1924 İstanbul

1924 Restaurant

The menu consists of the old Eastern European favourites with a few new twists these include Russian borscht, piroshki, beef strogonoff , kievsky and faberge and there is not just lemon but a variety of infused vodkas and some spectacular cocktails, authentic Russian music fills the background and live musicians play the harp, piano and accordion continuing the spirit of this historic restaurant.

Founded by Russians fleeing the Bolshevik revolution to recreate the urbane life they had left behind, the restaurant came to represent a carefree evening out for the children of the new Turkish Republic.

Royal’s and emigrés, civil servants and spies, bohemians and politicians all rubbed shoulders in its wood-panelled dining-room. Contemporary guidebooks described dinner as much a part of experiencing Istanbul as a visit to the bazaar or Blue Mosque. No visitor to Istanbul be it Mata Hari or Greta Garbo, Agatha Christie or the King of Spain would leave the city without paying a call. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the Turkish President was a loyal client, all attracted by a sophisticated ambiance, Russian delicacies and lashings of ice-cold lemon vodka.

This Istanbul institution with its 80 years of Beyoğlu tradition has been intensively and extensively researched bringing every detail back to life so that this legend of a restaurant can once again shine in its own glory.