Viktor Levi Sarap Evi is a wine house in Moda on the Asian side of Istanbul, open since 1914. It pairs Turkish house wines with a large garden and a two-story period building. Reservations help on warm evenings.
The wine house dates to 1914, when the merchant Viktor Levi began trading wine in Istanbul, per Lonely Planet. The Moda branch carries the name forward in a restored two-story building. It stands on a quiet Caferaga side street in Kadikoy.
The garden does most of the work. A leafy rear courtyard opens in the warm months, and regulars retreat to the upstairs salon when the weather turns.
Turkish wine is the point of the menu. The list leans on local producers and house pours, served by the glass and the bottle alongside shared plates and classic mains.
Reviewers rate the setting above the kitchen. Tripadvisor visitors praise the courtyard and the service while calling the food uneven, so the smarter order is wine and a few mezes rather than a full dinner.
One practical note: much of the venue allows smoking, per recent Google Maps reviews, so guests who want clear air should ask for a table away from the main room.
Pricing sits at $$$ for Istanbul, in line with a sit-down wine house rather than a quick bar. The room suits couples and small groups alike.
Moda rewards a slow evening. The neighborhood runs on cafes and small bars, and Viktor Levi works as the anchor for a longer night on the Asian side.
The crowd mixes locals and visitors and skews older and calmer than the Beyoglu scene across the water. Conversation carries better here than at a music bar.
First-timers should book a garden table in summer, order Turkish wine by the glass, and keep food to cold and hot mezes. Restaurant Guru lists the current menu and hours for planning.
The building itself is part of the appeal. The two-story wooden house keeps its period detail, and the space splits between a ground floor, an upstairs salon, and the garden out back.
Service runs in the meyhane tradition. Waiters carry meze trays to the table and pour wine by the glass, which makes a first order simple.
The Asian-side address shapes the night. Reaching Moda means a ferry to Kadikoy and a short walk, a trip that becomes part of the evening rather than a chore.
Reviewers return for the atmosphere more than the plates. The pattern across review sites is a charming setting and good wine held back by an uneven kitchen, which points to a clear order strategy.
Seasons change the room. Summer pushes the crowd into the garden, while autumn and winter move the night indoors to the salon, each with its own feel.
The wine list rewards local choices. Turkish grapes such as Okuzgozu and Bogazkere appear by the glass, and the staff can steer a newcomer toward a first pour.
The pace is unhurried. Tables turn slowly, and most groups settle in for a long sitting rather than a quick stop, which fits the garden setting.
The name carries history on the Istanbul wine scene. Founded by a merchant who moved from sardines into grapes, the house is among the oldest wine names still trading in the city.
For a first visit, the route matters as much as the table. A sunset ferry across the Bosphorus, a walk through Moda, and a seat in the garden make a full evening on their own.
Viktor Levi ranks among the most-recommended wine houses in Istanbul, and earns a place on any honest list of the best wine bars in Istanbul. Our Istanbul bar guide covers the rest of the city, and the wine bars guide ranks rooms worldwide.
Best for a relaxed wine evening, garden weather, and the Kadikoy crowd. Skip it if the priority is cocktails, a late dance floor, or a standout kitchen.
What to order
- 01
Turkish red by the glass
Local producers, poured to order
- 02
House white
From the in-house list
- 03
Cold meze plate
The reliable food order
- 04
Hot meze
Best paired with red
