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Itsumi
Japanese · Levent, Istanbul
Restaurant in Istanbul, Turkey
Book with PearlThe Read
Corporate-District Japanese Precision
Price
₺₺
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
Itsumi is the practical Japanese pick in Istanbul when Nobu İstanbul or Akira Back İstanbul feel too spendy for the occasion. The ₺₺ price tier, Levent location, easy booking signal, 2025 Michelin Plate make it better for business lunches, repeat dinners, calmer special occasions than for a high-drama night out.
About Itsumi
Should you book Itsumi in Istanbul? Yes if the brief is Japanese food at a ₺₺ price point. Itsumi serves Japanese cuisine in Istanbul, has smart casual dress guidance, is recognized with a Michelin Plate in 2025. If you are comparing Japanese options, Nobu İstanbul and Akira Back İstanbul are natural names to consider alongside it.
The case for booking is simplicity. Itsumi is best framed as Japanese dining in Istanbul at ₺₺, with a Michelin Plate for 2025. That makes it useful for diners who want a clear Japanese option.
Choose it for Japanese dining with a clear practical profile
Itsumi's profile is concise: Japanese cuisine, ₺₺ pricing, smart casual dress, regular opening hours through the week. It opens from 12 PM to 11 PM Monday through Saturday, from 2 PM to 10 PM on Sunday. Those hours make it a flexible option for many Istanbul dining plans.
For someone who has been once, the next visit should be treated as a preference decision rather than a chase for a signature. If the group wants Japanese food in Istanbul at a ₺₺ price tier, Itsumi fits. If the group is comparing other Japanese restaurants, consider Nobu İstanbul or Akira Back İstanbul.
The practical move is to keep the plan flexible. Use the hours and price tier to decide whether it fits the day, then check the restaurant directly for current menu details before booking.
Where the value lands against Istanbul's Japanese names
If the decision is strictly Japanese, Itsumi is a ₺₺ option to place beside Nobu İstanbul and Akira Back İstanbul. Pick Itsumi when the priority is Japanese cuisine in Istanbul with a ₺₺ price tier and Michelin Plate recognition. Consider the other Japanese names when their current offering better matches the occasion.
Against non-Japanese alternatives, the choice depends on the craving. Şans Restaurant, Gold Bar & Restaurant, EFENDY answer different dining needs, so they are better treated as broader Istanbul alternatives rather than direct substitutes for Itsumi's Japanese focus.
The most useful way to set expectations is to stay with the facts. Itsumi is a Japanese restaurant in Istanbul, priced at ₺₺, with smart casual dress guidance and a Michelin Plate in 2025. For anything more specific, including current dishes, seating, group arrangements, or service formats, confirm directly with the restaurant.
Quick reference: book Itsumi for Japanese dining in Istanbul when a ₺₺ price point, smart casual dress guidance, Michelin Plate recognition are the details that matter most.
Planning details
- Location
- Levent, İş Kuleleri Kule 2 D:43, 34330 Beşiktaş/İstanbul, Türkiye
- Website
- itsumijp.com
- Phone
- +90 212 264 64 48
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Itsumi reads as a composed, business-minded Japanese restaurant perched high in Levent’s towerscape. The dining room is intentionally restrained — not festive but taken seriously — and the Michelin Plate nod underlines a careful, professional approach to cooking. The tower address and financial-district clientele give the space an urbane, polished tone: contemporary and understated rather than boisterous or theatrical. Expect clean design and focused execution that favors precision over pageantry. The overall impression is of a refined city outpost where the emphasis is on well-crafted dishes and a quiet, sophisticated atmosphere.
Best For
Itsumi is best suited to business lunches and efficient dinners that fit a working schedule. Located on the 43rd floor of a Levent tower, the restaurant attracts an office clientele and shapes a service rhythm that accommodates shorter midday meals and pre-theatre evenings rather than prolonged, wine-forward feasts. The Michelin Plate recognition signals careful cooking worth noting, and the setting anchors the experience in Istanbul’s financial district rather than the waterfront or old town. It’s a practical, elevated option when you want quality Japanese fare in a composed, professional setting.
Ordering Tips
Focus on the signatures when you visit: the otoro sashimi, salmon sashimi and tempura are called out as standout items and are good markers of the kitchen’s strengths. Given the venue’s business-district rhythm and the description of a composed dining room, plan for a purposeful meal—courses arrive with a steady pace rather than extended pauses. The 43rd-floor tower location and Michelin Plate suggest that portions and presentation will aim at refinement, so sampling a few key sashimi pieces alongside a tempura course gives a rounded impression of the kitchen without committing to an overly long service.
Venue details
Ambiance
Clean, relaxing space with New York style setup in an office district.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Accessibility
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Smart Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Standard
- Capacity
- Small
Signature Dishes
- otoro_sashimi
- salmon_sashimi
- tempura
Planning details
Location
Levent, İş Kuleleri Kule 2 D:43, 34330 Beşiktaş/İstanbul, Türkiye · Directions
Recognition and awards
Also consider
Where to go if Itsumi does not fit
If the group wants Japanese but with a bigger-night feel, cross-shop Nobu İstanbul or Akira Back İstanbul. Expect a higher spend at both.
If the issue is cuisine rather than availability, choose EFENDY for a ₺₺ Turkish alternative, or Şans Restaurant for a pricier Turkish meal.
Restaurant context
How Itsumi compares in Istanbul
Itsumi is the value-led Japanese choice in this set. At ₺₺, it undercuts Nobu İstanbul and Akira Back İstanbul, both listed at ₺₺₺. Choose Nobu İstanbul if the brand and bigger-night atmosphere are part of the reason for booking; choose Akira Back İstanbul if the group wants a more modern, high-energy Japanese dinner. Choose Itsumi when the priority is Japanese food without turning the meal into a splurge.
Compared with Turkish peers, Itsumi is less place-specific but more useful when the itinerary already has local cuisine covered. Şans Restaurant is the pricier Turkish option at ₺₺₺, while EFENDY sits at ₺₺ and competes more directly on value. For visitors with one dinner in Istanbul, EFENDY or Şans Restaurant may make more sense; for residents or repeat visitors wanting a Japanese reset, Itsumi is the cleaner call.
Gold Bar & Restaurant is harder to position from price and cuisine alone, so treat it as a mood-based alternative rather than a direct Japanese substitute. Itsumi is easier to justify when the decision is cuisine-first, price-aware, centered on Levent convenience.
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Itsumi guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Itsumi
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Awards | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Itsumi | Istanbul | Japanese | 2025 Michelin Plate | ₺₺ |
| Şans Restaurant | Istanbul | Turkish | Gault & Millau Türkiye 2026 - 1 Toque2026 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence2025 OAD Top Restaurants in Europe Ranked · #4892025 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence2025 Michelin Plate2024 OAD Top Restaurants in Europe Ranked · #5402024 Michelin Plate | ₺₺₺ |
| Gold Bar & Restaurant | Istanbul | No published awards | ; | ; |
| EFENDY | Istanbul | Turkish | Gault & Millau Türkiye 2026 - 2 Toques2025 Michelin Bib Gourmand2024 Michelin Bib Gourmand | ₺₺ |
| Nobu İstanbul | Istanbul | Japanese | Gault & Millau Türkiye 2026 - 1 Toque2025 Michelin Plate2024 Michelin Plate | ₺₺₺ |
| Akira Back İstanbul | Istanbul | Japanese | Gault & Millau Türkiye 2026 - 1 Toque2025 Michelin Plate2024 Michelin Plate | ₺₺₺ |
How Itsumi Istanbul compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Itsumi accommodate groups?
If you are planning for several people, contact Itsumi directly to confirm current seating and booking details. For Japanese alternatives in Istanbul, you can also compare Nobu İstanbul and Akira Back İstanbul.
What should a first-timer know about Itsumi?
Itsumi is a Japanese restaurant in Istanbul with a ₺₺ price range, smart casual dress guidance, Michelin Plate recognition in 2025. Its hours are 12–11 PM Monday through Saturday and 2–10 PM on Sunday.
What are alternatives to Itsumi in Istanbul?
For Japanese dining, compare it with Nobu İstanbul or Akira Back İstanbul. If you want a different kind of Istanbul dining option, Şans Restaurant, Gold Bar & Restaurant, EFENDY are broader alternatives, but they are not direct Japanese substitutes.
Is Itsumi good for a special occasion?
It can be a good fit if the occasion calls for Japanese cuisine in Istanbul at a ₺₺ price point, with smart casual dress guidance and Michelin Plate recognition. For very specific needs, such as private seating or a particular menu format, confirm directly with the restaurant.
Is lunch or dinner better at Itsumi?
Itsumi is open 12–11 PM Monday through Saturday and 2–10 PM on Sunday. Choose based on the hours that fit your plans and confirm current offerings with the restaurant.
