Guidebook for Istanbul
Drinks & Nightlife
Varuna Gezgin is one of the best pub that you can find lots of different kinds of beer in Istanbul and the design of the bar and the terrace is also so cozy and comforting. Sometimes it can be too crowded but that's what a good place generally ends up :)
42 locals recommend
Varuna Gezgin Cafe - İstanbul
No:79 Kumbaracı Ykş.Varuna Gezgin is one of the best pub that you can find lots of different kinds of beer in Istanbul and the design of the bar and the terrace is also so cozy and comforting. Sometimes it can be too crowded but that's what a good place generally ends up :)
Pendor is the cornerstone of Taksim for me. It is one of the rare pub that stands after all the craziness of Turkey and Taksim. (I mean after the glorious gezi park protests, unfortune bombings, and the stupidest coup) Seriously %80 of the pubs closed in Taksim after these situations happened but pendor has been always there. Anyway my beloved bar. It's not a touristic or famous place but it has the music, the open air, the soul and the memories for me.. Lovely pub if you have enough time give it a try.
6 locals recommend
Pendor
25 Yeşilçam Sk.Pendor is the cornerstone of Taksim for me. It is one of the rare pub that stands after all the craziness of Turkey and Taksim. (I mean after the glorious gezi park protests, unfortune bombings, and the stupidest coup) Seriously %80 of the pubs closed in Taksim after these situations happened but pendor has been always there. Anyway my beloved bar. It's not a touristic or famous place but it has the music, the open air, the soul and the memories for me.. Lovely pub if you have enough time give it a try.
Nice corner place hidden from the Istiklal noise and people. I am not saying it is a quiet place but you are feeling relieved when you turn that corner and find Ziba there to grab a beer.
Every kind of music you can here there. The service and the people are the best.
17 locals recommend
Ziba
No:10 Akansu SkNice corner place hidden from the Istiklal noise and people. I am not saying it is a quiet place but you are feeling relieved when you turn that corner and find Ziba there to grab a beer.
Every kind of music you can here there. The service and the people are the best.
Best irish bar and the cosiest. Good food, okey service and the best place to watch rugby (if there is a match i mean) There are concerts on weekends sometimes irish folk music sometimes different. I totally think it is a winter bar :)
22 locals recommend
James Joyce Irish Pub
No:26 Balo Sk.Best irish bar and the cosiest. Good food, okey service and the best place to watch rugby (if there is a match i mean) There are concerts on weekends sometimes irish folk music sometimes different. I totally think it is a winter bar :)
The United Pub
No:26 Şht. Asım Cd.Good craft beers to cheer you up:)
Kosmos
No:19A Beşiktaş Cd.Nice place to have beer and pizza with friends.
Excuses Café Culture
No:27/1 Kadife Sk.My favourite open air bar at Kadıköy. Nice service, good music, fresh air
Magnificent wooden bar, great music every night.
You might even catch a good concert if you are lucky.
96 locals recommend
Karga Bar
No:16 Kadife Sk.Magnificent wooden bar, great music every night.
You might even catch a good concert if you are lucky.
Huge and fancy restaurant and pub of Beşiktaş. Not my favourite place since it is always crowded but i definitely suggest to go in the day time to see the beautiful design of the place or the night time if you are a party person ;)
41 locals recommend
Joker No.19
19 Beşiktaş Cd.Huge and fancy restaurant and pub of Beşiktaş. Not my favourite place since it is always crowded but i definitely suggest to go in the day time to see the beautiful design of the place or the night time if you are a party person ;)
Abbas
28 Altıntaş Sk.Local street bar, lovely people, cheap prices
Rakı place with a lovely athmosphere, great mezes (tapas) with delicious fish and beautiful bosphorus view.
Beşiktaşta Bir Meyhane
Rakı place with a lovely athmosphere, great mezes (tapas) with delicious fish and beautiful bosphorus view.
Food Scene
They have very delicious foods and desserts. I suggest İskender, içli köfte and künefe. Try these three very carefully because you won't be able to stop yourself while you are eating but then you won't be able to move so beware!!
36 locals recommend
Galata lily Cafe restaurant
no:69/A Lüleci Hendek Cd.They have very delicious foods and desserts. I suggest İskender, içli köfte and künefe. Try these three very carefully because you won't be able to stop yourself while you are eating but then you won't be able to move so beware!!
The best breakfast place in Taksim. To know what is a Turkish Breakfast you have to experience this place. Every plate has its own deliciousness. And if you try once i am sure you will go again. Try menemen and pişi;)
148 locals recommend
Van Kahvaltı Evi
52/A Defterdar Ykş.The best breakfast place in Taksim. To know what is a Turkish Breakfast you have to experience this place. Every plate has its own deliciousness. And if you try once i am sure you will go again. Try menemen and pişi;)
Great service and best falafel.. If you want to grab a quick, cheap and delicious bite you are in the right place :)
6 locals recommend
Falafel Koy
29 Kumbaracı Ykş.Great service and best falafel.. If you want to grab a quick, cheap and delicious bite you are in the right place :)
One of the most delicious restaurants in Beyoğlu. You can order it to home as well by the app yemeksepeti.
65 locals recommend
Galata Kitchen
9 B Tatar Beyi Sk.One of the most delicious restaurants in Beyoğlu. You can order it to home as well by the app yemeksepeti.
Ficcin
No:13/1 Kallavi Sk.A cosy and very lovely restaurant/meyhane. Foods and mezes are amazing.
One of the best kebap place on Istiklal. I suggest you to try their own ayran (açık ayran) and çöp şiş dürüm (wrapped çöp şiş)
21 locals recommend
Mangal Keyfi
8 Öğüt Sk.One of the best kebap place on Istiklal. I suggest you to try their own ayran (açık ayran) and çöp şiş dürüm (wrapped çöp şiş)
If you want to have The Turkish breakfast and the best kaymak, you definetely should try this beautiful and cozy place.
12 locals recommend
Çakmak Kahvaltı Salonu
No:6 Çelebi Oğlu Sk.If you want to have The Turkish breakfast and the best kaymak, you definetely should try this beautiful and cozy place.
Edirne Ciğercisi Naci Usta
No:111/a Ihlamurdere Cd.Best liver place of Istanbul is just at the bottom floor of our building.
if you like vegan food or tapas, the small place in front of our building will make you well satisfied.
Annem Zeytinyağlı Meze
if you like vegan food or tapas, the small place in front of our building will make you well satisfied.
Arts & Culture
A tower you can see all aroun Istanbul.. Immm actually not anymore. Thanks to the monstrous buildings which are eating Istanbul alive you can't anymore but still you can see it around the historical peninsula (they didn't killed there yet)
I have never been on the top but you can try if you are open to wait long line. I am sure the view is good but i am not able to wait.
1235 locals recommend
Galata Tower
A tower you can see all aroun Istanbul.. Immm actually not anymore. Thanks to the monstrous buildings which are eating Istanbul alive you can't anymore but still you can see it around the historical peninsula (they didn't killed there yet)
I have never been on the top but you can try if you are open to wait long line. I am sure the view is good but i am not able to wait.
Lovely mysterious underground place with water and medusas. I don't really like hystorical seesightings but this one is my favourite :)
638 locals recommend
Basilica Cistern
1/3 Yerebatan Cd.Lovely mysterious underground place with water and medusas. I don't really like hystorical seesightings but this one is my favourite :)
Shopping
Food, drinks, clothes, souvenirs etc
The oldest and the biggest open shopping mall of the world. If you go, years later the name Kapalı Çarşı will echo with the smell of spices and coffee to your mind. Try not to get stiffed by the lamp/carpet sellers ;)
810 locals recommend
Grand Bazaar
Beyazıt CaddesiThe oldest and the biggest open shopping mall of the world. If you go, years later the name Kapalı Çarşı will echo with the smell of spices and coffee to your mind. Try not to get stiffed by the lamp/carpet sellers ;)
An open living street with everything in it. Cinemas, theaters, restaurants, bars, cafes, shopping malls, game center etc. It has been the retail street of Istanbul for ages.
692 locals recommend
Istiklal Caddesi
İstiklal CaddesiAn open living street with everything in it. Cinemas, theaters, restaurants, bars, cafes, shopping malls, game center etc. It has been the retail street of Istanbul for ages.
You can find thousands of different spices from all around the world. You willl find the different traditional tastes of Turkey as well. The atmosphere and the smell of the çarşı will remain in your memory forever..
449 locals recommend
Spice Bazaar
92 Erzak Ambarı Sok.You can find thousands of different spices from all around the world. You willl find the different traditional tastes of Turkey as well. The atmosphere and the smell of the çarşı will remain in your memory forever..
Getting Around
Tophane station
Tram goes from here to the historical peninsula.
Closest metro to my place. You will come/go from/to the Atatürk airport to this stop if you are going to use metro.
86 locals recommend
Sishane
32 Dr. Bedii Gorbon Sk.Closest metro to my place. You will come/go from/to the Atatürk airport to this stop if you are going to use metro.
Parks & Nature
Another face of Istanbul. Hippiest place in town. Green, free and caring. Also if you are lucky, it is next to a concert hall (Küçükçiftlik Park) so you can hear the concert as you are in the hall.
140 locals recommend
Maçka Parkı
Another face of Istanbul. Hippiest place in town. Green, free and caring. Also if you are lucky, it is next to a concert hall (Küçükçiftlik Park) so you can hear the concert as you are in the hall.
Fındıklı Park
No:14 Somuncu Sk.Amazing bosphorus view with tea and seagulls
Once upon a time, there was a park where the nature and money fight.
179 locals recommend
Taksim Gezi Park
Tak-ı Zafer CaddesiOnce upon a time, there was a park where the nature and money fight.
Abbasağa Park
Abbasağa ParkıNice and quiet park in the middle of the chaos of Beşiktaş
Sightseeing
Rebel Zone of Istanbul. It is a great neighbourhood. If you want to experience the day time or night time or free locals life it is the place. You can do shopping, you can have a wide variety of delicious food. You can find so many cool pubs. It's the miniature Istanbul in a good way.
126 locals recommend
Beşiktaş
Rebel Zone of Istanbul. It is a great neighbourhood. If you want to experience the day time or night time or free locals life it is the place. You can do shopping, you can have a wide variety of delicious food. You can find so many cool pubs. It's the miniature Istanbul in a good way.
The meeting point and it has a long history. It is the door to the Istiklal Street which is the most famous shopping and entertainment street of Turkey. Crowd can eat you be carefull.
1705 locals recommend
Taksim Square
The meeting point and it has a long history. It is the door to the Istiklal Street which is the most famous shopping and entertainment street of Turkey. Crowd can eat you be carefull.
Eminönü
Eminönü is a historical and popular shopping area of Istanbul.
One part of Karaköy has lovely atmosphere and beautiful cafe and bars, other part has ferries to anywhere and fish restaurants and delicious fish bread by the Goldenhorn.
252 locals recommend
Karaköy
One part of Karaköy has lovely atmosphere and beautiful cafe and bars, other part has ferries to anywhere and fish restaurants and delicious fish bread by the Goldenhorn.
Beautiful atmosphere, lots of cafes and bars and many small souvenir shops around for your loved ones in Galata Area.
200 locals recommend
Galata
Beautiful atmosphere, lots of cafes and bars and many small souvenir shops around for your loved ones in Galata Area.
Topkapi Palace
Hard to enter, hard to leave..
Grand Bazaar is the oldest shopping center and the first bank of the world. Meet with this 600 years old georgeous and mysterious building.
810 locals recommend
Grand Bazaar
Beyazıt CaddesiGrand Bazaar is the oldest shopping center and the first bank of the world. Meet with this 600 years old georgeous and mysterious building.
Basilica Cistern
1/3 Yerebatan Cd.Just enter the secrets of history with Yerebatan stairs.