Restaurant in Istanbul, Turkey
50 Best credential, Asian-side Italian, book early.
Fauna reached #100 on the World's 50 Best Restaurants list in 2024 and holds a Michelin Plate — making it one of the most internationally recognised tables in Istanbul, and an unusually compelling option at the ₺₺ price tier. Chef David Castro Hussong leads an Italian-format kitchen with a distinct creative voice. Book well in advance; near-impossible at short notice.
Fauna landed at #100 on the World's 50 Best Restaurants list in 2024 — making it one of the most decorated restaurants operating in Istanbul right now, and one of the very few Italian-focused kitchens anywhere in the world to earn that kind of global recognition. If you are planning a special occasion dinner in Istanbul and want a tasting-menu experience with an international credential behind it, Fauna deserves serious consideration. That said, it sits at the ₺₺ price tier, which makes it an unusually accessible entry point relative to its peers — and relative to what the awards would suggest. Book as far ahead as possible. This is near-impossible to reserve at short notice.
Fauna is an Italian-cuisine restaurant in Ataşehir, on the Asian side of Istanbul, operating under chef David Castro Hussong. Its 2024 appearance on the World's 50 Best list at position 100 , alongside a Michelin Plate in both 2024 and 2025 , places it in a genuinely small category: restaurants that have earned sustained international attention without moving to a top-tier price point. The Opinionated About Dining recognition (Casual, North America, ranked #153 in 2025) adds a further dimension, signalling that the kitchen is being watched by serious food critics across multiple circuits.
For a special occasion dinner, the combination of those credentials and the ₺₺ pricing is the most practically relevant fact about Fauna. You are not paying Turk Fatih Tutak or Mikla prices , both of which sit at ₺₺₺₺ , but you are getting a restaurant that has been ranked alongside the leading in the world. That gap between price and recognition is rare, and it is the core argument for booking here rather than elsewhere in Istanbul if your budget has a ceiling.
The restaurant is located in Ataşehir, a neighbourhood on the Asian side of the Bosphorus, away from the tourist-dense Beyoğlu and Sultanahmet districts where most of Istanbul's recognised fine-dining sits. Factor in travel time if you are staying on the European side , crossing the Bosphorus by bridge can add meaningful time depending on traffic, and the area does not have the same walkable restaurant density as Karaköy or Galata. Plan your evening accordingly rather than assuming a quick cab ride.
Chef David Castro Hussong leads the kitchen. He is a Mexican-born chef, which is a genuinely unusual profile for a restaurant serving Italian cuisine in Istanbul , and that intersection of influences is worth holding in mind when thinking about what to expect from the tasting experience. The progression through the menu is unlikely to be a conventional Italian sequence. Based on the chef's background and the restaurant's global critical profile, expect something more personal and less predictable than a direct Italian tasting format.
For a special occasion, this non-linearity can be a feature rather than a drawback. Tasting menus work leading when the arc builds in a way that feels considered rather than formulaic, and a kitchen that is operating with genuine creative autonomy , as the 50 Best ranking implies , is more likely to deliver a meal with a clear point of view. If you want a traditional Italian progression, look elsewhere. If you want a tasting experience with a distinct voice, Fauna is the more interesting choice in Istanbul at this price tier.
The Google rating of 4.3 across 487 reviews is consistent and suggests reliability without the artificial inflation that some high-profile restaurants accumulate. That is a useful signal: the kitchen performs for the room, not just for the critics.
For an Istanbul special occasion at the Italian end of the spectrum, the closest local comparison is Aida - vino e cucina, which operates in a more conventional Italian-restaurant format. For global comparisons in the same category , Italian restaurants outside Italy with serious international recognition , consider 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana in Hong Kong or cenci in Kyoto, both of which occupy a comparable niche in their respective cities.
If your trip extends beyond Istanbul, Turkey's dining scene has genuine depth worth exploring: Maçakızı in Bodrum, Narımor in Izmir, 7 Mehmet in Antalya, Agora Pansiyon in Milas, Ahãma in Göcek, and Aravan Evi in Ürgüp each represent the regional range of serious Turkish cooking. See also our full guides to Istanbul restaurants, Istanbul hotels, Istanbul bars, Istanbul wineries, and Istanbul experiences.
Fauna is in Ataşehir on the Asian side of Istanbul. Phone and website are not currently listed , use reservation platforms or search directly for current booking availability. Given the near-impossible booking difficulty and the level of international recognition, plan to reserve weeks in advance at minimum; during peak periods, the window may be longer. Price tier is ₺₺, making it more accessible than the ₺₺₺₺ competitors that dominate Istanbul's recognised fine-dining scene. Hours are not confirmed in current data , verify before travel.
Quick reference: Ataşehir, Asian side , Michelin Plate (2024, 2025) , World's 50 Best #100 (2024) , ₺₺ , 4.3/5 (487 reviews) , book far ahead.
See the full comparison below.
As far in advance as you can manage , ideally four to six weeks out, and possibly more during busy periods. Fauna's appearance on the World's 50 Best list in 2024 at #100 has put significant international pressure on the reservation book. This is a near-impossible booking at short notice. If you have a fixed travel date, treat securing a table here as a first priority, not an afterthought.
No confirmed policy is available in current data. Because this is a tasting-menu-format restaurant at a high level of recognition, the kitchen is likely structured to accommodate dietary needs with advance notice , but contact them directly before booking to confirm. Given that phone and website details are not currently listed, use your reservation platform's notes field to flag requirements at the time of booking.
Seat count is not confirmed in current data, so group availability is not guaranteed. For larger parties , six or more , contact the restaurant directly well in advance. At the ₺₺ price tier with this level of demand, private group bookings are likely possible but will require early coordination. For groups that need confirmed private space, Mikla and Turk Fatih Tutak both have clearer group-dining infrastructure at the ₺₺₺₺ tier.
For modern Turkish fine dining with comparable prestige, Turk Fatih Tutak and Mikla are the leading options , both at ₺₺₺₺, both with strong critical profiles, and both on the European side with Bosphorus views. Neolokal is the more ingredient-driven choice if Anatolian sourcing is your priority. Arkestra is the right pick if you want a fusion format with a high-energy atmosphere rather than a tasting-menu arc. For Italian specifically, Aida - vino e cucina is the most relevant local alternative.
A tasting-menu format is generally well-suited to solo dining , counter or single-seat arrangements are common in this category, and the kitchen pacing keeps the experience engaging without requiring company. That said, specific solo-seating arrangements at Fauna are not confirmed in current data. If solo dining is your plan, mention it at the time of booking to confirm the leading seating option available.
No dress code is listed in current data. Given the Michelin Plate recognition and World's 50 Best ranking, smart casual is a safe baseline , the kind of outfit appropriate for a serious restaurant in any major city. Avoid overly casual clothing. If the occasion is celebratory, dressing up slightly is unlikely to feel out of place in a room operating at this level.
No confirmed bar-seating arrangement is available in current data. In Italian-format tasting-menu restaurants, bar seating is less common than in Japanese omakase or cocktail-bar-adjacent formats. If bar or walk-in seating is important to your plan, confirm directly with the restaurant before assuming it is available. Given the near-impossible booking difficulty, do not count on walk-in access regardless of format.
| Venue | Awards | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fauna | Opinionated About Dining Casual in North America Ranked #153 (2025); Michelin Plate (2025); Michelin Plate (2024); World's 50 Best Best Restaurants #100 (2024) | ₺₺ | — |
| Turk Fatih Tutak | Michelin 2 Star, World's 50 Best | ₺₺₺₺ | — |
| Mikla | Michelin 1 Star, World's 50 Best | ₺₺₺₺ | — |
| Neolokal | Michelin 1 Star, World's 50 Best | ₺₺₺₺ | — |
| Arkestra | Michelin 1 Star | ₺₺₺₺ | — |
| Nicole | Michelin 1 Star | ₺₺₺₺ | — |
Key differences to consider before you reserve.
Book at least 3–4 weeks out. A World's 50 Best #100 ranking in 2024 puts Fauna on international itineraries, which tightens availability beyond what a neighbourhood Italian typically sees. No reservations platform is listed in current records, so search directly or use a concierge service to confirm the current booking channel.
No dietary policy is documented for Fauna in current records. Given it operates in the ₺₺ price range under a named chef with Michelin Plate recognition, the kitchen is almost certainly equipped to handle common restrictions — but check the venue's official channels before assuming, particularly for allergies.
No group booking policy is on record. Restaurants at Fauna's recognition level (Michelin Plate, World's 50 Best #100) often have limited covers and may cap group sizes at 6–8 to maintain service quality. Reach out well in advance if you're planning a party of more than four.
For Turkish-rooted tasting menus, Turk Fatih Tutak and Neolokal are the more obvious comparisons and both sit on the European side. Mikla is worth considering for views and modern Anatolian cooking. If Fauna's appeal is specifically the Italian format with serious credentials, there's no direct equivalent at the same awards tier in Istanbul right now.
No counter or bar seating information is confirmed in current records. At the ₺₺ price point with the level of recognition Fauna holds, solo diners are generally welcomed, but check whether a counter seat or single-cover reservation is available before showing up alone.
No dress code is documented. A restaurant with Michelin Plate recognition and a World's 50 Best #100 ranking typically draws guests who dress neatly — think presentable casual rather than formal. Trainers and beachwear would be out of place; a jacket is unlikely to be required.
Bar seating is not confirmed in current records. Given Fauna's location in Ataşehir and its awards profile, it functions as a destination restaurant rather than a walk-in bar-dining option. Booking a table is the reliable route.
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