accompany this lovely drink we were brought a cheese plate, pickles, and fresh bread. What more could one ask for? Off to a great start!
Up next was the Turkish Meze, which are small side dishes with a variety of flavors. For me, these were the clear winner of the entire evening! The spicy yogurt, known as Atom, was simply magnificent! Some of the others included eggplant, hummus, octopus, turnip salad, and stuffed artichoke hearts. All were really lovely and paired perfectly with Raki. I think I could eat this every day!
Now it was time for the main event, Turkish BBQ. I asked our friendly server Eyüphan to put together his favorite meat dishes and he included Adana, lamb, and chicken. I paired them with a glass of Turkish red wine. For me, I needed a bit more kick so asked for extra spicy yogurt to eat them with.
To finish off the evening, we sampled three desserts which included Künefe, baklava, and rice pudding.
Overall, the meal at Ocakbaşı Restaurant was enjoyable. My favorite parts were the service, view, and meze! If you’re looking for a lovely waterfront restaurant in Istanbul then try Ocakbaşı Restaurant at Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul At The Bosphorus.
The Nitty Gritty
Taste - 7.2
Value - 8
Feng Shui - 9.2
Convenience - 9.4
Service - 9
8.6
Solid.
Restaurant
ÇIRAĞAN CAD. NO. 28, 34349 ISTANBUL, BEŞIKTAŞ, TURKEY
Phone: +90 552 381 1111
