Iskender Kebap is one of the most favuorite kebaps in Turkey. In simple terms it’s made of thin-sliced meats (doner) with yoghurt, pita and butter sauce. But, obviously it’s more than that!!

1 – Kebapci Iskender
The founder of iskender kebap having the privilege to legally use the name “Iskender” comes from the family owning this restaurant since 1867. The restaurant origins from another city – Bursa, and most of the materials from yoghurt to pita comes from Bursa. The only choice in the menu is iskender kebap. It is located in Kadikoy close to the harbour, next to the main post office and has also branch in Erenkoy – Bağdat Street.

2 – Uludag Kebapcisi
Another restaurant originating from city of Bursa specialized on Iskender Kebap considered as the best for some of the gurme in Turkey. Boiling butter dressing the kebap is said to provide this unique taste. Some people used to travel more than 200 km from Istanbul to Bursa just to eat this phenomenol iskender kebap, but now it has a branch in Istanbul. One of the branch is behind the Carrefour in Kozyatagi, and there is also a branch in a popular street – Nispetiye in Etiler.

3 – Niyazibey Kebap
Another Anatolian-side iskender kebap restaurant Niyazibey is considered to offer one of the best iskender kebap in Turkey. The menu is varied, you can try Niyazibey special – a larger size of iskender kebap with various type of meat. Here is the list of branches.

4 – Uludag Et Lokantası
This first branch of this restaurant is founded in Ankara, and this restaurant has a branch in Florya – a neighbourhood close to Ataturk Airport. The restaurant has a huge garden with a capacity of 2.000 – sometimes full of people – giving you a hint how delicious the iskender kebap is.

April is one of the best months to visit Istanbul with full of surprises. The weather can be uncertain, but from the flowers around, you will feel the spring has arrived.

1 – 29th Istanbul International Film Festival

This year it will be held between 3-18 April  and we will start to wait for the ticket queues, spend time at cafes around theaters and try to catch the ferry to catch the film on different side of Europe or Asia; in any case we will enjoy our days very much by this festival. Tickets are available through internet by biletix and at the theaters in Beyoğlu and Kadikoy. 

2 – David Guetta concert on 10th of April

Grammy awarded music star David Guetta is coming to Istanbul for a great concert which will be held at Kücükciftlik Park at Maçka and we are ready to sing the ” I got a feeling” under the stars. (Hopefully if it doesn’t rain!).

3 -  23rd of April National Sovereignty and Children’s day

Another unique event in Turkey & Istanbul. It is a national holiday gifted to children by the founder of Turkish Republic – Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Different ceremonies throughout Turkey are held and also many children from other countries join these ceremonies.

4 -  WWE Smackdown show

This is the first time we welcome the wrestlers in İstanbul. They will be in Istanbul as per Wrestle Mania Revenge Tour on 18th of April at Abdi İpekçi sports center, if you are interested you need to hurry up, tickets are available at
biletix

There are many boutique hotels in Istanbul that, it is not easy to classify them. We tried to sort the best 4 boutique hotels located at the city center as below;

1 – Housez Suites & Apartments

Located at the heart of the city on a very chic district between Nişantaşı and Beşiktaş. 24 very comfortable suites with reasonable prices and delicious organic breakfast. If you would like see the new face of Istanbul there is not any better choice. They aim to provide their guests with a delightful, peaceful and safe environment, and to maximize their satisfaction throughout their stay.

2 – The Sofa Hotel

Another chic boutique hotel located in Nisantası, İstanbul’s most popular shopping, entertainment and gourmet center. The Sofa offers a new generation of luxury accommodation within walking distance to international brands, distinguished restaurants, bars, cafés and the town’s newest and most prestigious shopping mall, City’s. The Sofa has 82 guest rooms, including 17 Executive Suites. While elaborately answering the requirements of a sophisticated city life, the rooms offer a combi-nation of new technology and comfort, peace and exclusive personal services.

3 – Sarı Konak

Hotel Sari Konak, ideally located in Sultanahmet, the center of the old city, is a family run boutique hotel  taking pride in offering its guests a charming “home away from home” in Istanbul ; with many guests returning on a regular basis.

4 – Yeşil Ev

This unique mansion very quickly attained a world-wide reputation and was awarded in 1985 the medal for the year by Europa Nostra. Yesil Ev had, indeed, introduced the concept of true comfort and hygiene to this “derelict” district and opened a new epoch in Turkish tourism by combining modern standards with historical style. It is furnished in the style of a 19th century winter mansion, and has a charming pool in pink porphyry in its Garden full of colorful flowers and high trees. Yesil Ev offers visitors the warm, friendly atmosphere of an old Istanbul home in one of the most breath taking historic sites in the world.

Known as one of the best live performance stage, Babylon has an extensive program in December with worldwide known artists. You can see the whole program of Babylon here.

1 – Delinquent Habits
Delinquent Habits made it to the top of Latin-Hip Hop in the latter half of the 90’s. Their debut “Delinquent Habits” combined Hip Hop beats with Funk trumpets and sold over 1 million copies and has achieved “hip hop classic” status the success. Their new album “The Common Man” is more critical and harsh but the hot groove and the catchy lyrics make it clear: Delinquent Habits knows how to party.

Warm-up & After Party with DJake
Standing 30TL, Students 20TL, December 4th 22.00

2 – Nigel Kennedy Quintet ” Jimi Hendrix Experience”
Music world’s rebel souled punk artists Nigel Kennedy is performing at Babylon for three nights! Accepted as one of the best living violinists, Kennedy commemorates Jimmy Hendrix songs with his last project. His “Vivaldi The Four Seasons” album which was realeased in 1989, sold over two million records and took place in Guiness Record book. Performed with The Who, commemorated The Doors and Jimi Hendrix, don’t miss this unique classic performance!

Standing 60 TL Student 50 TL Table 90 TL, Dec 9th 21.30, Dec 10th 21.30, Dec 11th 23.00

3 – SMADJ featuring Erik Truffaz & Talvin Singh “Selin”
Fusion expert, lute player & electronic music producer Smadj released his new album “Selin” where he will perform with trompet master Erik Truffaz and Talvin Singh. The album reflects Smadj’s impression of Istanbul. Hear the new songs from Smadj with Truffaz and Singh at Babylon.

Standing 25 TL Student 15 TL, Dec 17th 21.30

4 – İlhan Erşahin’s İstanbul Sessions featuring Erik Truffaz
İlhan Erşahin’s Istanbul Sessions project, which is going to be released soon, makes a quick entry to 2009/2010 season. World wide known musical identity “İlhan Erşahin” with his style created by saxophone and Rhodes, enriched with groovy bass of Alp Ersönmez and accompanied by drums of Turgut Alp and agile rhythms of İzzet Kızıl, will be will be performing with surprising guests at Babylon such as Erik Truffaz.

Standing 35 TL Student 25 TL, Dec 18th 21.00 and 00.00, Dec 19th 21.00 and 00.00

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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Most sections of Istanbul are not very suitable for cycling because it’not a city located on a plain ground and also the motorways do not allow cyclers to ride safely in all that mess. But we can stil recommend you a few routes to enjoy a bike tour, but you should be careful because the car drivers are not very familiar with bikers. Always wear your helmet and ride safely.

1 – Buyukada (Princess Islands)
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, you can choose the tandem bikes. The cost is around 10 TL for a couple of hours.

2 – Kartal – Fenerbahce
The 10 km coast on the Anatolian side, has a designated road on the pavement for bikers, so you can enjoy the view of the Princess Islands and the Marmara Sea while riding your bike.

3 – Beşiktaş – Belgrad Forest
It’s a difficult route first strating in Beşiktaş from the harbour passing through Ortakoy, Arnavutkoy, Bebek and Istinye on the motorway with a wonderful Bosphorus view; then from Ferahevler to the inside of Belgrad Forest. The route takes about 3 hours one-way with a few breaks to rest; and you should better have a mountain bike to ride in the pathways of Belgrad. There are many cafes in the coast to chill on the way back to Beşiktaş.

4 – Polonezkoy BMX Cycle Track
If you like adrenaline and would like to jump on the hills and ramps of a cross track built inside the forest of Polonezkoy, this place is for you. Official races are also held here from time to time. Please find more information about the track here and about Polonezkoy here.

There are many great mosques in Istanbul and we strongly suggest to visit at least two of them before leaving Istanbul to feel the soul of orientalism in this magnificent city.

1 – Proper dress code

As the mosques are the places of worship for Muslims, firstly your dress code needs to fit the place. It is better for ladies to have clean loose shirts, pants or long skirts and a scarf to cover their hair, for gentlemen clean shirts and long pants are required. Actually for summer you may enter some of the mosques with shorts but it is not guaranteed.

2 – Get ready to take off shoes

Wearing shoes are not allowed in all mosques,  you need to leave them in a cabinet at the entrance or you can hold them, it is fine in summer but for winter if you will visit a mosque it is better to have extra socks with you to keep your feet warm.

3 – Be quiet

In mosques women and men have separate sections to pray, loud talking and discussion within the mosques are forbidden, additionally it is believed that it’s disrespectful to walk in front of a Muslim during his pray.

 4 – Cleaning ritual

Before praying all Muslims required to be clean themselves  that all mosques have  a nice section for this ritual, you will see many artistic fountains and marmor samples which  can be interesting as much as the mosque.

1 – Balad

Poet says ‘ If İstanbul is a mermaid than Balat will be her smile ’. It has cute narrow streets which ends to Golden horn with beautiful wooden old houses. People from different cultures and religions are mixed for centuries (Jewish, Armenian, Greek, Muslim) in Balat that you will also find many small churches next to small mosques and we guarantee that you will shoot many nice photos if you walk through in this nice neighborhood.

2 – Kuzguncuk

Another old Istanbul neighborhood located at the Asian side on the shore, it is not easy to reach there from the city center but it is worth it. Kuzguncuk is a calm place with its cats and very friendly residents; nice smell of the sea will be mixed with nice smell of fresh bakeries. If you get tired to walk around the old houses, you can have a cup of coffee at Sitare, very comfortable cafe with nostalgic decoration and delicious tastes.

3 – Samatya

Here is another historical neighborhood located very close to the old city. Many years Jewish, Armenian and Turkish people lived together in Samatya where as now most of them moved to other parts of Istanbul but outstanding churches are still standing with all their memories. It has also very nice small Bazaar at the center that you can enjoy a whole day watching people around.

** Samatya picture from ” a cup of caffein blog”

4 – Beyoglu ; 

Here we are again back to Beyoglu very popular pedestrian street close to the Taksim square, if you need a shooting that includes all colors this is the place you are looking for. You will find detailed information about Beyoglu if you click on “Beyoglu” tag below.

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”.

1 – Ağva

Ağva is the first place that comes to the mind for those who want to get away from the chaos and the noise of Istanbul to have a break and relax. The best time for Ağva is spring and summer, but the prices of the boutique hotels are also high at this season if you’d like to have an overnight stay. You can do trekking, swimming, canoeing or nothing but enjoy the green nature. Choose the weekdays to avoid crowds. It’s about 2 hours driving on the Northeastern part of Istanbul.

2 – Sapanca

It’s a place where Istanbul people go especially on weekends for eating fish by the lake of Sapanca in the open air. It’s a quiet and peaceful place to enjoy a relaxing time. It’s less than 1,5 hours drive on the East of Istanbul.

3 – Edirne

Being a capital of Ottoman Empire till the conquest of Istanbul, Edirne is a small city where great mosques, museums, monuments and history remains. Selimiye Mosque which has the highest minarets in Turkey, Beyazid II Kulliye Health Museum, Meric Bridge Alipasa Bazaar are must-visit, famous fried liver served with onions is must-eat. Edirne is in Thrace having a border to Greece and Bulgaria 200 km from Istanbul – less than 2 hours from the highway.

4 – Abant

Abant is a natural beauty – a lake among the mountains in Bolu – 250 km from Istanbul. The place is beautiful in all times of the year, but the best in winter – with the wonderful landscape under white snow. You tour around the lake on foot or by a coach, then have a lunch in one of the restuarants by the lake or do picnic in open air. The route to Abant can be difficult on winter days with hard snow.