There are plenty of places in London to find excellent Turkish food. Green Lanes and Dalston, for instance, have long been go-to destinations for piled-high plates of grilled meats, fluffy flatbreads and generous portions designed for sharing. Nora, however, is doing something a little different and, as much as we’d like to, we can’t gatekeep it.
Opened in late 2025 in Wood Wharf, Canary Wharf, Nora is a modern Turkish restaurant from brothers Ozgur and Sidar Akyuz, the team behind popular North London brunch favourite Beam. Rather than offering a broad sweep of Turkish classics, it takes its inspiration from Istanbul specifically, bringing together the best of the city’s street-food carts, neighbourhood mangal grill houses, traditional family recipes and contemporary dining scene.
The kitchen is headed up by Daniel Alt, whose impressive CV spans The Barbary, Ottolenghi and Michelin-starred Pied à Terre. His love of Middle Eastern cooking and flame-led techniques is evident throughout the menu, helping Nora earn a place in the Michelin Guide within months of opening. Safe to say, expectations were high.
A Stylish Turkish Restaurant In Canary Wharf
Having visited Istanbul several times, I’ve always loved how central food is to the city’s culture. It’s vibrant, social and endlessly delicious. Locals gather around tables for hours, sharing plates and inventive cocktails long into the evening before moving on to strong coffee and sweet pastries somewhere nearby.
Nora captures that feeling brilliantly, but gives it a polished East London edge. Designed by Ola Jachymiak Studio, the restaurant blends warm timber, sculptural curves, mid-century furniture and Anatolian textiles to create a space that feels both contemporary and inviting.
Inside, dark red tones, retro-inspired prints and soft lighting create an atmosphere that’s equally suited to a romantic date night or a long catch-up with friends. High tables line the windows, while a central bar encourages diners to settle in for another drink rather than rush for the bill.
We visited on one of London’s hottest evenings of the year, making the terrace impossible to resist. Looking out across Wood Wharf, this side of Canary Wharf felt surprisingly residential. Dog walkers strolled by, groups gathered for dinner and drinks, and there was a genuine neighbourhood feel that challenged every preconception I had about the area.
What To Order At Nora Canary Wharf
The menu is designed for sharing, starting with house-baked breads and dips before moving into small plates, medium plates and larger dishes. We began with warm breads, including sesame and caraway pide and grilled bazlama. Both were soft, pillowy and served warm: the perfect pairing with dips on the table.
The courgette borani with curry leaf oil was fresh, creamy and incredibly moreish, while the aubergine and pepper kizartma with feta delivered a deeper, smoky richness. It’s the sort of combination that immediately justifies ordering another round of bread – and trust us, we did.
The octopus with smoked yoghurt and curry leaf was one of the early standouts. Octopus can sometimes be too rich or too chewy, but this was beautifully tender, with the yoghurt balancing everything out. It’s easy to see Chef Alt’s influence here, with smoke, char and acidity used to elevate familiar flavours without making them feel overworked.
The only disappointment of the evening was missing out on the pulled lamb manti with confit garlic, yoghurt and tarka oil. I’d already seen it making the rounds online and had mentally committed to ordering it, only to discover it had sold out. While heartbreaking at the time, it also felt like a pretty good sign that Nora’s popularity shows no signs of slowing down.
The Standout Mains
For mains, we embraced comfort food. The slow-cooked lamb was the Turkish equivalent of our Sunday roast, served with bulgur wheat and sweet pickled onions. It was rich, soft and melt-in-the-mouth.
The coffee-rubbed chicken shish was another clever dish. Despite the coffee element, it was not overpowering or bitter. Instead, it added a subtle savoury depth, lifted by a sweet tomato and kumquat jam that made the whole thing feel balanced.
The crispy potatoes were also excellent: golden, crushed and full of flavour, made even better when dragged through the accompanying oil. A fresh salad of tomato, cucumber, onion and radish with a citrusy feta dressing helped cut through the richness and brought everything back into balance.
Turkish Wine, Cocktails And Sweets
Drinks deserve just as much attention as the food. Nora’s wine list shines a spotlight on Turkey and neighbouring regions, which feels refreshingly different in a city where Turkish wines are still relatively underrepresented. I opted for a chilled Turkish red by the glass, which paired beautifully with the richer dishes and offered something a little different from the usual restaurant wine list.
There are also cocktails inspired by Turkish flavours, alongside thoughtful local touches such as beer from Dalston’s 40FT Brewery. It’s a small detail, but one that nicely reflects Nora’s blend of Istanbul inspiration and East London location.
Turkish food culture is famously sweet, and while baklava would have been the obvious choice, we opted for the honey tart with kaymak. Rich, indulgent and unapologetically sweet, it was the kind of dessert that transports you to the city’s infamous dessert spots.
Served alongside traditional Turkish coffee, it provided the perfect ending to the meal. A word of warning, though: try the coffee before reaching for the sugar. If you’re anything like me, you may find it’s sweet enough already…
Is Nora Canary Wharf Worth Visiting?
Absolutely. Nora is best approached as a sharing restaurant. Portions are generous, the breads are essential and it’s surprisingly easy to over-order. Pace yourself, order gradually and leave room for dessert.
It works just as well for date night as it does for group dinners, offering something a little different from the usual Canary Wharf dining scene. Most importantly, it doesn’t feel like a restaurant you’ve “done” after one visit. The menu evolves regularly, the cooking feels thoughtful and creative, and there are already several dishes I’d happily return for.
For a part of London often associated with glass towers and after-work drinks, Nora brings warmth, personality and a welcome taste of Istanbul.
Book your table here.