Orient Express - Kavakli

A fabulous place that is surprisingly never full, I was for coffee, drinks and even during the evening meal. the facility is the former railway restaurant of the railway station, and besides the missing trains, they can have the full orient express nostalgia experience. there are two dining rooms with film posters and the memorial of the 19th and early 20th centuries as well as two terraces, one of them on the platform. despite the clearly high end feeling of the restaurant, English speaking waiters and strengthening table ceiling prices are surprisingly reasonable. they can get drinks and a complete meal for less than 20 euro. Eating and drinks are very good, without doubt about it, but the main attraction of the restaurant is of course the imaginary experience, waiting for their train to venedig or paris (plus cars for dover and london, of course).

Very good food in a delightful atmosphere with a fine maitre d' and an old world ambience. A delight to be able to choose one of four languages to order in. I chose French. Expect starched white table linen and a pleasant though brief wine list. Historical building.

Wonderful bit of history to have dinner around. Great welcoming staff who are very friendly. Food is very good. Prices are very reasonable.

This is inside the train station, it's quiet at lunch time, so a good break from the craziness outside. Service is great, that were fast with the food, and the only place, so far, I got zataar. Lentil soup was delicious.

A very nostalgic place. The station used to be the terminus of the Orient Express which must be one of the most luxurious trains ever. Agatha Christie, Lauren Bacall and Vanessa Redgrave come to mind. And Albert Finney of course, starring Hercule Poirot in Sidney Lumet's 1974 movie. Nowadays the trains are gone. To be leftover is a pretty nice restaurant with attentive waiters (the only ones I came across in Istanbul preferring French instead of English), fairly good meals and ... a nostalgic atmosphere.