Here's my top ten of outdoor cafés in Istanbul. Some of the places in this article offer you a chance to experience history and mysticism, others offer an escapade to serenity in the middle of the hectic city life. It's very unlikely you can try them all out during your visit, but I'm sure you'll find a few that are just what you were looking for. Çorlulu Ali Paşa This is … [Read more...]
Top 10 Fish Restaurants in Istanbul
Time has come to recommend the ten best fish restaurants in Istanbul. Previously I already let you in on some secrets to pick a fresh fish, so now I'll share where you can consume their fresh catch. Some establishments are chic and elite, some are unpretentious and moderate. However, they are all experts and very skillful when it comes to preparing fish. They'll be a great … [Read more...]
Top 5 Esnaf Lokantası (Tradesman Restaurants) in Istanbul
An Esnaf Lokantası (Tradesman Restaurant) offers a nice variety of dishes at very moderate prices. The emphasis lies on pleasing the regular customers, who are mostly working people. Some locals prefer to go there for breakfast before work, but most will visit an esnaf lokantası during the lunch break. Others stop by for dinner before they return home or a night out. In every … [Read more...]
Nargile or Turkish Water Pipe – 500 Years of Smoking Tradition
The Turkish water pipe or nargile (sometimes also called a hookah or hubble-bubble) has been around for centuries. Contrary to popular belief, it is not an instrument to smoke hashish or any other drug. The only products used are different flavors of (Turkish) tobacco. There is nothing shady about this 500 year smoking tradition. It's just a great way to slow life down and … [Read more...]
What to Drink in Istanbul?
In Istanbul you have a wide variety of local drinks to try out -- hot or cold, with or without alcohol. Some of them will sound and look familiar but come with a Turkish twist, such as tea or coffee. Others will be new to you and are well worth a try to please your taste buds. Among those are ayran, boza and other juices. In the alcoholic department, rakı is the undisputed … [Read more...]