"Sara Tabrizi's slow-meze room reworks Turkish, Persian and Ottoman plates — book Aheste for Istanbul's most considered tasting of meze."
About Aheste
Aheste — Persian for ‘slowly’ — sits in the Doğan Apartment on Meşrutiyet Caddesi, in the Asmalımescit pocket of Beyoğlu. Chef Sara Tabrizi, who previously cooked at the Georges Hotel's Le Fumoir nearby, runs the kitchen alongside partner Volkan Karabal, and the whole project is built around the slow-food idea: organic, local, seasonal produce and a menu that takes its time.
It is recognised in the MICHELIN Guide Türkiye and listed in the World's 50 Best Discovery selection. For other modern takes on Anatolian cooking in the city, compare Yeni Lokanta and the two-star TURK Fatih Tütak, or browse the city's full tasting-menu picks.
The Kitchen
The evening menu borrows from Turkish, Persian, Ottoman, Armenian and Greek kitchens, rebuilt as a run of modern meze. The dish people return for is a flaky pastry filled with a creamy tuna tarama; from there the kitchen moves through vegetable plates and grilled cooking such as barbecued lamb heart with roast potatoes. It reads like a meyhane reimagined by someone who trained in a fine-dining room.
Pricing sits in Beyoğlu's upper bracket without reaching tasting-menu extremes — come for the set menu and let the kitchen lead, or build your own spread of meze across the table. It is dinner only, and the room is small.
The Room
Past the entrance there is a choice: a trendier bistro area, or a more romantic dining space under a vaulted ceiling, low-lit and quiet. With around 40 seats the room never feels rushed, and service is warm and unhurried — the kind of evening that runs long on purpose. It is candlelit and intimate rather than grand.
Best for an unhurried dinner for two or a long evening with close friends
Aheste suits an unhurried dinner for two or a long evening with close friends — the vaulted room, the candlelight and the slow pacing make it a natural first-date or anniversary table. For more Istanbul rooms, see Karaköy Lokantası or browse the wider Istanbul guide.
Not for
Not for a quick cheap bite or a big, loud group — this is a small, candlelit room built around slow, multi-plate meze, and the pace is deliberately leisurely.
Frequently Asked
Who is the chef at Aheste?
Chef Sara Tabrizi runs the kitchen, in a venture with partner Volkan Karabal. She previously cooked at Le Fumoir, the in-house restaurant of the nearby Georges Hotel in Galata.
Is Aheste in the Michelin Guide?
Yes — Aheste is recognised in the MICHELIN Guide Türkiye and is also listed in the World's 50 Best Discovery selection.
What is the signature dish at Aheste?
A flaky pastry filled with creamy tuna tarama is the dish guests remember, alongside grilled plates such as barbecued lamb heart with roast potatoes.
What kind of food does Aheste serve?
Modern meze drawing on Turkish, Persian, Ottoman, Armenian and Greek cooking, built around organic, local and seasonal produce in a slow-food style.
Where is Aheste located?
In the Doğan Apartment on Meşrutiyet Caddesi, in the Asmalımescit quarter of Beyoğlu, central Istanbul. It serves dinner only and seats around 40.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Aheste
Book directly through Aheste's website.
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Practical Information
AddressMeşrutiyet Caddesi 107/F, Asmalımescit, Beyoğlu
NeighbourhoodAsmalımescit, in the Doğan Apartment on Meşrutiyet Caddesi
CuisineModern Turkish meze
PriceEvening tasting menu and a la carte meze; dinner only, around 40 seats
Dress CodeSmart casual
SeatingSmall dining room and a bistro area; reservations recommended
ReservationReservations recommended; the dining room is small and books out on weekends
