İstanbul has a special place in my heart, definitely deserves more posts, hopefully I'll write someday :)
- My favourite activity is just a walk in Bosphorus, particularly in European side, "sahil şeridi" .There is very nice path from Arnavutköy to Bebek and Bebek to Rumelihisarı for short walk, but you can extend it from Rumelihisarı to İstinye, Tarabya and Yenikoy for longer ones.
- My other favourite activity is a brunch in Bosphorus, especially in Rumelihisarı, Kale cafe and Nar cafe.
- I like Bebek very much. Cafe Nero in Bebek is the most beautiful place in the world to have a cup of coffee :)
- We mostly prefer Arnavutköy for fish restaurants, particularly Adem Baba and Takanik are very good and not expensive ones but there is no alcohol in both. For raki-balık, you can perefer Sur Balık in Arnavutköy, Set Balık in Tarabya, Doğa Balık in Cihangir, or Tarihi Karaköy Balıkçısı
- You should see the bosphorus view from the top. Galata Tower has a breathtaking view. There are also many restaurants with amazing Bosphorus view around Beyoglu. My favourites are Leb-i Derya Richmond (on top of Richmond Hotel in İstiklal Street), 360, Mikla (top of the Marmara Pera Hotel), which is very expensive but a kind of fine dining restaurant in İstanbul. Indeed, there are more terrace alternatives in summer.
- In Istiklal Street, there is a restaurant, Hacı Baba to taste classical Turkish cuisine, it is very close to Taksim Square.
- I would recommend a liver restaurant, Canım Ciğerim, serves liver şiş with many side dishes,in Istiklal Street, no:62
- Again around İstiklal street, you can find classical kebap-ocakbaşı restaurants, Umut Ocakbaşı and Zübeyir Ocakbaşı
- My other favourite restaurant in Beyoglu is a chicken restaurant, Bibucuk .
- You can find many clubs, bars performing live-music based on your preference around Beyoglu.
- There are some good jazz clubs in Kuledibi, around Galata Tower, like Nardis and Atölye Kuledibi.
- Babylon, Beyoğlu Hayal Kahvesi, Ghetto are nice places to listen live-music.
- Venta del Torro is a tapas restaurant, has average food and good sangria. On Saturdays a Cuban group, Los Chicos de Cuba, performs there, they are really good.
- Another kebap restaurant, Tavacı Recep Usta in Etiler. It serves different kinds of kebaps from East of Anatolia, has very good side dishes.
- Karaköy is part of the old town, just the other side of Galata Bridge and very close to Galata Tower. You can taste baklava and borek there in Güllüoğlu, go to an old restaurant, Karaköy Lokantası or try to a new, modern, gurme restaurant Maya.
- Nişantaşı is chic and more expensive area. It is good for shopping, especially for luxury shopping but Turkey is very expensive for luxury shopping comparing to Germany. You can find lots of fine restaurants around Nişantaşı.
- Asian side;
- You should definitely go to Çiya Restaurant in Kadıköy. They serves really good food from South part of Turkey, especially from Antakya area.
- There are many small fish restaurants in Caddebostan. Bağdat Street is one of the famous street and have many cafes, restaurants, shops there.
- Çengelköy would be different experience comparing to European side, there is a typical Turkish kahve in Çengelköy, Çınaraltı Kahvesi, which has good view and good to see classical Anatolian kahve culture.
- If you have time, you should see Princess Islands, especially Büyükada. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princes'_Islands)
Please send me your places in İstanbul...
Have a lovely times in İstanbul ...
