OUZO ROOF RESTAURANT

Positioned on the rooftop terrace of the Wyndham Grand İstanbul Kalamış Marina Hotel in the Kalamış district of Kadıköy, Ouzo Roof Restaurant has been serving guests since 2014. Drawing its identity and name from Greece's traditional anise spirit, the venue unites the rich coastal culinary traditions of both shores of the Aegean Sea. Overlooking the docked yachts and calm waters of Kalamış Marina, the establishment operates as a specialized rooftop seafood and fish restaurant combining structured à la carte dining with evening live music.

The culinary program at Ouzo Roof Restaurant is defined by the integration of geographically indicated regional products and fresh Mediterranean ingredients. Operating under the direction of Executive Chef Ender Doğan, the kitchen focuses on harmonizing Turkish and global culinary techniques to showcase authentic Aegean flavors. Kitchen leadership also includes Executive Chef Hüseyin Öztürk, who oversees signature seafood creations that reframe regional classics for modern dining.

In addition to its culinary offerings, the restaurant features its signature Kalamış Live entertainment program, hosting live musical performances and special dining events four days a week. With its dedicated wine cellar, craft mixology program, and panoramic coastal outlook, Ouzo Roof Restaurant provides a refined setting for couples, special celebrations, and corporate banquets across Istanbul's Anatolian shore.

Cuisine and Menu

The culinary program at Ouzo Roof Restaurant highlights Aegean seafood traditions and Mediterranean flavors, emphasizing geographically certified ingredients. Dining begins with soups and cold appetizers, such as Balık Çorbası (410 kcal), prepared with salmon, sea bass, mussels, and a white wine foam. The extensive meze selection includes Lakerda (80 gr, 245 kcal), Vişneli Yaprak Sarma (sour cherry stuffed grape leaves, 330 kcal), Cunda Ezme (410 kcal), Fava made from broad beans (210 kcal), and Zeytinyağlı Pancar Dolması with pine nuts (330 kcal). For sharing, the Peynir Tahtası (490 kcal) presents goat cheese, Roquefort, Ezine, Gouda, Emmental, Parmesan, and Kars Gruyere alongside walnuts soaked in milk and sun-dried tomato jam.

Hot starters feature inventive seafood reinterpretations. Signature items include Balık Kokoreç (360 kcal), made with shrimp and sea bass served on brioche bread with red chili pepper, and Ayvalık Lokumu (480 kcal), combining shrimp, sea bass, currants, pine nuts, and turmeric cream sauce. Other hot options include Güverte Böreği (420 kcal), rolling shrimp, sea bass, cheddar cheese, and wild mushrooms with sriracha, as well as pan-fried Saganaki (600 kcal) with artisan cheese and maple syrup, and Giritli Kabak (330 kcal) served with truffled strained yogurt and olive dust.

Meat and poultry mains provide alternatives to fresh seafood, featuring Çökertme Kebabı (160 gr beef tenderloin on Mengen flatbread with crispy potatoes, yogurt, roasted peppers, and garden tomato sauce, 730 kcal), Kuzu Pirzola (160 gr lamb chops with buttered keşkek and lamb bone reduction, 930 kcal), and Izgara Dana Bonfile (160 gr beef tenderloin with basil potato puree and asparagus, 490 kcal). Desserts conclude the meal with Helvalı Sufle with clotted cream ice cream (620 kcal), Çikolatalı Ganaj with boza sorbet (480 kcal), and Damla Sakızlı Sütlaç with roasted hazelnuts (315 kcal).

The beverage program offers signature craft cocktails such as Double Trouble (Madagascar vanilla-infused Grey Goose vodka, Cointreau, passion fruit, lime cordial, and prosecco) and La Paz (chili-infused tequila with hibiscus and grapefruit cordials). In addition to classic cocktails, the bar maintains a dedicated wine cellar, an extensive single malt scotch collection (featuring Macallan, Lagavulin, Oban, and Talisker), and varied sizes (4 cl, 20 cl, and 35 cl) of traditional Greek Ouzo alongside premium Turkish rakı labels like Beylerbeyi Göbek, Tekirdağ Altın Seri, and Prototip.

Atmosphere and Who It Suits

Perched high above the coastline, Ouzo Roof Restaurant provides a refined rooftop ambiance defined by unobstructed, panoramic views of Kalamış Marina. The venue accommodates a total seated capacity of 174 guests, distributed between an elegant indoor dining hall seating 116 people and an open-air terrace seating 58 guests. Large glass enclosures and open deck areas allow diners to watch yachts navigating the marina against the evening skyline, creating a sophisticated maritime backdrop for dinner service.

The venue's atmosphere shifts seamlessly between tranquil sunset dining and dynamic evening entertainment. Central to this experience is the "Kalamış Live" program, which brings live musical performances and special entertainment events to the restaurant four nights a week. The combination of Aegean melodies, gentle sea breezes, and soft ambient lighting gives the space a distinctly romantic and upscale character, making it well suited for milestone anniversaries, date nights, and celebratory evenings.

For corporate groups and private gatherings, the restaurant provides specialized hospitality arrangements, including an exclusive Chef's Table experience designed for parties of 10 or more guests. During this private group tasting, dishes are paired under the direct guidance of a professional sommelier using selections from the restaurant's curated wine cellar. This structured group service makes the venue a fitting destination for executive dinners, client entertaining, and family banquets.

To maintain its premium dining standard, Ouzo Roof Restaurant enforces a strict "Smart Casual" dress code. Guests are requested to dress accordingly, and casual attire such as athletic tracksuits, shorts, and slippers or flip-flops is not permitted on the premises. This standard ensures a polished dining environment for all guests across both regular dining and live concert evenings.

Location and Practical Details

Ouzo Roof Restaurant is located on the rooftop floor of the Wyndham Grand İstanbul Kalamış Marina Hotel, situated at Fener Kalamış Cad. No 38, 34726 Kalamış, Kadıköy, İstanbul. The property occupies a waterfront position directly across from Setur Kalamış & Fenerbahçe Marina and Kalamış Park. It is situated within short walking or driving distance of both Fenerbahçe Park and the vibrant commercial boulevard of Bağdat Avenue (Bağdat Caddesi), placing it in the heart of Kadıköy's coastal recreation zone.

The restaurant operates daily between 15:00 and 23:00, with its full à la carte dinner service available throughout these hours. The early opening time allows guests to arrive for late afternoon appetizers or sunset aperitifs before transitioning into evening dinner service and live musical performances.

Advance reservations are strongly advised, particularly for outdoor terrace seating during warmer months and on nights featuring Kalamış Live performances. Table bookings can be secured through multiple communication channels, including online reservations via the Reservem App, telephone direct at +90 216 400 00 30, WhatsApp messaging, or email correspondence at [email protected]. For group bookings requesting the sommelier-guided Chef's Table for 10 or more guests, prior direct coordination is recommended.

For transportation convenience, guests arriving by private vehicle can utilize the complimentary on-site parking facilities provided within the hotel property. The venue also offers professional valet parking services at the hotel entrance, as well as dedicated electric vehicle (EV) charging stations for charging during dinner. Reflecting its established standing on the Anatolian side, the restaurant is noted as being featured in OGGUSTO's curated guide to Istanbul's Best Seafood Restaurants.

The Mio Angle: As a Meeting Spot

Within the Mio community, Ouzo Roof Restaurant stands out as an elevated meeting destination on Istanbul's Anatolian coast, specifically tailored for occasions where culinary quality, panoramic scenery, and atmospheric live music are required. Situated atop the Wyndham Grand Kalamış, it provides a distinctive setting where guests can transition from a quiet sunset cocktail overlooking docked marina yachts to a lively evening centered on Aegean shared plates and live performances under the Kalamış Live banner.

In terms of meeting scenarios, the restaurant aligns particularly well with two distinct use cases. For couples seeking a romantic setting, the 58-seat outdoor terrace offers an intimate vantage point during dusk as lights illuminate the marina basin. For corporate organizers and business hosts, the venue's indoor seating capacity of 116 guests, smart-casual dress standard, and available sommelier-guided Chef's Table for parties of 10 or more deliver the structure and privacy necessary for executive entertaining and celebratory client dinners.

From a budget perspective, Ouzo Roof Restaurant operates firmly in the premium dining tier. The culinary offerings emphasize geographically indicated ingredients, specialty seafood dishes such as Güverte Böreği and Ayvalık Lokumu, and an extensive cellar featuring multi-vintage single malts, aged cognacs, and bottle-service rakı and ouzo. Diners visiting the venue should anticipate an upscale spending profile consistent with luxury hotel rooftop dining.

For visual documentation and social sharing, the venue offers strong aesthetic appeal. Key visual focal points include panoramic golden-hour shots across Kalamış Marina, vibrant craft cocktails like the passion fruit-accented Double Trouble, intricately arranged cold spreads such as the seven-cheese Peynir Tahtası, and night views of the illuminated stage during Kalamış Live musical sessions.