Pandeli Restaurant Restoration, Istanbul

Pandeli Restaurant, opened during the years of the First World War, holds the distinction of being Türkiye’s first tourism-certified restaurant. Situated at the entrance of the Spice Bazaar, the restaurant is characterized by an interior environment defined by turquoise-toned Iznik tiles that form a key component of its visual identity.

Within the scope of the restoration completed in 2018, İznik Mavi Çini undertook the renewal of damaged and detached Iznik tiles within the restaurant. A total of 226 tiles, produced in varying colors and dimensions, were reproduced in accordance with the original applications. Throughout the production and implementation process, the existing surfaces of the interior and the overall visual continuity of the space served as the primary reference.

The restoration approach focused on maintaining the continuity between the tile surfaces and the restaurant’s interior environment. All reproduced tiles were evaluated in direct relation to the existing architectural context, ensuring that the renewed elements remained consistent with the spatial character of the restaurant.

“Tile restoration in historic interiors represents not only surface repair, but the preservation of spatial memory.”

— “İznik Mavi Çini, Senior Restoration Workshop Manager”