Gallada

Verdict

Gallada earns its 2025 Michelin Plate in a city where Chinese-Turkish fusion is rare enough to make the format itself a differentiator. At ₺₺₺₺ pricing (expect $$$ per head for a typical two-course dinner), this is a special-occasion booking, not a casual night out. The wine program; 435 selections, 11,000-bottle inventory, with significant Turkey and France depth; is among the more serious in Istanbul's dining scene, the $100 corkage fee signals they take it seriously. Book this for a celebration dinner where you want kitchen ambition and a proper wine list in the same room. If you want a safer, more locally rooted tasting experience, Neolokal or Mikla are the better comparison points. If the Chinese-Turkish crossover is the draw, Gallada is the only room in Istanbul doing it at this level with Michelin recognition behind it.

The Kitchen

Gallada's cuisine sits at the intersection of Chinese and Turkish cooking, guided by Chef Özgür Taylan Yücel. The editorial angle here is technical: this is not a fusion concept in the loose sense, but a kitchen positioning itself on precise execution across two distinct culinary traditions. Michelin Plate recognition in both 2024 and 2025 is a consistent signal that the inspectors find the cooking credible, not gimmicky. The ownership group, Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels, brings an institutional hospitality background that tends to produce reliable consistency in both kitchen and front-of-house. For a diner weighing whether to commit at ₺₺₺₺, that ownership pedigree reduces the risk of an off night. Chef Yücel's kitchen is supported by Wine Director Nebiye Kaya and Sommelier Hasan Esad Göl, which means the wine program is independently staffed, a sign the restaurant takes the pairing dimension as seriously as the food. For context on what other kitchens are doing in Istanbul's top tier, see Turk Fatih Tutak, which operates at the same price tier with a sharper focus on modern Turkish technique.

The Wine Program

With 435 selections and an 11,000-bottle inventory, Gallada's wine list is among the larger programs in the city. The $$$-tier pricing means expect plenty of bottles above $100, with Turkey and France as the two core strengths. Wine Director Nebiye Kaya runs the program with a dedicated sommelier, so the floor team can actually guide you through the list rather than just hand you a book. The $100 corkage fee is on the higher end, bring your own bottle only if what you're carrying is genuinely worth the premium over what's already on the list. For a special occasion dinner where wine matters, Gallada's program is one of the stronger reasons to choose it over peers.

Who Should Book

Gallada is built for the kind of dinner where the occasion justifies the spend. Celebration dinners, client meals, date nights where you want a serious wine list and a kitchen doing something structurally different from the city's modern Turkish mainstream are all strong fits. Groups of two to four who want a full dinner with wine will get the most from what Gallada offers. For a broader view of the city's dining options before committing, see our full Istanbul restaurants guide.

Booking

Gallada is rated Easy for booking difficulty, which is a meaningful advantage over Istanbul's harder-to-access ₺₺₺₺ rooms. You do not need to plan weeks in advance, but for a specific date, especially weekends or a celebration dinner, book at least a week out to secure your preferred time. The restaurant is on Kemankeş Caddesi in Beyoğlu, in the Karaköy-adjacent stretch that has become one of Istanbul's denser concentrations of quality dining. No phone or website is listed in the current data; check booking platforms directly for current availability. General Manager Gökhan Herkiloğlu leads the front-of-house operation, which under the Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels ownership structure typically means a more professionally managed service floor than independent restaurants at the same price point.

How It Compares

For more dining options across Turkey, explore Nahita Cappadocia in Nevsehir, Aravan Evi in Ürgüp, and Poyraz Sahil Balık in Beykoz. For context on Asian-influences dining elsewhere, see MAIN TOWER Restaurant in Frankfurt and Mee in Rio de Janeiro. Plan the rest of your Istanbul trip with our guides to Istanbul hotels, Istanbul bars, Istanbul wineries, and Istanbul experiences.