Dining at Mikla in Istanbul & Restaurant Tips in Croatia and Sweden- August 2024
Istanbul:
I walked to Mikla restaurant located at the top of The Marmara Pera and the roof terrace bar is slightly surreal. Do yourself a favor when visiting Istanbul and have dinner there as it is not to miss with one of the most epic experiences I’ve ever had. The service and staff were some of the best I’ve ever experienced and the view speaks for itself overlooking all of Istanbul. I was lucky to be there during this beautiful sunset, which made it a night to remember.
Three or seven course options with different Turkish wines. I went for the seven-course meal. After a few Turkish snacks that the chef delivered, my course started. The first course was there also incredible bread with one cheese spread odd, butter spread, and top line olive oil. This is served with a white sparkling wine. The same course was sushi grade lionfish that I substituted and instead of the mushroom/rabbit soup. Another white wine was paired with that as well as the third course, which was the vegetable dumplings, which were very tasty. I also substituted that dish as I was told this was their signature appetizer.
The fourth course was their grilled calamari, which was very tender and served another great white wine. This course was their fillet of soul was excellent white wine. The six course was the nine-hour cooked lamb shanks with the side of mashed potatoes and white beans. Serve with a beautiful red wine. Leslie was a dessert ice cream – served with Moscato sweet wine. I switched to the chickpea ice cream that was out of this world with crumbles and cinnamon. I highly recommend a visit here. Take a walk up to the top, have a drink and continue watching the beautiful view almost full moon. Here are the wines that were paired below.
Mikla, a recipient of numerous national and international awards, is the only Turkish restaurant that has managed to be listed in “The World’s 50 Best Restaurants” every year from 2015 to 2022. It achieved a significant milestone by ranking 44th among the best restaurants in the world in 2018. It has been awarded a Michelin star in both 2023 and 2024. Additionally, it has continued its longstanding success at a high level by receiving awards for the Best Manager, Best Bartender, and the Excellent Table with three toques in the Gault&Millau guide.
More at https://www.miklarestaurant.com/
Croatia:
Umag
La Perla beach bar offers some delicious sandwiches, pizzas, burgers, smoothies and more. Don’t miss their fantastic ice cream as well. Located in Umag right near the tennis center and beach. Great casual dining and drinks. The manager Maja is very accommodating and friendly.
Beachbarlaperla on Instagram
091 602 8735
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What a great find with this recently opened restaurant Gagliardo in the heart of downtown Pula. Gianluca overseas the place and has things going well. It’s a beautiful indoor and outdoor restaurant with even more seating up the hill and outdoor area. We started with the unique cheese bruschetta, as well as the vegetable salad with couscous.
For Entrées, we split the paper wrapped local Seabass with potatoes. We also had the calamari stew in a tasty sauce with polenta, which was quite the contrast, but it was great to try each paired with their local Croatian white wine. For dessert, do not miss the unique tiramisu with a very creamy base that was delectable. Overall, a fantastic meal, we suggested on your next visit there. Gagliardo by Boccaporta gagliardo_pula on Instagram [email protected]
Bokeria Kitchen and wine bar is in the beautiful downtown Split port area. The general manager was super hospitable, and the atmosphere and staff were outstanding. I ended up sitting at the bar and watching all the food come out as well as whip up all the fantastic drinks. The menu is extensive and unique with a wide variety of Italian seafood meats and more.
I started with the eggplant Parmesan & it was a great choice. The second course was cuttlefish with black squid and risotto. Very tasty every day. Finally had the local Seabass with whipped cauliflower purée and grilled zucchini overall, just a fantastic meal that I’d highly recommend.
Enhance the experience with one of their fantastic Croatian wines and you fully satisfied. Dravko was a great server and very professional.
Address: Domaldova ul. 8, 21000, Split, Croatia
Reservations: seatlio.com [email protected]
Maybe my favorite restaurant in Croatia was at Macondo.
I arrived off the ferry boat and headed straight there for lunch. The owner lives above the restaurant, and they have been there for quite some time. The home feel along with the delicious food makes it a fantastic experience. Start with a salad or appetizer as they have a great variety.
For entrees, the seafood pasta with shrimp, clams, calamari and lobster in their white wine sauce was out of this world. The other entrée not to miss is the fresh local fish stew with potatoes in a rich soup presentation that was just wonderful
Giaxa in Hvar was top notch. This quaint yet fantastic restaurant located near the heart of downtown Hvar and one of the alleyways is not to be missed. Staff and service are excellent. The food is some of the best I had in Croatia.
I started with some fresh Langoustines brought in that day and they were just incredible. I tried the vegetable salad as a healthy option before the main course that a nice selection of entrées, but I went with the recommended fresh seared tuna with an avocado cream and diced tomatoes. It was just fantastic.
Enhance your meal with one of their fantastic Croatian wines try one of their tasty desserts to finish your meal and leave fully satisfied. More at https://giaxa.com/
I had the pleasure to dine at Hanibal and Spice restaurant one evening for dinner and the next day for lunch. There are two separate menus at the same location near the port. Hannibal features more Croatian/Italian and Spice features Asian.
The first night ordered off the Hanibal menu and started with the burrata cheese and tomato appetizer. Then had tasty seafood pizza as well as the vegetable moussaka, which was my favorite. You don’t get to have that too often as it’s rare to find if you’re in Greek restaurants usually.
For lunch the next day I ate off the Spice menu. I had the tasty seabass in a sweet chili sauce served with sauteed vegetables and steamed white rice. I also had an order of the pad thai with seafood. Both were delicious, but the Seabass was my favorite that day.
The staff and service are top-notch, including super friendly greeter/worker Antonella and the manager Anthony was very hospital and accommodating. I highly recommend visiting on your next trip to Hvar. Both places can be found here https://www.restauranthanibal.com/spice-menu/
Forr is located pretty much where you get off the ferry boat and offers a great selection of breakfast, lunch and the best gelato.
The team is very welcoming and friendly as I had breakfast there one day. I had scrambled eggs with the croissant with cream cheese and smoked salmon as well as the granola fruit bowl. Enhance the breakfast with their blueberry energy smoothie and I was off to a great healthy start that day. All day menu and do not miss the gelato as is the best I had on the island
Great visit, and I highly recommend stopping there for a meal gelato dessert. More at https://forr-bar.com/
On my one night in Cavtat, I ate at Bugenvila and what a great place.
My server was super professional and accommodating pairing some great Croatian wines with the meal. Start with the burrata with peaches and feta cheese, which was divine.
The tuna tartare was good but save room for the main course as I was talked into the octopus with black risotto, which was a great choice. End with one of their tasty desserts and you will be very satisfied.
A great place to have lunch in the old town of Dubrovnik is Kopun located right near the walls and the famous area where people walk near the port.
The greeter was very friendly and welcoming, as was the female manager, as I was in a little hurry to catch a ferry boat, but they prepared a beautiful lunch. My favorite was the seafood stew with clams, mussels, shrimp, and fish in a tasty broth with potatoes and onions. I also tried fried calamari and the seafood salad.
All in all, it was a very satisfying lunch and my top recommendation next time you’re in Dubrovnik. I ate the seafood stew on the ferry boat and people were jealous. More at https://www.restaurantkopun.com/
Sweden:
The first place Oxenstiernan in Stockholm was very cool in more ways than one. They only have outside seating during the summer. It’s the end of the season so on a windy day it could get a little cold provide blankets and its beautiful atmosphere and scenery.
The staff and service are super friendly and helpful. I watched them cook the food as they have the grill/food station and bar right near where you’re sitting start with their white pizza cooked in their pizza oven and their healthy salad to start. For the entrée, I went with their fresh grilled fish and a side of grilled carrots. Finish your meal off with their tasty chocolate balls and a slice of frozen cheesecake with raspberries on top. A great place to dine and soon, they’ll move all the dining inside, but you’ll be very satisfied.
More at https://www.restaurangoxenstiernan.com/
Shanti as a few locations in Stockholm and we ended up at the classic one serving delicious Indian food. He started some tasty vegan appetizers and vegan paneer masala. Vegan entrée was a great choice.
I went for the grilled lamb chops, which were super tasty but a little spicy and the fantastic award-winning fish curry with nan -bread accompanied by some vegetables. For dessert, we tried the popular sweet cheesecake which helped my mouth cooled down from the spicy feeling. Overall fantastic meal and we’d highly recommend a visit to one of their places on your next stop in Stockholm.
More at https://shanti.se/
Joda located in Gotland was a great choice on my first night to the island. If you go in the late afternoon, you’ll see a beautiful view of all the boats, water, and hopefully get some great sun like I did so it’s not too cold. Simon, the GM, was very welcoming and accommodating.
Enjoy one of their fantastic drinks as I had the white wine fruit sangria, which enhanced my tasty meal. I had a small Caesar salad with grilled cheese and for the entrée had the wild char fish from Norway, which was cooked to perfection. I ended with the recommended blueberry Custard like dessert, and it was wonderful overall.
Website and more info at https://www.jodavisby.se/