It's only been open for a little while, but Fenix has managed to generate quite the buzz. We're warning you in advance: this brand new venue that opened where GQ Bar used to be is the most extravagant venue of the season - perhaps even the year. Leyla Deniz lists everything you need to know about the eatery.
1. Who's behind it?
The people who made Fenix a reality are none other than Metin and Zeynep Fadıllıoğlu, the restaurateur due behind Ulus 29 who perhaps know more about the business than anyone else in the city, and Aliye Turagay, who has brought venues like Bird and Flamingo to life.
2. What to eat?
Fenix has a constantly updated menu of modern flavors from Pan-Asian cuisine (think dumplings, crispy calamari and duck) to French seafood favorites (oysters and more in tomato sauce), as well as surprising finds like spare ribs and artichoke salad. In short, prepare for well-executed, tasty dishes.
3. The service is incredible!
The service crew at Fenix is very involved and informed, with a command of every detail from the cooking technique of the dishes to the bar menu. From the minue they introduce themselves, they do their part to make sure your Fenix experience is a wonderful one.
4. Striking decor, magical atmosphere
If you happened to visit the short-lived GQ Bar, let us warn you that the venue underwent a massive makeover and looks entirely different. The second floor was knocked out, giving the space tall ceilings and a new sense of depth through columns. The surprise details include trees that lend the venue a tropical and exotic feel, colonial elements and Moroccan-inspired tiles. How tasteful!
5. Waitlisted reservations
If the overcrowded bar and wait-listed reservations for weekend nights up to a month in advance are any indication, Fenix is set to reverse the ill fate of GQ Bar (which made quite a splash not with its menu but with the cars and paparazzi lined out front). What's more, Fenix is sure to play a part in making Istanbul an international eating and drinking destination. If you want a calm dinner, go early in the week, but if you're in the mood to keep partying through the night, you might want to check out Fenix's weekend programs starting Thursday night.