Divan Pub İstanbul is the Divan hotel’s all-day dining restaurant. It’s where you go for breakfast (if you’re lucky enough to be residing at the hotel). Located to the right of the lobby (facing the reception) of the first and original Divan hotel near Taksim Square in Istanbul, The Pub, as it’s called is the personification of rustic casual-chic – you can’t go wrong with red brick, wood and leather.
Interior 
Interior 
Interior
The Pub’s menu is designed to have broad international appeal while maintaining a strong Turkish element. Aside from the salads, all of us ordered from the Turkish page – either doner or mante – when in Turkey, order Turkish ONLY. Usually restaurants in these big, five-star hotels offer toned down versions of local favourites. Not here. Both the doner and the mante were excellent, especially the mante which I encouraged two of my colleagues to try for the first time – they loved it. We ended our meal with some delicious baklava – OMG!
Salad 
Mante up close and personal 
Mante 
Doner 
Doner 
A type of Turkish Baklava 
Turkish coffee and Baklava
I wouldn’t call service at The Pub the friendliest in Istanbul. In fact, if anything, I felt it was kind of rushed. But, hand on heart, I couldn’t fault their meticulous professionalism. All that said, unless out of convenience, I would not come back to The Pub. It’s too sterile and international for me. Forget all the gateway to East and West babble one hears about Istanbul. The truth is that Istanbul is a gateway to Turkey itself and by default a culinary treasure chest. The Pub is good for those foo-foo visitors who travel with wet wipes in each pocket, who won’t eat outside their hotel least they get sick. For the rest of us, Istanbul beckons…
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Xerxes physically dines at, or orders from, each and every venue he reviews. He pays in full for whatever he and his companions eat, drink, take away or occasionally throw at each other. Xerxes accepts no money, gifts, discounts or free meals in return for reviews or favouritism. What you have read was NOT influenced in any way by the venue. Join me on Instagram @ravenousxerxes or email me on xerxes@dellara.com.