Ist Too, one of the two restaurants found within the newly opened Shangri-La hotel in Turkey’s culture capital, certainly lives up to the building’s exterior grandeur. Designed by Hong Kong-based Andre Fu of AFSO, the interior is inspired by lavish 16th- and 17th-century Ottoman aesthetics, with Fu working to a traditional Turkish colour scheme of neutrals, dark metallics and rich complementary colours. Turkish marble, which takes centre stage in the restaurant on the flooring, tables and other smaller furnishings throughout, is thoughtfully matched with dark oak furnishings, taupe leather seats, bronze light fittings, gold details and flecks of royal blue and deep purple. There is a variety of cuisines (from Asian to Mediterranean) to suit most palates, but it’s the impressive wall of wine that will have us coming back for more.
