Sankai by Nagara is one of the latest One-Star restaurants in Istanbul. It serves the city’s most sophisticated Japanese flavors and promises to offer an authentic Japanese dining experience with a kitchen led by Chef Nagaya and Chef Shibata. And how could they create this “authentic Japanese dining experience” in Istanbul?

An avenue of approximately two kilometers beckoning flaneurs and flaneuses of the city; monumental stone buildings on both sides reflecting diverse architectural styles, each more glamorous than the other; chic restaurants, patisseries, and cafés embracing the entire neighborhood: Welcome to İstiklal Street, also known as Cadde-i Kebir or Grand Rue de Pera!

Front-of-house teams are made up of professionals who can elevate a dining experience to a whole new level. The team at Restaurant Tuğra in Istanbul, headed up by Ismail Kahveci, is a case in point… and recipient of our Service Award. This article is supported by Mastercard, official partner of the MICHELIN Guide Istanbul, Izmir & Bodrum.

The Beyoğlu Culture Route is a wonderful tribute to İstanbul’s identity through architecture, art, and culture.

A total of 111 restaurants are recommended, including 15 in İzmir and 19 in Bodrum. 2 restaurants in Bodrum and 3 restaurants in İzmir are awarded One MICHELIN Star. 2 new establishments are also honored in İstanbul. 4 new committed restaurants receive the MICHELIN Green Star. A new MICHELIN Award is presented: the MICHELIN Sommelier Award.

The food scene is changing both in terms of age and direction. Generation Y chefs approach food with passion. The more time they spend in the kitchen, the more they discover themselves and then hone their knowledge accordingly. They dream not of rediscovering the world, but rather of walking confidently down their own path and adding something of their own personality to the legacy they’ve inherited from great chefs before them – and by better recognizing and using what this land has to offer them.

It takes time, experience and finesse to present an ingredient to the customer as a dish. To transform that ingredient to different tastes, textures and appereances through various cooking methods, and to create layered flavors.