
Iskele’s ambience is as inspirational as the cuisine is consistently excellent, since it is located directly on the Bosphorus in an Ottoman-era boat dock in the shadows of a historic castle. Istanbul traditionalists visit this ageless fish restaurant because they believe the city’s culinary traditions remain protected inside these walls.
Many of the waiters know their clients by name and whether they like their raki with or without ice. A dinner is divided into many stages, beginning with cold meze, then hot appetizers, and finally a seafood crescendo. This is a delightful Istanbul tradition.