Mona Supper Club

Mona’s Supper Club series returns this May with a special two-night culinary pop-up event that brings the soulful rhythm of Istanbul to the heart of Monastiraki.

On May 27 and 28 at 20:00, the downtown concept hotel — which has pioneered cross-cultural pop-up events in its award-winning spaces — will host Cenk Debensason and Debora Ipekel, the powerhouse duo behind Arkestra, Istanbul’s Michelin-starred restaurant and listening bar.

Renowned for their imaginative approach to dining and sonic curation, Cenk and Debora, life and business partners, are the heart and soul of Arkestra — a dynamic space that merges food, music, and exciting design. For two evenings only, Mona transforms into an extension of their world: refined, playful, and rooted in creative synergy. 

As one of the first restaurants in Turkey to receive a Michelin star, Arkestra has become Istanbul’s most exciting nights out — offering exceptional food and refined ambiance, all wrapped in a sense of laid-back fun. This spirit mirrors the journey of head chef Cenk Debensason: Turkish-born, French-trained, and U.S.-seasoned. Shaped by culinary legends like Alain Senderens and Gary Danko, Cenk’s path spans fine dining in San Francisco to a sold-out supper club in Los Angeles. His dishes blend classical technique with global flair, telling a story of tradition, travel, and personal expression.

At Mona, assisted by the team from Minu Athens, Cenk will present a bespoke menu that captures Arkestra’s genre-defying spirit and deep respect for local produce. As he puts it: “I’ll bring Arkestra’s playful yet refined approach to cooking, inspired by the sheer simplicity of Greek ingredients.” Debora, co-founder and acclaimed music curator, will complement the evening with an all-vinyl DJ set, channeling the eclectic grooves of Arkestra’s legendary Listening Room. 

With only 50 seats available per evening, guests will experience a family style tasting menu, fine natural wines, and immersive sonic journeys. Set in Mona’s atmospheric Living Room, the event is a sensorial immersion that fuses Athens and Istanbul — kitchens, cultures, and turntables — where the local scene gathers to connect and break bread. 

As one of the city’s most anticipated supper clubs, Mona is powered by creative studio House of Shila’s mission to foster cultural dialogue and cross-disciplinary exchange, spotlighting talent from the local to the global. In doing so, Mona continues to shape Athens’ evolving culinary landscape as a true celebration of creative expression.

ABOUT ARKESTRA

Opened in 2022, Arkestra is a Michelin-starred restaurant, listening room, and cocktail bar based in a 1960s villa in Istanbul. The brainchild of chef Cenk Debensason and music curator Debora Ipekel, Arkestra is an ever-evolving sensory destination where seasonal produce meets French technique, and sound is as central as flavor. From small plates at the bistro Ritmo to legendary DJ sets upstairs, Arkestra is a place to eat, meet, and move.

ABOUT CENK DEBENSASON

Cenk Debensason, born in Turkey is the co-founder and Head Chef at Arkestra. His career started in France training in Culinary Arts and Restaurant Management from the Institute Paul Bocuse in Lyon before touring the world to nurture his skills. He learned from some of the best restaurants such as Alain Senderens, Château de Bagnols, Maison Clovis, and Gary Danko. Cenk launched a pop-up dinner series in Los Angeles in 2013: ‘The Cartoonist’ before returning to his hometown of Istanbul in 2016. Before opening Arkestra, Cenk was head chef of cult favourite Petra and a culinary consultant for two years, whilst hosting a summer pop-up restaurant in Bodrum with partner Debora Ipekel. In 2022, Debensason and Ipekel opened Arkestra.

ABOUT DEBORA IPEKEL

Prior to moving to Istanbul and opening Arkestra, Debora was fully immersed in London’s vibrant music industry, working as an events programmer for Boiler Room and planning parties which spanned the globe. Opening a place of her own that merged food, music, drink and culture was always an overriding ambition, after a youth spent working in a London record store and DJing at bars, restaurants and clubs around Europe. Today sees her host a monthly show on NTS Radio, playing her genre defying picks, as well as running her record label Zel Zele.

ABOUT HOUSE OF SHILA & MONA SUPPER CLUBS

House of Shila (HOS) is a creative studio in pursuit of aesthetic pleasures. HOS creates distinctively designed spaces that act as laboratories of experiential storytelling — from boutique hotels like Mona and Shila to curated pop-up events, art residencies, publishing, and concept experiences. With locations in Athens, New York, and Skopelos Island, HOS connects a global community of artists, designers, chefs, and entrepreneurs, championing sensual beauty, craftsmanship, and cultural exchange.

Mona Supper Club is an ongoing dining series founded and curated by House of Shila, spotlighting global chefs paired with local culinary talent and in dialogue with Athens’ creative scene, Each gathering invites a chef to take over Mona’s Living Room to create their own gastronomic. Mona’s Supper Clubs have emerged as highly sought-after social events offering a taste of ephemeral brilliance, where old and new friends come together to connect.

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Visit Mona's Webiste HERE or Book Tickets HERE

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