Leb-i Derya
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Leb-i Derya

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A renowned rooftop restaurant offering stunning Istanbul views, modern Turkish cuisine, and a romantic ambiance, celebrated for its panoramas.

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Social content

Social

From TikTok & Reddit

Best Time

Wed/Fri 18-21h

Blue hour photography, calmer galleries

CrowdLow
Leb-i Derya

Leb-i Derya

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

A renowned rooftop restaurant offering stunning Istanbul views, modern Turkish cuisine, and a romantic ambiance, celebrated for its panoramas.

"The view is amazing!! But the food and service are a disaster, avoid at all costs!"

TIP

Review Your Bill

Check your bill carefully for any added items or charges before paying.

Avoid Peak Times

Visit during less busy times to avoid service delays and a more relaxed experience.

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Quick Facts

Closed·Opens 3PM

Cuisine

Turkish

Price

$$$

Phone

+90 530 382 38 22

Address

Şahkulu, Kumbaracı Ykş., 34425 Tünel/Beyoğlu/Beyoğlu/İstanbul, Türkiye

Insta-Factor

High

Highlights

Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Breathtaking Istanbul Views

Breathtaking Istanbul Views

Dine with panoramic views of Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and the Bosphorus. A truly magical backdrop.

30 Istanbul Restaurants With The Most Amazing Views12 BEST RESTAURANTS in Istanbul (with View) → 2025
Modern Turkish Delicacies

Modern Turkish Delicacies

Savor elevated Turkish flavors like lamb shish with plums and a variety of fresh mezes and seafood.

Where to Eat in Istanbul: 23 of The Best RestaurantsBeyond The Doner: Restaurants In Istanbul
Romantic Rooftop Ambiance

Romantic Rooftop Ambiance

Nestled high above the city, this sophisticated rooftop offers an elegant and romantic atmosphere, especially at sunset.

Top rooftop Bars Istanbul and Best Rooftop restaurants in Istanbul8 Restaurants Where You Can Enjoy the Legendary Silhouette of Istanbul | Blog
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Insider Tips

from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit

lebi derya 💙😍🌊 #kesfet #kesfetbeniöneçıkart #kesfetttt #kesfetteyiz #istanbul #türkiye
@isikyaldiz_1907
8 likes • 275 views

Review Your Bill

Check your bill carefully for any added items or charges before paying.

Avoid Peak Times

Visit during less busy times to avoid service delays and a more relaxed experience.

4+1 260 mt for sale in Lebi Derya with full sea view! #istanbulllllll #💵 $570,000‼️‼️
@baranyaman.34
123 likes • 14.1K views
Lebi derya Manzarası ile Cihangir #cihangir #beyoğlu #ersinince
@ersin.ince7
2 likes • 257 views

Be Wary of Seafood

Some reviews mention frozen prawns; order seafood with caution.

Request a Quieter Table

Ask for a table away from loud music for a more enjoyable dining experience.

çorlu Lebi derya sahne#bursa #izmit #eğlence #İSTANBUL #müzik #çorlu
@askintazegul77
772 likes • 8.9K views

Tips

from all over the internet

Review Your Bill

Check your bill carefully for any added items or charges before paying.

Avoid Peak Times

Visit during less busy times to avoid service delays and a more relaxed experience.

Be Wary of Seafood

Some reviews mention frozen prawns; order seafood with caution.

Request a Quieter Table

Ask for a table away from loud music for a more enjoyable dining experience.

What Travellers Say

4.6
(491k reviews)

Reviews Summary

Leb-i Derya is lauded for its absolutely breathtaking panoramic views of Istanbul, making it a popular choice for romantic evenings. However, recent reviews suggest a significant decline in food quality and service, with complaints about overpriced dishes, frozen ingredients, disorganized staff, and a lack of basic amenities, leading to disappointment for many diners.

"Absolutely one of the best restaurants we have visited together over the past few years! Incredibly designed place tucked away up a staircase up an elevator and up another staircase. Once you’re to the top you’re surrounded by absolute beauty, a friendly staff, and world class food. Can’t say enough good things about the mushroom/potato appetizer, the grilled sea bass, and the loin/meatball entree...can’t wait to go back"

Executive Thrillseeker

"Very poor experience! I highly advise against it. We went there for New Year's, and we paid 100€/ adult and 75€/ child, including a 5 years old. The menu promised included 4 courses: an appetiser, shrimps with some sauce, a pastry and a main course + New Year's special dessert, and unlimited soft and alcoholic drinks. We got an appetiser with 5 spoons of different dishes, one pastry they put with a claw on each plate, the shrimps were half of baby shrimp for each person and the main course which was a piece of overcooked meat with some bad sauce and a lot of rice. The special desert was a small pastry filled with halva. The unlimited drinks were wine, vodka tonic, gin tonic, still and sparkling water, lipton ice tea, and Sprite. They ran out of tonic, wine, and sparkling water by 11:00 PM and tried to charge us for extra wine and sparkling water. At midnight, they gave us a bottle of proseco for 15 people and tried to charge us 300€ for it, even if it was included. All though there were plenty of English speaking waiters, we got one that couldn't understand one word of English. We gave him a tip of 100 €, and at the end, another waiter who was drunk and had nothing to do with our table came begging for money and cigarettes. For entertainment, there was a belly dancer who wouldn't leave until all the men paid her"

Oana I

"The restaurant’s service was subpar, with small portions and a lack of flavor. The waiters were disorganized and forgot essential items like napkins, water, and bread, requiring constant reminders. Despite being the only customers in the restaurant, which was not crowded, the waiter’s incompetence was evident. It is possible that the restaurant was once successful but has since fallen on hard times."

Irfan Asghar

What People Like

Stunning city and Bosphorus views
Elevated Turkish and seafood dishes (historically)
Romantic ambiance

What People Dislike

Overpriced and poor quality food
Inattentive and disorganized service
Disappointing seafood

Frequently Asked Questions

Leb-i Derya is most famous for its breathtaking panoramic views of Istanbul, including landmarks like Hagia Sophia and the Bosphorus. It also offers a menu of Turkish delicacies and international dishes.

30 Istanbul Restaurants With The Most Amazing Views12 BEST RESTAURANTS in Istanbul (with View) → 2025

The restaurant serves a mix of Turkish delicacies, such as lamb shish with plums, and international cuisine, including seafood dishes.

Beyond The Doner: Restaurants In Istanbul

Yes, with its stunning rooftop views and sophisticated ambiance, Leb-i Derya is considered a very romantic dining spot, especially at sunset and night.

30 Istanbul Restaurants With The Most Amazing Views

Diners suggest checking your bill carefully, considering off-peak times to avoid service delays, and being cautious with seafood orders. Some also recommend requesting a table away from loud music.

Leb-i Derya is located in the Beyoglu quarter. Diners often mention needing to take an elevator or stairs to reach the top floor of the building.

Where to Eat on Istiklal Street in Istanbul: A Traveler's Guide

Recent reviews indicate that service can be subpar, with some diners reporting disorganization and forgotten items. However, historical mentions suggest a high level of service.

12 BEST RESTAURANTS in Istanbul (with View) → 2025

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Leb-i derya is one of those fabulous fancy restaurants perched high above the streets of Beyoğlu with amazing views of the Bosporus, Maiden’s Tower, Asia and old Istanbul’s peninsula. You could walk past the building so many times on its dimly lit street without realizing how magnificent the view from the top is. This light and bright sophisticated rooftop restaurant offers traditional Turkish flavors with a modern twist, as well as gourmet-style international favorites.

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Some of Istanbul’s best luxury dining experiences are set on high rooftops, allowing visitors to revel in the city’s inspiring views and warm weather. Leb-i Derya is thought to be one of the leaders of this trend and, although it is now rivalled by many competitors, it still ranks among the the best. The menu offers a range of cuisines, including Turkish delicacies such as lamb shish with plums, pomegranate molasses, fresh thyme and spiced rice with pine nuts.

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Leb-i Derya offers a fantastic meal and drink with an even more fantastic view. While not the highest rooftop dining spot in Galata, the venue arguably possesses the most romantic panorama of the city spanning the Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and the Asian side from its vantage point nestled on the hillside above the Bosphorus. Leb-i Derya’s menu consists of Turkish and non-Turkish items, reflecting a culinary mix that echoes the restaurant’s view from Europe onto Asia.

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One of the most respected and popular restaurants in Istanbul, Leb-i Derya Restaurant is at the front of the city’s culinary scene for the last 15 years. Literally meaning seaside, the restaurant is surrounded by the sea, offering superb panoramas of Istanbul, especially breathtaking at sunset and night. Conveniently located in the Beyoglu quarter, Leb-i Derya has constantly maintained a high level of service and perfect quality of its menu.

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Located in the Tomtom neighborhood, one of the most touristy places in Istanbul, Leb-i Derya is an exquisite fish restaurant and lounge with an amazing view of the Golden Horn. It is not just a fish restaurant, but also a lounge where you can have a drink in a cozy atmosphere. Leb-i Derya is located at the top of an old building on İstiklal Avenue, and it is one of the best restaurants to combine the moonlight and old Istanbul spirit.

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Chosen by the Sunday Times as one of the top 15 bars in the World, the exquisite Turkish Leb-i Derya restaurant was also one of the first Rooftop bars in Istanbul. Situated on the roof of a dishevelled building, with a panoramic view of Istanbul. Besides their impeccable service, visitors love their authentic Turkish dishes prepared with fresh local ingredients and enjoy some of the best wines from primarily local producers.

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A rooftop bar that serves traditional Turkish cuisine, surrounded by the sea, Leb-i-derya is the place that you need to have on your itinerary when you visit Istanbul. Leb-i-derya is located in the heart of the city, which allows you to see the many faces of Istanbul. The place consists of three levels, each one with its own unique characteristics.

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Leb-i Derya isn’t in Asmalı Mescit but a short walk down Kumbaracı Yokuşu on the other side of Istiklal Street. You have to cram into a rickety old elevator to get up to the top floor of the building, but it opens up into a beautiful space. Leb-i Derya serves excellent Turkish cuisine with a modern twist and the views are incredible.

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Leb-i Derya translates to “at the edge of the sea,” and it delivers exactly that. Located in a cozy corner of Beyoğlu, this rooftop gem gives you a panoramic view of the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn. The Turkish meze selection is fantastic, and the candlelit tables make it perfect for a romantic night out.

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