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

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”.

Istanbul is a great metropol where public transport can be a torment for people sometimes, but there are ways to enjoy Istanbul in a local way.

1 – Ferry from Haydarpaşa to Eminönü
Get on the ferry and travel from the historical Haydarpaşa Rail Station to the Old Town Peninsula – Eminönü. Simit (savory roll covered with sesame seed) and tea are indispensable meal for Istanbul locals travelling by ferry. You can share your simit during your voyage with the friendly seagulls.

2 – Tram from Tunel to Taksim
Back from the beginning of 20th century, this nostalgic tramway takes you all over the Istiklal Street. It’s one of the symbols of Beyoğlu District and Old Istanbul.

3 – Fenicular from Tunel to Karaköy
Officially built as the second metro after London in 1875, it’s the shortest (about 2 mins) but one of the most useful public transport vehicle in Istanbul connecting Beyoğlu to the coast of Karaköy.

4 – Boat from Beşiktaş to Üsküdar:
It’s one of the most useful public transport route in Istanbul helping thousands of citizens travelling between the two sides of Istanbul. You can get to the other continent in less than 10 minutes with these boats. The Bosphorus view charms the citizens in the mornings before a challenging workday.

Istanbul is a shopping paradise, you can find any kind of materials in different qualities and accordingly different prices. We have listed the interesting shopping districts below; not only for shopping but also to feel the spirit of İstanbul.

1 – Grand Bazaar and Spice Market
If you would like to see the oriental face of this marvellous city, you must visit these two bazaars. Grand Bazaar is one the largest covered market with its 4.400 shops and Spice Market was the last point for the legendary silk road where the goods from Asia tranferred to the Europe during 13th century. They are located in the old city very close to the top historical places, but you can get lost very easily while checking the interesting shops, salesmen and beautiful carvings on the ceilings.
Do not hesitate to bargain while shopping – especially for souvenirs, carpets, other oriental materials.

2 – İstiklal Caddesi
Another story starts in İstiklal avenue, you can take the tram from Taksim square to the end but it is always better to walk on this original pedestrian street to see all type of Turkish people walking up and down. Some passageways with small shops (like Atlas, Aznavur, Terkos Passageways) sell very original / hand made or 2nd hand clothes. It is crowded during any time of the day as many night clubs and bars located on this cosmopolite avenue.

3 – Teşvikiye / Nişantaşı
Here we are in Champelysee or 5th avenue of İstanbul. If you are looking for Louis Vuitton, Escada or Armani that is the place but you can also find small boutiques, nice small cafes , hip hotels and many Art Nouveau buildings. Especially on Saturday nights it gets crowded with many people who come to the famous pubs and cafes.

4 – Bağdat Avenue
Located at the Asian side. You can find many cafes and restaurants, besides many international famous brands such as Gap , Mango, Zara and Lacoste. Keep in mind that in summer and mostly at the weekends it is almost impossible to pass the avenue by car because of the heavy traffic.

TIPS ** In İstanbul mostly shops open at 9,00 am and close at 8,00 pm, they are also open on Sunday between 12,00 pm to 6,00 pm.

1 – Mini Dondurma:
A very small ice cream shop serving excellent ice cream in Bebek for more than 40 years. It’s an unavoidable stop in your visit to Bebek.
See their website.

 
2 – Ali Usta:
It’s one of the most famous ice cream maker in Istanbul. They buy the most quality milk from outer towns of Istanbul to make the delicious ice cream. Ice cream with Turkish coffee is a strong recommendation. It’s located on Moda Avenue 264/A Kadikoy.

3 – Yaşar Usta:
It’s an ice cream stand in Bostancı serving home made ice cream with various fruits. The tastes of the fruits are so real and natural, and this makes the ice cream an irresistable one. It’s very close to “minibus avenue” on the left of the street in front of Shell.

4 – Mado:
It’s an ice cream chain in Turkey, serving Maraş Ice Cream which is a traditional type of ice cream with an elastic texture.
See their website.

In movie theaters, most of the films are screened in original language with Turkish subtitles. Some popular films may need early reservation especially for their first screening days.

There are three major film festivals in Istanbul – the most traditional one is “Istanbul International Film Festival” (first two weeks of April); the other two are “If Istanbul” (in mid February) and “Filmekimi” (in mid October). Most of the Beyoglu theaters host the films during the festivals; and it’s highly recommended to watch the exceptional movies there.

1 – Istinye AFM Park Imax:
One of the newest movie theater complex in Istanbul in Istinye Park Mall with Imax technology. Click here for info about Istinye Park Mall.

2 – Kanyon Levent Cinebonus:
Another modern movie theater complex in Kanyon Mall. Click here for info about Kanyon Mall.

3 – Beyoğlu Emek:
The nostalgic temple of film festivals also offering seats in the balcony. It’s on Yeşilçam Street which is on the right of Istiklal Street before Galatasaray when you walk from Taksim.

4 – Rexx Kadıköy:
It’s one of the most crowded meeting spots in Kadıköy for Anatolian side residents, very close to the “street of bars”. The newly renovated theater no.1 can be recommended. Adress: Sakizgulu Street No.22.

1 – İnci Pastanesi

If you like chocolate, you must taste delicious “profiterol” in İnci before you leave Istanbul. It is a very old pastry shop with 5 small tables, most of the time you have to wait at the queue just to get a portion but when you taste it we bet you will order the second immediately. It on the right of Istiklal Street No. 124/2.

2 – Bahar Pastanesi

Since 1973, they are popular with their pastries. They are the right adress for breakfast or for 5 o’ clock tea, and they have several branches.

a) Bahar pastanesi at Tesvikiye, very small shop, maybe it is better to pack the breakfast. (Atiye Street No. 3/A).

b) Bahar pastanesi at Arnavutköy, beautiful view of Bosphorus, freshly brewed Turkish tea and simit (Turkish bagel). (1st avenue no.48).

c) Bahar pastanesi at Kınalıada, it is on one of the Prince’s Islands, easy to go by ferry (suggested for summer), it can be a very good choice also for breakfast before renting a bike or making an island tour. (Ali Boran Square 1/1).

3 – Baylan Pastanesi

It is located at Asian side of Istanbul, if you have time to take the ferry from the port of Karakoy or Besiktas, close to the old city, you will also enjoy the nostalgic ferry trip. They are serving amazing tastes since 1923 but mostly famous with ‘Cup Griye’ vanilla ice cream with caramel sauce, toasted almond, pistachios and served with freshly baked cats’tounge biscuits.

4 – Gezi Pastanesi

Next to İstanbul Opera and Ballet center (AKM) in Taksim Square, they are famous with home made chocolates but all type of pastries are delicious, it is very convenient to have a cup of coffee with small snacks after a tiring day or just before a concert (For your information, AKM is under reconstruction).

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.