Recently opened on the top floor of Sofa Hotel, Frankie is that rare type of place to make you forget about the outside world from the moment you enter. First, there’s the detachable roof, which gives you the option of dining under the stars on summer nights. Then there’s the terrace, aptly named the Smoking Lounge, equipped with a dazzling Istanbul view. You’ve also got the main restaurant section, where everything from the white tablecloths to the wine glasses has been designed exclusively for Frankie.
The City Lounge, by contrast, is a section that reminds us of New York bars of the 1950s, and it’s a good place to stay and linger post-dinner. Here, the Frank Sinatra inspiration becomes even more apparent.
The menu is a blend of Mediterranean and Turkish cuisines, courtesy of Greek chef Simon. Having lived in Spain for a decade, Simon masterfully blends the two cuisines he knows best with Turkish touches for refined fusion fare. The emphasis is on using fresh, daily and natural ingredients, though they don’t shy away from the advents of technology, either. The meat and fish, for instance, are cooked with the sous-vide technique to retain their moisture, flavour and nutrition, then char-grilled for a final, pink touch. We highly recommend the flavourful, soft steak (58 TL), served with sweet potato puree, sweet potato chips and grilled veggies.
At Frankie, they’ve put their own spin on classic Turkish flavours, like artichoke mücver (fried patties, 32 TL) served in a cheese fondue or talaş böreği (vol au vent, 32 TL). There’s also a rich wine cellar, courtesy of sommelier Serdar Kömbe, with nearly 60 domestic and imported wines. From the cocktails, the passion fruit bellini (35 TL) with carrots and strawberries is sure to be a hit. Perhaps the most surprising aspect of Frankie is the music, overseen by the legendary Turkish singer Sezen Aksu. She’s in charge of picking the live performers, though what we’re really hoping for is a dinnertime concert by the artist herself.