Yacht Catering Menu Istanbul — Food & Drinks

MerrySails offers three levels of yacht catering. The Essential package (€280) includes basic refreshments — Turkish tea, coffee, water, and light snacks. You can bring your own food and drinks at no additional charge, making this the most flexible budget option. The Premium package (€380) adds a curated drink menu (wine, beer, spirits, soft drinks) and a refreshment spread. The VIP package (€680) includes a private chef who prepares a fully customized multi-course meal on board — this is the ultimate dining experience on the Bosphorus. Additional catering packages can be added to any package level, ranging from simple meze platters to elaborate seafood feasts.

The meze spread is the most popular yacht catering choice — perfectly suited to the casual, social atmosphere of a Bosphorus cruise. A typical meze selection includes: hummus, acılı ezme (spicy tomato-walnut paste), cacık (yogurt with cucumber), sigara böreği (crispy cheese rolls), yaprak sarma (stuffed vine leaves), patlıcan salatası (smoky eggplant salad), haydari (herb yogurt dip), and fresh bread. The meze format is ideal for yacht dining because it is easy to share, does not require formal table settings, and pairs perfectly with drinks. Add grilled meat or seafood for a more substantial meal. Meze platters serve 8–15 guests and are prepared fresh before the charter.

For a heartier yacht menu, seafood and BBQ options elevate the experience. The seafood menu includes: grilled sea bass (levrek), shrimp, calamari, and octopus, served with seasonal salad and rice. Fresh fish is sourced from Istanbul's morning markets. The BBQ menu features Turkish-style grilled meats: chicken shish, lamb kebab, köfte (meatballs), and grilled vegetables, served with pilaf and salad. Both menus can be prepared by the crew on the yacht's grill or by a private chef (VIP package). For the most impressive presentation, the VIP private chef creates a tasting menu with multiple courses timed to scenic moments during the cruise.

The drink selection sets the mood for your charter. Basic (Essential): Turkish tea, coffee, and water. Premium: wine (Turkish reds and whites), beer (Efes, craft options), spirits (rakı, vodka, whisky, gin), soft drinks, juices. VIP: everything in Premium plus champagne (Moët or equivalent), premium spirits, and cocktail service. Turkish rakı — the national spirit — is a classic Bosphorus drink; served with cold water and ice, it turns milky white (earning the nickname 'lion's milk'). For celebrations, champagne towers or custom cocktails can be arranged. Non-alcoholic options are always comprehensive: fresh juices, Turkish ayran (salted yogurt drink), homemade lemonade, and premium teas.

All yacht catering can accommodate dietary needs. Vegetarian menus feature meze platters (naturally veggie-heavy in Turkish cuisine — recognized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism as intangible cultural heritage —), grilled vegetable kebabs, and Turkish salads. Vegan options include hummus, rice-stuffed vegetables, grilled aubergine, and fresh fruit. Gluten-free guests can enjoy all grilled items and most meze (börek excluded). Halal food is standard — Turkish cuisine is inherently halal. Kosher arrangements can be made with advance notice. Allergies should be communicated when booking — the chef or catering team adjusts the menu accordingly. For custom dietary requirements, the VIP private chef creates a fully personalized menu around your needs. Dietary requirements are taken seriously across all catering tiers — halal preparation is standard on all Turkish menu items, vegetarian and vegan menus are fully developed alternatives rather than afterthoughts, and allergen-free options including gluten-free and nut-free are available with 48 hours advance notice, ensuring every guest aboard can enjoy the dining experience fully.

The Turkish culinary tradition is perfectly suited to yacht dining, where fresh ingredients and dramatic presentation meet the Bosphorus backdrop. Our catering menus feature classic Ottoman court dishes reimagined for modern palates — think lamb shank braised in pomegranate molasses, stuffed vine leaves with aromatic rice, and whole grilled levrek (sea bass) sourced from the morning fish market. Meze platters are the perfect starter for yacht dining: hummus, acılı ezme (spicy tomato paste), haydari (strained yogurt with herbs), and sigara böreği (crispy cheese rolls) are arranged on hand-painted ceramic boards. For dessert, we serve fresh baklava from Istanbul's legendary confectioners alongside künefe (shredded pastry with melted cheese and syrup) that our chef prepares on board. Turkish tea and coffee service continues throughout the cruise, with the option of a traditional Turkish coffee fortune-reading session that guests absolutely love. Every dish is prepared using recipes refined over our 24 years of hosting guests from around the world.

While Turkish cuisine is the star of most yacht dinners, we offer extensive international menu options for diverse groups and corporate events. Our Italian-Turkish fusion menu is particularly popular — featuring risotto made with local Black Sea hazelnuts, Mediterranean grilled seafood platters, and tiramisu with Turkish coffee. For Asian-influenced menus, our chefs prepare sushi and sashimi using fresh Bosphorus fish, complemented by Thai-inspired appetizers and Japanese-style grilled wagyu. Western classic options include premium beef tenderloin, lobster tail, and gourmet burger stations for casual yacht parties. All menus can be customized for dietary restrictions — we regularly prepare fully vegan yacht dinners, halal-certified feasts for Gulf visitors, and allergen-conscious meals for guests with specific needs. Beverage packages range from Turkish wines from Cappadocia and Thrace vineyards to premium international spirits, craft cocktails designed around the cruise theme, and comprehensive non-alcoholic selections including fresh-squeezed juices and artisan mocktails.

Our morning Bosphorus cruises feature one of Istanbul's great traditions — the Turkish breakfast spread. Imagine sailing past the Maiden's Tower as you enjoy a table laden with multiple cheeses, olives from the Aegean, fresh-baked simit and pide bread, kaymak (clotted cream) with honey, menemen (Turkish-style scrambled eggs), sucuklu yumurta (eggs with Turkish sausage), and unlimited çay served in traditional tulip glasses. The Turkish breakfast is more than a meal — it's a social ritual, and experiencing it on the Bosphorus elevates it to something truly unforgettable. Our brunch option extends the morning menu with international additions: smoked salmon, eggs Benedict, fresh fruit platters, and specialty coffee from Istanbul's best roaster. Brunch cruises depart at 10 AM and follow a relaxed 2.5-hour route, making them perfect for weekend visitors who want to combine sightseeing with a world-class meal. Families particularly love this option — children enjoy watching the ships and seabirds while parents relax with the most scenic breakfast in Istanbul.

Istanbul's culinary culture is inherently accommodating of diverse dietary needs, and our yacht catering extends this tradition with comprehensive options for every requirement. Halal dining is the default for our Turkish menu — all meats are halal-certified, making Muslim guests completely comfortable without any special requests needed. Vegetarian and vegan menus draw on Turkey's rich tradition of olive oil-based dishes (zeytinyağlılar): stuffed vine leaves, imam bayıldı (braised eggplant), mercimek köftesi (red lentil patties), and seasonal vegetable dishes that are so flavorful even committed carnivores request them. Gluten-free guests enjoy naturally gluten-free Turkish staples: grilled meats and fish, rice pilavs, meze dips, and fresh salads — we substitute bread with gluten-free alternatives from our partner bakery. Kosher catering is available with 72-hour advance notice through our certified kosher kitchen partner. For allergies — nut, shellfish, dairy, soy, or any other — our chef reviews every ingredient and can modify any menu item. Children's menus are available for younger guests who prefer simpler options alongside the adult spread. We ask all guests to inform us of dietary needs at booking — not because we can't accommodate last-minute requests, but because advance notice lets us prepare exceptional alternatives rather than just safe ones.