Tuğra Restaurant

Located on the first floor of Çırağan Palace, Tuğra Restaurant was featured inTravel + Leisure’s 2005 list of ‘top 50 most romantic places on Earth’. The restaurant, which serves classic Turkish and Ottoman cuisine, has a balcony overlooking the Bosphorus and is perfect for the summer months. Blue velvet curtain, beige tablecloths, especially designed plates with the tughra (the calligraphic signature of an Ottoman sultan), and the chairs made of beech wood and velvet, Tuğra’s hall continues to display the brilliance of the Ottoman palace. Open summer and winter, chef Uğur Alparslan’s meticulously prepared menu contains Ottoman classics including types of dolma (stuffed vine leaves), varieties of rice, meatballs, kebabs, meat dishes, and special ‘Saray’ desserts. To finish off your meal, along with Ottoman ‘lokum’ (Turkish delight), and lollies, they also serve traditional Turkish‘macun’sweets. Tuğra Restaurant, which is only open for dinner, also serves lunch for special groups.