The story
Mürver is a Turkish grill restaurant at Kemankeş Caddesi No:57-59 in Karaköy, Istanbul, on the rooftop of the Novotel Istanbul Bosphorus. Gault&Millau awarded it 14.5 points in 2026, citing a menu centred on fire and wood-fired cooking.
Head chef Mevlüt Özkaya leads the kitchen, and the dinner menu changes with the seasons. The team grills, smokes, bakes and stews over wood, charcoal, nut shells and aromatic plants. The cooking draws on Anatolian heritage and on Mediterranean flavours, with local ingredients at the centre.
Meat and fish are dry aged on site. Sucuk, cured beef and pickles are also made in the kitchen wherever possible. The restaurant has worked with mostly local and seasonal produce since it opened in 2017, and it describes its approach as honest and direct.
The large terrace holds both the restaurant and the bar, with views across the Bosphorus toward Istanbul's historic peninsula. The wine list gives space to local producers and indigenous grape varieties, and Fatih Deniz, assistant restaurant manager, oversees its contemporary selection. Michelin lists Mürver as Recommended for 2026.
Recognition
Ambience
Location