Lalou

Lalou is the new lobby brasserie of the post-renovation Hilton Istanbul Bosphorus. Named for the Turkish for amiable chit-chat, it sits at the ground level facing the gardens, with jewellery-like brass and stone finishes that nod to the Sophia Loren era of the property. The food side leans patisserie and light plates; the bar side runs a tightly edited cocktail menu that takes the room from afternoon tea into a proper after-work spot. Calmer than Sazzou next door, but the same design language and the same serious bartenders.