The new restaurant is the latest venture from the mother-daughter team of Selin Bashelvaci and Devrim Bashelvaci, who opened Mimoza in San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter in 2023. Since launching downtown, Mimoza has built a following for its house-made Turkish and Mediterranean cuisine, offering everything from hummus, börek, kebabs and meze to grilled meats, seafood and traditional desserts, all served in a lively, colorful dining room inspired by Mediterranean hospitality. The restaurant is named after the bright yellow mimosa flower, a longtime symbol of International Women's Day, reflecting the family's women-owned business.
Mavi - which means "blue" in Turkish - takes its name from both the Turkish word for the color and La Jolla's coastal setting. According to owner Selin Bashelvaci, the name has long been reserved for the family's next restaurant and is intended to evoke the nearby Pacific Ocean.
While Mavi will share much of Mimoza's Mediterranean and Turkish culinary philosophy, it will feature several additions made possible by a larger kitchen and new equipment. Among the signature offerings will be Turkish pide, often described as Turkish pizza, baked fresh in a dedicated oven unavailable at the downtown location. Guests can also expect an expanded selection of kebabs, fresh-baked breads, charcuterie boards and a full cocktail program, with Bashelvaci emphasizing that virtually everything on the menu will be prepared in-house.
The project also aims to offer more than just dinner. Plans call for a hidden speakeasy tucked behind the main dining room, as well as live blues performances, reflecting Bashelvaci's favorite music genre and adding an evening entertainment component to the restaurant.
The move to La Jolla represents a strategic shift for the owners, who said they wanted to introduce their food to a neighborhood-driven clientele rather than relying primarily on downtown visitors. Bashelvaci, a graduate of UC San Diego, said her personal connection to La Jolla made the Village a natural choice for the family's second restaurant.
Mavi is expected to open this October at 7536 Fay Avenue in San Diego's La Jolla.
Originally published on July 31, 2026. Information first reported by Elisabeth Frausto of LaJolla.ca.
