Historical Karaköy Fish Restaurant – Grifin “Since 1923”
A Flavor Window Opening to the World from the Heart of Istanbul.

Since its establishment, a century-old tradition has been preserved and adapted to the times at “Historical Karaköy Fish Restaurant”, which has now reached its centenary. Founded in 1923 as “Karaköy Fish Restaurant,” one of the first restaurants in the Republic, this local eatery located at the entrance of the Historic Griffin Building has been serving fresh fish. The building’s owner, Hakan Özkaraman, took over the historic venue in 1989.

In 2008, the top floor of the historic venue was opened to guests in the evenings as “Griffin Fish Restaurant,” with its unique view and select menu. In 2006, the venue was featured in world newspapers such as The New York Times, Herald Tribune, and L’Express. Since 1989, Historical Karaköy Fish Restaurant has been honored with numerous awards, accolades, and commendations from journalists and writers, and in 2011, it earned Hakan Özkaraman the “Global Entrepreneur of the Year Award” from Fordham University in the United States.

Now celebrating its 100th year in the same location at the entrance of Griffin Building, this cultural and gastronomic gem, with its terrace overlooking the historic peninsula dating back 3000 years, continues to welcome its guests as “Griffin Fish Restaurant,” leaving unforgettable memories on the minds and palates of the thousands of guests it has hosted since its very first day.

Fresh Seafood
Every Day

Every day, local vendors and Istanbul’s top fish suppliers provide fresh ingredients to the kitchen of Historical Karaköy Fish Restaurant, where they are prepared with the same care as on the very first day. The ingredients are carefully processed during their journey from the sea to the plate.

``The Appetizer Cuisine`` Passed Down from
Generation to Generation

The appetizers, made with unique recipes passed down from generation to generation, add a delicious start to every meal at Historical Karakoy Fish Restaurant – Griffin. They make for a magnificent beginning before the signature fish dishes that follow, prepared with equal mastery.

A Unique Istanbul Landscape

An evening dinner at Historical Karaköy Fish Restaurant – Grifin with a view of the 3000-year-old historical peninsula will be among the most unforgettable memories with your friends. Moreover, a select menu of delicious dishes accompanies your enjoyable conversation.

Memories In The
Heart Of The City

As with the flattering notes and memories written in the guestbook and shared on social media by distinguished guests from all around the world, Historical Karaköy Fish Restaurant is a friendly gathering place that leaves beautiful moments and memories in the minds of its guests, located in the heart of Istanbul.

Yüzyıl
100

YEARS

Tabak
100000 +

PLATES

Ödül
120 +

AWARDS & NEWS

Beğeni
80000

COMMENTS & LİKES

HISTORICAL KARAKÖY FISH RESTAURANT
“AN ISTANBUL CLASSIC SINCE 1923”

Karaköy Fish Restaurant was established by Hüsamettin Doğan in 1923 on the ground floor of Griffin Han in Karaköy. After Hüsamettin Bey’s passing, his son Necmi Doğan continued to run the business. In 1989, when Necmi Bey retired, the owner of the building, Hakan Özkaraman, took over the business and refused to let this historical venue close down.

Hakan Özkaraman, who exhibited what he learned from the food and businesses he studied in Turkey and in many parts of the world as a hobby, the benefits of the degustation training he received in London, and the signature recipes handed down from generation to generation, with a magnificent meticulousness, was praised from the first day in the Turkish and world press.

Grifin Fish Restaurant, which was opened on the terrace of Grifin Han in 2008, where you can dine with an exclusive alcohol menu and Istanbul view, has been honored with more than 30 awards. Özkaraman never changed the specialties of Karaköy fisherman while creating today’s menu, inspired by the restaurants he went to at home and abroad, taking the best food and cooking techniques from every place he visited.

Grilled fish skewers, sea bass on paper and fish soup are still the locomotives of the menu. The plates on which the presentations were made were handcrafted in Italy. The Historical Karaköy Fish Restaurant continues to host its guests with the excitement of the first day, with fresh ingredients bought from local shops in the region every day and fresh fish delicately selected in the fish market.

SIGNATURE DISHES

RESERVATION
“You will re-discover Istanbul while tasting unique dishes.”
PRESS
“Historical Karaköy Fish Restaurant – Grifin” in National and International Press
OUR GUESTS
Explore the Historical Karaköy Fish Restaurant“Grifin” with quotes from the comments and evaluations of our dear guests.