Located in the center of the historic Şimal stairs of Meşrutiyet Caddesi, Beyoğlu’s newest elegant eatery is the brainchild of owners Alp Türkmen, Barış Turan and Özgür Önol, who wanted to create a more lively version of the meyhanes they usually frequent.
The menu, overseen by Le Cordon Bleu Paris-trained chef Özgür Önol, offers rare takes on familiar flavors. No meze is ordinary at Belkıs. The beet haydari (12 TL) is a colorful, slightly spicy dish you’ll want to eat by the spoonful. Other tasty and unexpected combinations include the sea bass marinated with clementines (16 TL), the paçanga börek made with swordfish pastrami (15 TL), as well as the cabbage sarma with pomegranate and tahini sauce (8 TL). If you happen to visit midday, you can also take advantage of the lunch menu, which comes with the dish of the day, a bowl of soup and either an olive oil dish, a salad or some rice (17 TL).
Unlike regular meyhanes, the décor at Belkıs blends light browns and whites, while dim lighting and modern lacelike wall figures give it a romantic flair at night. It’s already become a popular weekend destination for the white-collar crowd to unwind after a busy week with light music. Make sure you have a reservation, and don’t forget to go on an empty stomach.