September 30, 2022 – At the moment, Turkey is the best value you’ll find in travel. The Turkish Lira is way down which means we Americans have a little more cash in our budgets than we might have planned for. Because of this, I thought we’d do something special for a celebration meal and experience some adventures in eating.
I picked turkfatihtutak which is a modern Turkish restaurant with a stellar young chef. The menu is set, with about 6-8 courses of artistically prepared bites. It takes about 3 hours although we were there more than 4 as I do like my long, slow meals.
Every course was delightful, with flavors in unusual combinations. The young staff was eager to do it right. I was most surprised by the wine pairings. The last time I was in Turkey, the wine was truly horrible. In the few years since, though, there’s been a great change. We had a couple of different classic method champagnes, a couple of whites, and a particularly good Syrah. What a delightful surprise.
Join us in 2026 for incredible adventures you’ll never forget!
Come with us for a truly unique and memorable trip in 2026.
Every itinerary is built with care, mixing the big sights with the kind of authentic, everyday experiences that give a destination real meaning.
In addition to exploring, you’ll have the opportunity to mix with locals, experience authentic food, and build connections all over the globe.
Our tours have a little something for everyone, we can’t wait for you to see what we have in store.
Discover more and book your 2026 adventure here.
At the end of the meal, they invited us to take a tour of the kitchen and meet the chef, who was lovely.
It’s well worth seeking out this restaurant if you’re in Istanbul, especially because it shows a different side to this vibrant city. It’s not just Sultanahmet and tourism. There’s a youthful, cosmopolitan culture if you go looking for it.
