Swissotel The Bosphorus is one of Istanbul’s largest five star hotels, elevated on a on a hillside, overlooking leafy Maçka Park and the stunning Golden Horn.
This leading contemporary luxury hotel is just a short distance from the Dolmabahçe Palace, the chic Nisantasi shopping neighbourhood and busy Taksim Square. While the hotel can be easily spotted from the banks of the Bosphorus, its feels secluded and private, almost like its own resort.
We visited Swissotel The Bosphorus for an indulgent dinner at its Japanese restaurant Miyako. The hotel also offers the innovative rooftop restaurant Gaja (only open in the summer months) and Cafe Swiss, which serves Swiss and Turkish dishes.
Having trekked up the steep incline towards Nisantasi earlier in the day, we decided to take a taxi and arrive in style. The thought of battling the pouring rain and numerous steps in heels was just too much, plus taxis in Istanbul are incredibly cheap (we took many during our stay).
Miyako is a minimalist, spacious restaurant that includes a sushi bar, teppanyaki grill and a private tatami room. Our table overlooked the hotel’s pretty Japanese gardens, although it was a little too dark that evening to fully appreciate them.
We were greeted warmly by our waitress, who was dressed in a traditional Japanese kimono. She brought us a cold towel to refresh and explained the menu thoroughly, making some excellent recommendations.
We began the meal with a lovely glass of chilled Umeshu Plum Wine (35 TL) and grazed on some Japanese and Chinese bites. Miyako also offers a collection of tempting Sake speciality cocktails made with Asian fruits and juices, lemongrass, ginger and wasabi.
Ebi Tempura (45 TL) was deliciously fresh jumbo king prawns, enrobed in a bubbly, crisp tempura batter, served with a soy dipping sauce and a wedge of lemon.
Beef Tataki (35 TL) with onions and ponzu sauce was thin slices of tender, lean and juicy rare beef marinated in a light and tangy sauce. The portion size was generous and it was a satisfying, tasty dish that should not be missed.
We also couldn’t resist trying Steamed Dim Sum with Shrimp (25 TL) from the Chinese menu. The tasty, plump parcels were filled with tightly packed seasoned shrimp and covered in a silky wrapping.
I loved the Miso Soup (18 TL), which came served piping hot in a black lacquer pot with just the right amount of saltiness and large cubes of tofu and thinly-sliced spring onion.
We were both keen to try the recommended teppanyaki for our main course. As we visited during a religious holiday, Miyako was understandably quiet, so we didn’t experience the theatrics and fun experience of a teppanyaki chef cooking at the table.
The Beef Tenderloin (55 TL) was succulent, lean and perfectly cooked medium, served with with chargrilled Japanese vegetables and a mix of shredded carrots and beansprouts in a soy-sesame sauce.
Half Chicken Teppanyaki (32 TL) was just as tasty with a generous amount of tender sliced chicken that was soft on the inside and grilled to a golden crisp on the outside. The teppanyaki dishes were both served with a trio of rich dipping sauces – tomato, garlic and sweet and sour.
We enjoyed our teppanyaki dishes with a large side of comforting Egg Fried Rice (25 TL) filled with carrots and spring onion and flavoursome Vegetable Fried Egg Noodles (22 TL) with bamboo shoots, baby sweetcorn, carrots, cabbage, red peppers and a sesame soy sauce.
Throughout the meal, we enjoyed cups of hot green tea and jasmine pearl tea, which were continually refilled. I love drinking tea with meals, as it helps with digestion and reminds me of my travels in Asia.
For dessert, I was tempted by the decadent Chocolate Pudding with Coco Banana Sauce (18 TL). The chocolate pudding had a soft cake texture and a molten centre and was accompanied by a light, delicate coconut milk sauce with pieces of soft, sweet banana that were infused with the sauce. The impressive fried rice garnish added a crispy texture and went perfectly with the fragrant coconut flavour.
Green Tea Ice Cream (18 TL) didn’t quite have the wow factor of the chocolate pudding, but it’s a perfect choice if you’re too full for a large dessert. The luxurious ice cream was packed with lots of high quality matcha green tea and I loved the pretty blue and gold leaf plate that it was presented on.
Miyako is a slick, calm restaurant to enjoy some excellent Japanese food while in Istanbul. Service was well-timed so we could have a leisurely meal and we were well looked after by the attentive staff. If visiting during the summer months, be sure to make use of the hotel’s glorious outdoor areas with a stylish cocktail on the terrace.
Chérie City was invited by Miyako at Swissotel The Bosphorus
Photos by Chérie City and Swissotel The Bosphorus
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