Restaurants

Banyan: Modern Asian Dining on the Bosphorus

By Istanbul Vibes · Updated

Banyan: Modern Asian Dining on the Bosphorus
Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
  • Price₺₺₺
  • HoursDaily 12:00-02:00

Banyan is a modern Asian restaurant on the Bosphorus shore at Ortaköy, in Beşiktaş. Large windows look over the water and the Ortaköy Mosque, and a cocktail bar with a DJ runs through the evening.

The menu focuses on sushi, dumplings and spicy dishes with fish at the centre, and the kitchen keeps working late into the night.

Quick Facts

Turkish name Banyan
Address Yıldız Mahallesi, Muallim Naci Caddesi & Salhane Sokak No: 3/2, Ortaköy, Beşiktaş, İstanbul
District Beşiktaş
Best time to visit Sunset for the view, or a late dinner for the bar atmosphere. Weekday lunch is the calmest time.
Recommended duration 2 hours
Cuisine Modern Asian
Reservations Recommended, especially for evenings and weekends; the Michelin page offers online booking.

Reservations and Ordering at Banyan

Reservations are recommended for evenings and weekends.

  • Hours: daily 12:00-02:00.
  • Booking: the Michelin page offers online booking.
  • Contact: no phone number or website was verified.

Check the venue directly for current details.

Why Visit Banyan?

Istanbul has strong traditional cooking, and Banyan offers something different: contemporary Asian food in a room framed by the Bosphorus. It is a good choice when you want a change from meze and grills.

The Michelin Guide lists it, and the late hours make it easy to fit in after sightseeing or an evening stroll in Ortaköy.

Highlights of Banyan

Windows over the Bosphorus

The Michelin Guide highlights the large windows with a view of the Ortaköy Mosque and the traffic on the Bosphorus.

The dining room is built around the outlook.

Tip: Ask for a table by the window when you reserve.

Modern Asian cooking

The menu mixes sushi with dishes such as prawn gyoza and chicken in a spicy green curry sauce. The Michelin text notes spicy flavours with fish as the main focus.

It is a lively menu for sharing.

Tip: Order a few plates to share, starting with sushi and gyoza.

Cocktail bar with a DJ

A cocktail bar with a DJ playing current music is part of the venue. The Michelin Guide suggests starting the evening with an aperitif there.

The room moves from dinner to a nightlife mood after about 22:00.

Tip: Arrive early for a drink before dinner.

A kitchen that stays open

The Michelin Guide says the kitchen keeps serving after 22:30 with a shorter menu. The restaurant is open until 02:00 every day.

It works for a late dinner after the theatre or a walk.

Tip: For the full menu, order before 22:30.

Ortaköy location

The restaurant is within walking distance of the Ortaköy waterfront, one of the livelier stretches of the European shore.

After dinner you can walk along the water or visit the square.

Tip: Plan a stroll along the Ortaköy waterfront after your meal.

Lunch or dinner

It opens at midday, so it works for lunch as well as dinner.

The Bosphorus light makes a daytime meal pleasant as well.

Tip: Come for lunch if you prefer a quieter atmosphere.

What to Order

  • Sushi selection
  • Prawn gyoza
  • Chicken with spicy green curry sauce
  • A fish dish with spicy flavours
  • A cocktail from the bar

Atmosphere

Banyan is stylish and lively, with a view of the water and a DJ in the evening. The mood is that of a Bosphorus restaurant that turns into a bar late at night.

Lunch is calmer, and weekend evenings are the busiest.

History of Banyan

Banyan brings contemporary Asian cooking to the Bosphorus shore at Ortaköy, a district better known for its waterfront square and its mosque. The opening date was not verified.

The Michelin Guide lists it as a modern Asian restaurant.

How to Get to Banyan

The restaurant is at Muallim Naci Caddesi and Salhane Sokak, near the Ortaköy waterfront on the Bosphorus shore.

  • Taxi: the simplest option from the centre.
  • Bus: buses run along the Bosphorus shore road to Ortaköy; check current routes on a map app.

There is no metro station next to the restaurant. Allow extra time at weekends.

Food Nearby

Ortaköy square has street food and kumpir stalls, and the shore has many cafes and restaurants.

What to Bring

A reservation, a jacket for the walk along the water and a camera for the view.

Family Suitability

The restaurant doubles as a cocktail bar with a DJ in the evening, so lunch is easier with children. Check with the venue.

Istanbul Vibes Tips

  • Reserve ahead and ask for a window table.
  • Order before 22:30 for the full menu.
  • Share several plates.
  • Come for lunch for a calmer atmosphere.
  • Walk along the Ortaköy waterfront after your meal.
  • Allow extra travel time at weekends.

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FAQ: Banyan

What is Banyan?

A modern Asian restaurant and cocktail bar on the Bosphorus at Ortaköy, listed in the Michelin Guide.

Where is it?

At Muallim Naci Caddesi and Salhane Sokak in Beşiktaş, near the Ortaköy waterfront.

What are the opening hours?

Daily 12:00-02:00 according to the Michelin Guide.

Do I need a reservation?

It is recommended, and the Michelin page offers online booking.

What should I order?

Sushi, prawn gyoza and chicken with spicy green curry.

Is the kitchen open late?

Yes, with a shorter menu after 22:30.

Is it expensive?

It is in the ₺₺₺ category.

Is there a metro nearby?

No; use a taxi or bus.

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This guide is created with the help of AI and is based on official sources where available. Mistakes can still happen. Opening hours, prices, rules and other details are given to the best of our knowledge as of the date shown and can change without notice. It offers general recommendations only, not professional, legal or travel advice. Please confirm important details with the official source before you travel; you are responsible for your own plans and decisions.

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