Beyoğlu buzzes with energy day and night. This historic district sits right in the heart of modern Istanbul. The famous İstiklal Street runs through here like a river of people and shops. 360 Istanbul sits on top of an old building from way back. The restaurant takes up the whole top floor of Mısır Apartment. You can see everything from up there.

Key highlights:
- Amazing 360-degree views of Istanbul, Bosphorus, and Hagia Sophia
- Turns into Club360 on weekends with DJs and live music
- Located on historic İstiklal Street in the heart of Beyoğlu

PROFILE

This place opened as a fine dining spot with big dreams. Chef Mike Norman runs the kitchen now. The restaurant wants to be fancy and hip at the same time. They serve international food mixed with Turkish flavors. The building itself is from the 1800s. Pretty cool location if you ask me. The restaurant changes into a club when the sun goes down on weekends. Different vibe, same great views. Some people love this, others think it's weird.

AMBIENCE

The views are what everyone talks about first. You can see the whole city spread out below you. Hagia Sophia, the Bosphorus, even the Sea of Marmara on clear days. The inside tries to look modern and sleek. Three different areas to hang out in. The design is pretty minimal and clean. When it gets busy, the place can feel packed. Weekends bring the party crowd. If you want quiet dinner, come during the week. The outdoor area lets you feel the Istanbul breeze. Sometimes people smoke out there though. That bothers some diners inside.

MUST-TRY

The grilled sea bass gets good reviews from people who've been there. Fresh fish cooked simply. Hard to mess that up. Lamb kebabs are another safe choice. Turkish classic done well. The beef kofta also shows up on positive reviews. Their cocktail menu has some creative drinks. Prices match what you'd pay in fancy bars in other big cities. The virgin cocktails work too if you don't drink alcohol. Don't skip the beet hummus if you like that kind of thing. Different spin on a Middle Eastern favorite.

FOOD

The kitchen tries to do too many things at once. International, Mediterranean, Turkish - that's a lot to handle. Some dishes work better than others. Quality can be hit or miss depending on when you go. Fresh ingredients when they're on their game. Off days happen though, like any restaurant. Portion sizes seem reasonable for the price point. Presentation looks nice in photos people share. The menu changes sometimes so don't count on finding the same thing twice. Meze plates let you try different flavors. Good for sharing with friends. The Turkish side of the menu usually performs better than international dishes.

SERVICE

This is where things get complicated. Reviews split pretty hard on service quality. Some people rave about professional staff. Others complain about long waits and rude treatment. Language barriers pop up sometimes. Staff seems overwhelmed when the place gets packed. Weekend service suffers more than weeknight dinners. The club crowd changes the whole atmosphere. Servers have to handle both restaurant and party guests. If you're not spending big money, some reviewers say you get treated differently. That's not cool but seems to happen here.

PRICING

This place costs serious money. Fine dining prices in Istanbul terms. Cocktails run about the same as trendy bars in Amsterdam or other European cities. Dinner for two with drinks can easily hit hundreds of Turkish lira. The view comes with a premium price tag. You're paying for location as much as food. Some people think it's worth it for special occasions. Others feel ripped off compared to other Istanbul restaurants. Depends on what you value more. Weekend club entry might have different pricing. Check ahead if you plan to stay late. The restaurant doesn't advertise exact prices online.

SUMMARY

360 Istanbul delivers on the view promise. That part never disappoints. The food can be good when everything lines up right. Service issues hold this place back from being truly great. Too many negative reviews about staff problems. Management seems to struggle with consistency. Worth trying once if you're visiting Istanbul and want the full panoramic experience. Just manage your expectations about everything else. The location does most of the work here. Best bet is coming for lunch or early dinner on weekdays. Skip the weekend party scene unless that's what you're looking for.

FAQs

Does 360 Istanbul take reservations?
Yes, they take bookings and you should definitely make one. The place gets busy and walk-ins might not get the best tables. Call ahead or check their website.

Can you just go for drinks without eating dinner?
Some reviewers say they got stuck at bad tables when only ordering drinks. The staff seems to prioritize dining customers. You might have a better experience during off-peak hours.

Is there a dress code for 360 Istanbul?
They don't publish a strict dress code but this is an upscale place. Smart casual works fine for dinner. Weekend club nights might expect more effort in your outfit.