1 – Miss Pizza
A small pizza house in Cihangir with a cosy atmosphere serving delicious thin crust pizza. Pizza with zucchini and pizza with artichoke(!) are the most recommended ones. Turn left when you come to Cihangir from Taksim Sq. through Sıraselviler; it’s just on the second left street.

2 – Pizzeria 14
Another small pizza house offering tasty pizza with various choices from marine (with crab, smoked salmon and rocket) to marinara (no cheese, only tomato , pesto and thyme). It’s in Nisantası – Guzelbahce Street No.14 very close to American Hospital.

3 – Pizzeria Pidos
Pizza house with menu of great variety of delicious Italian food from salad to deserts. Pizza Filetto – with filet, rocket and mozarella – is highly recommended. It’s very close to Taksim Square, in Dunya Saglik Street No 13 Gumussuyu.

4 – House Cafe
Choose pizza from the extensive menu of House Cafe – Ortakoy and you won’t be sorry at a “feel at home” atmosphere and a wonderful sea view. House Cafe has many other branches for example in Beyoglu – Tunel, Tesvikiye and on the Anatolian side in Caddebostan (also a seaview). Check here for all branches.

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1 – Pano

The place is the main attraction area for wine loving students and young people who go out with their crowded group of friends. The Pano No.10 is the popular house wine and if you are also hungry, shrimp casserole and butcher meatballs are recommended. It is located in Galatasaray, Kalyoncu Kulluk Street no.4 – the street just in the opposite of Galatasaray College on the right of Istiklal Avenue from Taksim.

2 – Viktor Levi

The neighbour of Pano serving various wine, which is most famous for Viktor Levi No.59 made of Bogazkere/Okuzgozu grapes. Most people prefer this winehouse not only for drinking but also for a dinner. This winehouse has also a branch in the Anatolian side – Kadikoy Moda Damaci Street.

3 – Isis

The fourth floor of Isis which is also a cafe bar is a wine house having a variety of more than 150 wine choices with origins of more than 10 countries. The most preferred local wines are Sarafin Merlot and Antik. During the winter, you can also sip your hot wine in front of the fire place. It’s on the right end of Kadife Street (The street of bars) in Moda – Kadıköy.

4 – Şarabi

Having a great variety of wine choices, Sarabi is a well-known wine house Beyoğlu with a modern decoration. Pasaj – a white wine is a popular choice, and Sarabi steak is another recommendation from the menu. The age gap of the crowd is wide, but mostly  young people prefer this wine house. It’s on the right of Istiklal Avenue just close to the entrance of “Cicek Passage”.

Büyük means big and it is the biggest of the Prince’s Islands. Trotsky lived on this island for four years in his exile like some of the Byzantian emperors.

1 – Rent a bike and tour the island:
You’ll see many bike renting shops in the center of Büyükada close to the marina. There are two routes for biking: One of them is Büyük Tur, which tours around the coast of the island (12 km), and Küçük Tur which is about half of the other one. With the longer route; you will have the chance to see the non-residential area of the island with a wonderful Marmara view. If you are couple, choose the two-seated bikes. The cost is around 10 TL for a few hours. You can chill out at a coffee after you’re done– Kahve Dünyası which is a coffee chain close to the marina having a good view, relaxing atmosphere and decent Turkish coffee.

2 – Visit Church of Saint George (Aya Yorgi):
Dating back from 1750s, the church is located on the top of a hill overlooking the island and the coast of Istanbul. You can reach very close to the church by a coach or by a bike; but the last 100 m of the route is a very steep one, and you should walk till the top. The church is a small and an old one but what you get is the wonderful view; while enjoying the scenery, you can eat at the outdoor restaurant, and taste the house wine.

3 – Jump on a coach and tour the island:
If you’d like to have a nostalgic tour in the island; you may hire a coach and make the Büyük Tur or the Küçük Tur. It would be more costly than a bike (around 30 YTL for half an hour journey).

4 – Eat Ice Cream at the Market:
Roma Dondurmacısı has the most popular ice cream in the island. Ice cream with figs and mastika are highly recommended.

Istanbul is famous with its breathtaking view of Bosphorus, day or night you must enjoy it with a nice cocktail at a roof.

We tried to list the best 4 roof bars in Istanbul for you as below;

1 – Lebiderya :

(Friday – Saturday 11:30 – 03:00 Other days 11:30 – 02:00)

It is at the top floor of Richmond Hotel on İstiklal avenue. All tables are Bosphorus view and beside the tables there is a large oval bar, where you can taste coctails specially prepared by fresh fruit and our suggestion will be ‘ Derya’ which is made of apple vodka, apple juice, mint, lemon and sugar.

Click here for reservations and directions.

2 – 360 :

(Week days 12.00 – 02:00 on weekends 15.00 – 04:00)

It is also on İstiklal avenue at the top of a popular 19th century apartment (Mısır apartmanı). Its name comes from its exclusive decoration all around is covered by large windows that enables you to enjoy the beautiful İstanbul view from 360 degree angles , at the weekends you can also enjoy live performances of DJs and professional dancers. We suggest 360 especially for bar after dinner .

For directions and reservations, click here.

3 – Vogue :

(Monday – Saturday 12:00 -02:00 / Sunday 10:30 – 01:00)

Vogue is located in Beşiktaş, on its large terrace you can enjoy the marvellous Bosphorus view and by the help of the large mirrors  view is also available indoors. They serve lunch and dinner and brunch on Sundays but also you can have only a Mohito at this lovely roof bar.

The restaurant/bar is located in Spor Cad.  BJK Plaza A Blok Floor: 13.

0 212 227 44 04

4 – Ceylan Inter Continental / City Lights Bar :

(Open everyday between 2:00 pm – 2:00 am)

Unique Bosphorus view very close to Taksim will accompany you to have a relaxed and enjoyable time. Exotic cocktails and tasty snacks will be offered with five star quality service.

Click here for directions.

1 – Babylon

Famous American jazz magazine Downbeat has listed Babylon among world’s best 100 jazz clubs in 2002 and 2004. It is also one of the venues for major jazz festivals in Istanbul. It’s located in Tunel – Asmalimescit Street – the end of Istiklal Caddesi before Galata. The program of Babylon is not always “jazz” it features from Balkan music to Cuban rapsters; but it is obviously the best indoor live music venue in Istanbul expressing the energetic side of the city.

2 – Ghetto

It’s a night club in a renovated historic building with beutiful, high ceilings and a cozy atmosphere. Live performances are available from Thursday to Saturday nights varying between Latin, jazz, funk, house music.

3 – Balans Music and Performance Hall

Just in front of Nevizade Street, with a good ambiance and music acoustic, Balans is one of the best places for live music in Istanbul. Live performers are mostly Turkish well-known groups, musicians and singers playing from rock to pop.

4 – Mojo

Mojo is a popular bar in Beyoğlu featuring local cover groups playing rock music. It can be too crowded in weekends full of university students, so Wednesdays are reccommended not for comfort but also for the famous local cover group Circus.

Bosphorus is always beautiful, especially in the mornings. It’s a great start for a day to have your breakfast with a view of Bosphorus, and the places below are the ones that you can enjoy the view and have a good breakfast. People in Istanbul mostly choose to have their breakfast outside their house on weekends, so if you want to skip the crowds, choose to go to these restaurants on weekdays.

1 – Bebek Cafe
A popular place for a long time, nothing luxurious, it is operated by the same people for years and everything is set up to get relaxed and listen to the Bosphorus. It is always busy and it is not easy to find a table next to the Bosphorus, you will enjoy your linden tea with your ‘peynirli simit’ (Turkish bagel with cheese).
It’s just next to the dock in Bebek, close to the park.

2 – Lokma
With its perfect location, this place serves breakfast from a menu of a lot of choices. Get your book with you and come to Lokma in the morning to see one of the best views from the European side, including the view of Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge on the Bosphorus. After breakfast, there’s also a beautiful walking route from Hisar to Bebek, Arnavutköy, and Ortaköy depending on how strong you got your breakfast.
From Taksim or Sultanahmet you should get to Kabatas by tram, and get on a bus to Rumeli Hisari – bus 22RE, there are also direct buses from Taksim. Taxi from Taksim should cost maximum 20 TL.

3 – Ortaköy House Cafe
House cafes are now 7 branches throughout İstanbul, all have the same comfortable large chairs with a low lounge music and finely selected dishes on a menu. If you would like to add also a beautiful view of Bosphorus bridge and Ortaköy Mosque that is the place, you can have a large breakfast with all the specialities but if you like the place (we bet you are) why don’t you also come for a sunset drink? Do not forget you will be just one meter away from the Bosphorus.
When you come to Ortakoy, anyone can give you directions to the House Cafe.

4 – Mangerie
Actually their style is similar to House Cafe located at Bebek – very popular place with nice cafes & restaurants, especially at weekend you will need a reservation to take your seat on the Bosphorus view large balcony, you will sip your tea with freshly baked bread and cakes.
It’s on Cevdetpasa Street 69, Bebek.

Authentic local cuisine of east Meditterenean and the city of Gaziantep is served here with an ultimate taste. Except for the kebabs, the menu changes everyday; the kebabs are also delicious but the rest of the menu is more unique. Eat as much as you can, the soups, the main courses with or without meat, salads, pilafs, desserts and sorbets are wonderful. The restaurant is located in a crowded street of Kadikoy – Guneslibahce Street No.43 walking distance from the harbour. Their website is inviting: http://www.ciya.com.tr/index_en.php

2- Haci Abdullah

A traditional restaurant in Istanbul with history of more than 100 years, Hacı Abdullah is one of the best places to taste traditional Turkish food. From the main courses Beğendili Kebap (kebab with eggplant puret), Elbasan Tava (lamb casserole with yoghurt) are the favorites. Check their website: http://www.haciabdullah.com.tr/wp-content/English/index.html

3 – Hünkar

The food is delicious and less olive is involved when compared to other traditional Turkish restaurants, so you do not feel discomfort even if you eat forcing your limits. You can see the varities of the menu from an open counter; and choose from there. Hünkar Beğendi (sultan’s delight, lamb stew served on mashed eggplant) would be good choice of main course. Oven baked rice pudding is also worth trying as a dessert.

4 – Abracadabra

You can taste modern interpretations of Turkish food at this prototype restaurant in a waterside residence. Most of the fresh and natural ingredients of the menu is directly brought from the producers, and provides a real taste. If you’re looking for experimenting Turkish food, first go to the classic ones (as above) to understand, then visit Abra Cadabra for well-modified versions. The restaurant is located on Arnavutkoy Street just across the dock of Arnavutkoy.