Istanbul: Where to Eat: Big Night Out: Müzedechanga

Müzedechanga

It’s a long taxi ride from Sultanahmet (about thirty to forty-five minutes), but one of my all-time favorite restaurants in Istanbul is Muzedechanga (which translates as “Changa at the museum”), a fusion kitchen at the Sakip Sabanci museum. While the original Changa (Siraselviler Cad. No. 47, Taksim; +90-212-251-7064; www.changa-istanbul.com) is more central, this stylish space—a glass box of an extension, with a sizable wood terrace decorated with mid-century Scandinavian pieces and Noguchi lamps—makes it worth the trip, as do the views of the Bosporus at night. Both Changa menus are supervised by famed London-based Kiwi chef Peter Gordon and serve delicious and fresh fusion dishes, such as grilled octopus with black olive paste and capers, zucchini flowers stuffed with cheese and basil, and lamb braised with fennel, artichokes and olives.