"Istanbul's see-and-be-seen room since 1997: Musa Ay's sea bass and sushi, thirteen floors over the Bosphorus. Book it for a first date."
Thirteen floors up, behind wall-to-wall glass, Vogue has looked out over the Bosphorus since 1997, which makes it one of the oldest fine-dining rooms in Istanbul still drawing a crowd. Chef Musa Ay runs a split menu of modern European plates and a sushi counter with more than seventy rolls, a combination that was novel when the place opened and is still the draw. The sea bass, fileted and finished with herbs and good olive oil, is the dish to order. Expect a serious bill for the view.
The Kitchen
Vogue runs two kitchens under one roof. Chef Musa Ay sends modern European plates from the main kitchen, where the sea bass with herbs and olive oil is the long-running signature, while a Far Eastern team works a sushi counter with more than seventy rolls built around eel, salmon, shrimp and crab. The split has been the format since 1997, when a Western-and-sushi menu over the Bosphorus was a genuinely new idea in Istanbul, and the bar also claims the city's first molecular cocktail list.
The room sits on the 13th floor of BJK Plaza in Akaretler, Besiktas, with glass on every side and an enclosed terrace. It is a high-end night out: plan on roughly 1,500 to 2,500 lira per person once you have a starter, the sea bass or a sushi spread, and a drink or two. Vogue carries a Michelin Guide Istanbul listing and a Gault and Millau Turkey entry, recognition that lands it among the city's established names rather than its newest. For the raw-fish side, it reads as one of Istanbul's serious sushi addresses.
The Room
Vogue trades on the view: a glass box thirteen floors up, wrapped around a panorama of the Bosphorus and the Besiktas shoreline, with an enclosed terrace for cooler nights. Inside it is sleek and dark, decorated with archive Vogue magazine covers, split into a main dining room, a lounge, the sushi counter and a bar. Lighting is low, the sound is lively once the bar fills, and the crowd dresses up, since this is a smart, see-and-be-seen room rather than a quiet one. Tables near the glass are the ones to book; there are well over a hundred seats.
Best for a First Date in Istanbul
Book Vogue for a first date when you want the view to do the heavy lifting. Thirteen floors of Bosphorus glass is a reliable opener, the menu's split between European plates and seventy kinds of sushi means neither of you is boxed in, and the bar, Istanbul's first for molecular cocktails, gives you somewhere to land before or after. Reserve a table by the window at sunset, start with the sea bass and a few rolls to share, and let the lights come up over the strait as you order a second cocktail.
Not for
Not for a quiet, intimate dinner. Vogue is a glossy, lively, see-and-be-seen room that trades on its Bosphorus view, and the bill climbs fast once cocktails and sushi are involved.
Frequently Asked
Is Vogue Restaurant in Istanbul worth it?
Yes, if you are paying partly for one of the best dining views in the city. Vogue has run thirteen floors above the Bosphorus since 1997, with chef Musa Ay's sea bass and a seventy-roll sushi counter, plus a long cocktail list. The food is good rather than groundbreaking; the setting is the headline. Go for sunset, book a window table, and treat it as a view-and-occasion dinner.
What is Vogue known for?
Vogue is known for its Bosphorus view from the 13th floor of BJK Plaza, its long-running combination of modern European food and sushi, and being one of Istanbul's first restaurants to pair the two. The sea bass is the signature plate and the sushi counter offers more than seventy rolls. The bar claims the city's first molecular cocktail menu. It has held a place among Istanbul's establishment dining rooms since 1997.
How much does dinner cost at Vogue?
Plan on roughly 1,500 to 2,500 lira per person for a starter, a main such as the sea bass or a sushi selection, and a couple of drinks, with cocktails and a larger sushi spread pushing it higher. It sits at the top of Istanbul's price range, in line with its view and its Michelin Guide listing. Book ahead for a window table at sunset.
Where is Vogue Restaurant in Istanbul?
Vogue is on the 13th floor of BJK Plaza on Suleyman Seba Caddesi in Akaretler, Besiktas, on the European side near the Bosphorus shoreline. It is a short taxi from Taksim or Nisantasi. Take the lift to the top for the full glass-walled view and the enclosed terrace, and book a window table for sunset. See our Istanbul dining guide for more rooms with a view.
Is Vogue good for a first date?
Yes. The Bosphorus view, a menu split between European plates and sushi, and a cocktail bar make it an easy, impressive first date. Reserve a window table at sunset, share the sea bass and a few rolls, and use the bar to start or finish. It leans glossy rather than intimate, so pick it if you want occasion over quiet. See our best restaurants for a first date.