Nora brings a modern Turkish voice to Canary Wharf, led by brothers Ozgur and Sidar Akyuz. Inspired by the streets and kitchens of Istanbul, the restaurant draws on a wide range of culinary traditions, from fire cooking to delicate home recipes, all filtered through a contemporary lens. It marks a natural evolution for the duo behind Café Beam, pairing their signature hospitality with a more expansive vision.
The restaurant sits on a wide corner site with 130 covers inside and another 30 on the terrace. Designed by Ola Jachymiak Studio, the space is refined but unpretentious, with soft curves, Anatolian textiles and mid century furniture in warm woods and neutral tones. Floor to ceiling windows flood the room with daylight. In the evening, pendant and standing lamps add softness. At the centre, a long bar invites guests to begin with a cocktail before moving to the main room.
The food moves confidently between time honoured dishes and modern interpretations. Breads such as sesame and caraway pide and grilled bazlama are baked fresh daily and served with dips including strained yoghurt with cucumber and dill, and hummus topped with house sucuk and pine nuts. Spiced lamb börek comes with a sharp pepper yoghurt, while hellim is served warm with smoked olive oil and local honey. Elsewhere, there is crab rice dolma with preserved tomato and a delicate white carrot foam, and manti filled with leeks and mushrooms, topped with aged kasar.
The grill plays a central role. Adana köfte is made fresh to order, while larger sharing plates include one kilo cuts of ex dairy beef rib and line caught turbot. Cornish lamb loin, catch of the day and robata vegetables round out the fire cooked selection. Desserts are traditional, künefe with orange blossom and walnut baklava with pistachio and fig leaf cream.
The drinks list highlights wines from Turkey and neighbouring regions, alongside cocktails built around raki, saffron and sumac.
Nora balances modern form with deep roots. It offers food that feels generous and grounded, from a team that knows how to welcome guests without ever needing to say so.