1924 İstanbul

1924 Istanbul restaurant is one of Istanbul’s most legendary venues, preserving the atmosphere of the Russian émigré era. Founded by Russian refugees in 1924, it became a meeting place for diplomats, artists, writers, and politicians.​ Of course, the main reason to come here is not just to eat borscht, but to touch the history of this iconic place. Atatürk himself used to visit the restaurant, and among its guests were Agatha Christie and Greta Garbo. The old wooden panels, mirrors, and live piano and accordion music still create a unique atmosphere.​ 1924 Istanbul is deservedly listed in the Michelin Guide for its cuisine. The menu features classic Russian and Eastern European dishes such as pirozhki, pelmeni, beef Stroganoff, and Olivier salad.​ On Fridays and Saturdays, there is live music, and the restaurant feels like a gastronomic museum.​ “Atatürk’s table” is always reserved for him as a symbol of respect and historical continuity. At the corner table where Atatürk often dined incognito and discussed state affairs with his associates, there is still a sign reading “Reserved forever”, along with a traditional setting of a bottle of rakı and a plate of white chickpeas — his favorite ritual, underscoring the venue’s reverence for his memory.​ There are also nameplates on other tables marking famous guests; metal plaques indicate who sat where over the years. The interior is filled with old photographs, objects, and artifacts from the émigré era.​ We ordered borscht served with garlic butter, cured pork fat, croutons, and pickles. The soup had plenty of meat, a pleasant tang, and a generous spoonful of sour cream. Then came manty with sour cream, which my husband tried and approved one hundred percent. For mains, we chose salmon on a bed of peas and beans and a steak with shredded potatoes. We enjoyed everything — the portion sizes, doneness, flavor, and service — and had no complaints at all. We were even lucky enough to get a table without a reservation. Address: Beyoğlu, Asmalı Mescit, Olivya Geçidi 7-A.

We had an unforgettable evening at 1924 Istanbul. ✨ The ambience is superb — elegant yet welcoming — and the food is simply perfect. The beef tartare, in particular, is the best we’ve ever had. Every dish was executed with care and flavor, making the experience one to savor. The service stood out just as much as the food. Professional, friendly, and genuinely warm, the team made us feel well looked after from start to finish. A special thanks to Seyhmus, who was exceptionally attentive, kept great care of us throughout the night, and even walked us to the taxi stand at the end — such gestures truly highlight the spirit of Turkish hospitality. It’s not the cheapest restaurant in town, but every penny is well deserved. We had one of the best nights in Istanbul here, and it’s firmly on our list of places to return. One more reason to love Turkey is the kindness and friendliness that shines through in moments like this. Highly recommended!

An unforgettable experience! During my vacation in Istanbul, I treated myself to dinner at this historic restaurant in Beyoğlu. Unique atmosphere, courteous and impeccable service, perfect food presented with taste and excellent cocktails, prices in line with the quality of the restaurant! I will definitely be back...

Had a nice dinner here. The servers are of great help but the food seems just slightly departed from the traditional recipes, however, still very good.

Amazing. Like travel back in time. There were tables that Attaturk or Agatha Christine used to dine at. Food was amazing too. We enjoyed borscht, pomeni, beef stroganoff and quail on buckwheat . Also an older gentleman was on piano and accordion- tunes like Moscow night and German songs. Unique experience. Highly recommend. Owner also has 360Istanbul, which we happen to have visited two nights ago. Completely different, a contemporary experience. Recommend both highly. Great restautanteur

I had the opportunity to dine at the stunning and historic 1924 Istanbul, and what an unforgettable feast it was. Every single bite was bursting with flavor and soul. We started with their incredible cocktails, one infused with rosemary and rose, which was unlike anything I’ve tasted in all my travels. Not only were they delicious, but truly beautiful to look at. I also tried a cocktail made with beetroot that had the most delightful kick of zest, a real standout. Their infused vodkas were another highlight, with the salmon vodka in particular being a surprising and exceptional experience. Moving on to the appetizers and mains, I had the salmon and sea bass, and all I can say is wow. Perfectly cooked & richly seasoned. And the desserts? Easily among the best I’ve had anywhere in the world. Sweet, balanced, and the perfect end to a luxurious meal. But what truly sets 1924 Istanbul apart is its personality. From the moment you step in, you’re surrounded by history and warmth. The 1940s inspired décor, antique woodwork, and historic photographs transport you to another era. It’s not just a restaurant, it’s an experience. The service was impeccable, thoughtful, and kind. If you’re ever in Istanbul, 1924 is a must visit. You won’t just enjoy a meal, you’ll create a memory for a lifetime.

We had a lovely dinner at 1924. The dining area is intimate in a vintage setting, this historical restaurant who had guests such as Agatha Christie’s, Greta Garbo or Ataturk himself to name a few is a very lovely place to have dinner. The cocktails were delicious with a lot of different vodka options (as you’d expect from a Russian restaurant), all the dishes were traditional Russian food and it was very good. I would recommend. Ps: kuddos to the accordion player who was very nice and made the vibe festive.

this is MY restaurant, it shot me straight in the heart. the atmosphere is gorgeous, the music (lord of the rings and wes anderson soundtracks merged with classical music and covers, i seriously thought they found my spotify) is amazing, the mysteriousness of the servers also adds to the vibe. i love that you’re greeted with a full vodka cart upon arrival, and the drinks were incredible. i especially enjoyed the fish bazaar for those who like salty things, and the dirty martini for a classic, but with the silkiest vodka i’ve ever had and a sexy smetana rim! the food is so nice, i went ham for the pickled tomatoes, very slavic. happy to also get some rye bread served. for starters, the caviar blini were solid. the russian salad had dill in it which is a very nice touch, not totally traditional but i liked it. could use a pinch of salt. the pelmeni were also quite good but i’d wish for a bit more sour cream to balance it out. as a main i had the quail tabaka, ideally paired with pomegranate and buckwheat. so Georgian and so sophisticated, i thought it was seriously perfect! i tried some of my boyfriend’s chicken Kyiv which was unfortunately a little dry, could use more herb butter stuffing. but i thought the flavours were balanced. dessert was nice too, they put on a flambéeing show for the pavlova which was light and fruity enough. i usually dont like lemon curd but this one had no bitterness and was a citrus masterpiece along with the light meringue and sweet berry compote. another fun show was the fabergé egg, but the chocolate taste was a little low and the cake slightly dry. i am also sorry to say that the medovik, my favourite dessert ever, did not live up to expectation. it was a little too dense and sweet, i think it would’ve been better with more sour cream in the filling. alas, i ate it happily because it had good honey notes. overall, i love eastern european food and vodka and these guys do that really well, in an interesting and engaging atmosphere.

We loved this place so much that we went twice during our Istanbul visit. Food was delicious, service was great, atmosphere is amazing. We loved the guys who played the accordion there, it gave some vibe. Food was authentic and delicious. 1924 Egg dessert was amazing. The place is a little pricey and the drinks especially (around $20/cocktail) but I guess it is on par with other Istanbul places.

Just happened on 1924 Istanbul , and what a fortunate moment it was . I walked through a crowded alley way and came to set of beautiful doors that lead up flight of stairs that may as well have been a time machine reliving me to another era of gastronomy and atmosphere. I hope to retain the memory of my evening for a very long time . Things not to miss : The Fish Bizarre Cocktail ( one of the best cocktails I've ever tasted, and I'm in the liquor business) . The Borscht was fantastic along with the house pickles spectacular! I should go back tonight to continue my exploration of the menu . The atmosphere including the wonderful accordion music was perfect along with service .

1924 is a gem! Formerly called Rejans, I kept hearing about this restaurant for years before I had the opportunity to try it. We picked 1924 for an anniversary celebration, from a shortlist of 4 restaurants. Briefly after entering the front door, we knew we had made the right choice. 1924 promotes itself as a "Time Travel Gastronomic Museum". The historic texture of the restaurant is very much alive. A very elegant, and chic decor, that does not feel old but very authentic, for the very simple reason that it was kept as it was for years. You can almost feel former diners like Agatha Christie sitting at the table next to you. The servers are very kind and they are happy to explain the items on the menu if you are not familiar with russian or caucasian cuisine. For entrée we had the Circassian chicken which was exceptional. The best one I ever tried. Pelmeni with beef and Topik. The circassian chicken was so good that it would be unfair for the other two entrees to compare but all dishes were good. I'd probably opt for something other than Topik next time but it's solely because the taste wasn't for me. For main courses we had Beef Stroganoff and Canard à L'Orange. The Beef Stroganoff is a house special so I would recommend to try. However if you are not in the mood for beef, the duck was also a very good choice. I must also mention cocktails; you must try the Spice Bazaar Martini if you like maritinis! They also have a large collection of house infused Vodka that we promised ourselves to try next time. All through dinner there was live music (Harp and Accordion) and it was a very good complement to the great food. During dinner Sashah Khan, the co-owner of the restaurant and very fashionable gentleman, came to our table to check if everything was ok and we were happy to chat with him. You will need a reservation as the restaurant is often full. We were able to choose a very nice table but, I'd recommend to come a bit early, so as to be able to choose your table (some of the tables may be a bit too close to each other if you are after a romantic diner). The prices are reasonable for a restaurant of this caliber in Istanbul. I full heartedly recommend coming here and will definitely come back!

This is one of the most beautiful restaurants I have seen! The ambiance is generous in lovely lighting, and private seating! The service was excellent and the food was superb! They infuse their own Vodka which was a treat to sample! The beef stroganoff was amazing! The owner is exceptional - sharing his stories and making each person feel special! This is a must visit!

1924 Istanbul - Formally known as Rejans - A Must ! Whilst strolling down Istiklal, I decided to venture down some of its alleys for a change.. who knows what culinary adventures may be down there.. I stumbled upon a complete gem! Just past Galatasary high school and opposite Misir Apartment, which is famous for hosting the restaurant/club 360 I came across a place called 1924 Istanbul. As I walked in I was totally blown away... the décor inside made me feel like I'd gone back in time a 100 years. High ceilings, massive mirrors, wooden paneling on the walls and two grandiose chandeliers.. I was gob smacked! The quaint old photos on the wall of who must have been dignitaries back in the day were all over the place. Special nametags of famous people like Mata Hari, Hemmingway and Agatha Christie were on brass plates indicating where they sat. I made my way to the bar, towards the back of the restaurant, I fancied something cold and wet (just for a change ) The bar reminded me of the drinks carriage of the Orient Express (or so I imagine) A long wooden serving area with a huge array of bottles in the back protected by brass rails, as if to stop the bottles from falling over if the train rattled. On the counter were these odd jars filled with different types of fruit, almost as if they were being pickled. When I asked the barman, he said they were infusions for their homemade vodkas.... YUM! Cenk was the barkeep who made the most delicious Negroni I have ever tasted. It had a twist to it, as it was smoked with apple chips.... I know that may sound odd, but believe me it was amazing. Priced at 40 TL it was most definitely worth it.. I've had some really run of the mill cocktails in Istanbul for much more than that! Feeling a little hungry, which means starving, for me most of the time... I do like my food, I sat down at Mata Hari's seat. I noticed just across the way, that there was a table with a sign saying forever reserved, a small bottle of raki and some white chickpeas. The waiter told me that was the great Ataturk's table back in the day... WOW ! How come I've never heard of this restaurant before... The fact is, this place had recently reopened as 1924 Istanbul. It used to be called Rejans. Looking at the menu, I was pleasantly surprised to see an array of food that you would not normally see. The food reminded me of The Russian empire, with dishes from Eastern Europe as well as mother Russia herself. Everything sounded amazing. I ordered the Piroshki, which is basically a Borek, but much lighter, stuffed with mincemeat. Some Pelmeni (something similar to ravioli, or the Turkish Manti) and Beef Stroganoff. The Piroshki was out of this world. Really light and crispy on the outside with an intense meaty taste on the inside. You could tell that this was lean ground beef with not additives. I was tempted to order another one, but wanted to save some room for what was to come... I'm glad I did ! Pelmeni are dumplings basically, but using the word basic is not at all fitting! These moist delicious balls of dough, that I assume are cooked in a ban-marie, are stuffed with an intense rich meaty filling, they were served with a jus reduction and a light sour-cream sauce. It was the jus that really caught my eye or taste buds I should say. Had I finally found a restaurant in Istanbul that makes its own stock... amazing, so rich and flavourful! The stroganoff was next. Now I'm used to seeing stroganoff on many menus around Turkey, and to be honest my expectations are pretty low in those places, so I was keen to see what this Russian/Eastern European restaurant was going to put in front of me. The head waiter or maître d' (short for maître d' Hotel), a lovely chap called Pierro, dressed in an exquisite suit had his grey pony tail tied back, wheeled over some copper pans.. He silver served me a very generous portion of glistening meat that looked creamy and smelled amazing. On the side I was served with the smoothest puree I'd every seen, almost silk like and some very finely cut potato chips. The flavours were to die for. Finally I'd found a place that really knew how to cook stroganoff properly, it even had slices of pickles. The thinly sliced beef was succulent and just melted in my mouth. Pierro asked if I'd like some vodka with my meal, so he wheeled over an iced trolley that had a handful of fruit infused vodkas.. who could say no.. honestly I had the lemon one which really had a kick to it, yet it was smooth going down. He left the bottle for me in an ice bucket and told me that I'd only be charged for what I drank... fantastic. Overall, this place is really quite something. A must try experience. Drinks and food cost me just under 100 TL.. An absolute bargain !

If you're in Istanbul and you don't visit this restaurant, you are doing yourself a disservice. It's amazing. The history, the ambiance, the cocktails and of course the food. You'll feel as though you've traveled back in time and the service is impeccable.

If you are a tourist visiting Istanbul, love history and would like to learn about the cultural diversity of this city, dining at 1924 Istanbul is a must do. It is a unique experience, which I would highly recommend. It is very nice to see that traditions are cherished and preserved in 1924 Istanbul.

I just came back from Istanbul , we were in Taksim area when we discovered this amazing little Gem up the stairs behind the big door only to find a beautifully designed dining space with great food ,hospitality & respectful wine list to match , all this at a very reasonably priced value. An added bonus was this great musician to spice things up ! Truly we enjoyed our evening @ 1924 !