My vote for the best fancy restaurant in town is going to Mikla.
At the top of the Marmara Pera hotel with by far the best view in Istanbul (sorry to the 360 fans but it kicks ass compared to that view) total panorama.
Ok this is a run through of my evening...first I hadn't booked a table or intended to eat but wanted to take a peek at the menu, the staff were very nice and I was with my Mum who when she saw the menu said she wanted to try it out. Of course I doubted that we could get a table at the time (8pm) but asked anyway, they said where full but we could eat at the bar. I like eating at the bar anyway so we went on in...beautiful service not stuffy, relaxed and totally profesional..and the food!!! Where do I start...ok I we both had Salmon tatare with caviar (29ytl) then I had John Dory and Mum had smoked lamb (out of this world) both mains were around the 30ish lira mark...they dont come with veg you order them as extras (ranging from 3 to 5 ytl) we had two side orders...left me totally blissed out and full.
Drank a great wine...wine list prices started at 40ytl up to ???? eeek prices!
anyway we had pre dinner drinks and an after dinner brandy...pudding was of course lush...The bill was about 300ytl it was about what I would expect to pay in a good uk restaurant...but totaly worth it, no where else could have that view! The best meal I have ever had in Istanbul. 5 stars.

Can I just echo Becky's sentiments on this place.

The rooftop bar has probably the best view on the European side of Istanbul (and that beats Vogue, 360, Ulus 29, Sunset, 5kat, Leb y Derya, the Galata tower, the top of Atakule, and the presidential suite of the Conrad Hotel- where apparently Hilary found out about Monica). The view from the restaurant as night falls is also spectacular.

Food: excellent and interesting. Service: superb. Wine: pricey, but choose Turkish and what is the problem? Tip: take coffee on the rooftop under blankets near the swimming pool and book in advance to obtain the best table.

If you want a memorable treat in Istanbul- go here. 5 stars.

Just curious, JC, where did you hear this?

According to Bill Clinton's autobiography, he broke the news to Hillary a few days before his grand jury testimony in August, 1998. That would be more than a year before the Clintons' historical visit to Turkey in November 1999.

rumour, rumour, rumour. We had a completion meeting there and I suspect to get some cache for the Conrad it was mentioned.

At the time, I had no inclination to drill down to verify such a trifling fact, but I'm glad you have read the autobiography. My friend Dan has met Mr Clinton and described him as incredibly charismatic.

More to the point the presidential suite of the Conrad does have a stunning Bosphorous view (think Vogue but higher), but Mikla is better. And Mikla is da bomba.

So you think that in their eight years in office Hilary visited Turkey just once? I can recall her visiting in 1996, I also believe that she and Chelsea made a visit in 1994 or so, but I may be thinking about something else.

like it: da bomba

I have to admit I was touched, couldnt take my eyes of the view, view(s) all around, I thought, is there anything more to see of Istanbul? All those blue eyed english men and woman, little blue pool, blue skies, blue sea, a perfect sunset... heavenly panaroma!
Istanbul has never been as beautiful, I dont think!

Thank you Becky. We are looking for your next recommendation now. You are the one to follow!

ps. very kind lady dj

Indeed. We requested some Nina Simone and the dj brilliantly played Feeling Good as the sun was setting. Wonderful stuff.

Bill Clinton specifically mentions in the book that he told Hillary in the White House, and then goes off on a tangent about having to sleep on the couch for the next three or four months (I might be exaggerating; something I'm not usually known for). He also says Hillary went fcuking ape-shit (his words, not mine).

There are two main bits in the book about Turkey; the first one's about the Kardak Krisis (I love alliteration, much more than I do proper spelling) and that infamous quote of his regarding the goats (not that one, you perverts), and the other one's about his visit after the earthquake (though that might be from Hillary's book, I don't recall all that well).

I made reservations at Mikla before I arrived in Ist but had to cancel. When I return, I will definitely try to dine there. Thanks for the review. I´m enjoying the restaurants here in Barcelona so far though which sounds to be in the league of Mikla. Dined last night at Moo. Arola tonight at Hotel Arts. I am eager to find out how it got two Michelin stars.

My vote for the best restaurant in Istanbul is going to Mikla too Ceylan. And best view in Istanbul, I totally agree. The only thing, portions didnt seem enough for me although they were delicious

Like a big portion do you? Virgos unite.

I vote for a birthday dinner here!

I was there Saturday night - really nice place, food was very good as well. The rooftop bar is awesome, one of the best views I've ever seen. Make sure you hit the bank machine before you hit the bar, two glasses of wine and two shots of vodka set me back about 60YTL.

it is surely expensive butthe roof top bar is just something else..with the pool and everything...i vote for a snoop doggy dog style pool party there...we gotta keep it in style...or go down and bankrupt in style...

AlSF - Weren't we talking about going before you disappear??? Will have to recruit some dates to pay for us but that shouldn't be a problem! haha

Sorry love, but I'm not in town