Guidebook for Istanbul
Food Scene
The best restaurant near our house, 5-7 minutes walk away. Friendly staff and great Circassian food at great prices. Try the manti (Turkish ravioli) or the ficcin (a mince pie). Also, ask if they have Suriyani or Georgian wine. Delicious!
126 Einheimische empfehlen
Ficcin
No:13/1 Kallavi Sk.The best restaurant near our house, 5-7 minutes walk away. Friendly staff and great Circassian food at great prices. Try the manti (Turkish ravioli) or the ficcin (a mince pie). Also, ask if they have Suriyani or Georgian wine. Delicious!
Take the elevator to the 6th floor for the most atmospheric restaurant in Beyoglu. Try the guvec (casseroles served in a clay pot) and a big gavurdag salad. They just recently got a real sign in front of the restaurant--you used to ask a shoe shiner for the entrance.
(The address here is listed wrong. It is at Asmalimescit Caddesi No: 10 in Beyoglu.)
43 Einheimische empfehlen
Tavanarasi Restaurant
No:10 Asmalı Mescit Cd.Take the elevator to the 6th floor for the most atmospheric restaurant in Beyoglu. Try the guvec (casseroles served in a clay pot) and a big gavurdag salad. They just recently got a real sign in front of the restaurant--you used to ask a shoe shiner for the entrance.
(The address here is listed wrong. It is at Asmalimescit Caddesi No: 10 in Beyoglu.)
A great lunch or dinner spot. There is no menu--just select five of the dishes at the front on one plate.
87 Einheimische empfehlen
Helvetia
No:8 General Yazgan Sk.A great lunch or dinner spot. There is no menu--just select five of the dishes at the front on one plate.
A cafe and restaurant owned by Istanbul's greatest photographer Ara Guler (R.I.P.). You can admire Ara's photographs on the wall while you have a coffee or a meal. They have a great breakfast buffet on Sundays.
77 Einheimische empfehlen
Cafe Ara
2 Ara Güler SokağıA cafe and restaurant owned by Istanbul's greatest photographer Ara Guler (R.I.P.). You can admire Ara's photographs on the wall while you have a coffee or a meal. They have a great breakfast buffet on Sundays.
The famous Rejans Russian restaurant has a new name. This is not a cheap option, but the food and drinks are amazing, and the atmosphere is stunning, with live Russian music.
1924 İstanbul
7-A Olivya Gç.The famous Rejans Russian restaurant has a new name. This is not a cheap option, but the food and drinks are amazing, and the atmosphere is stunning, with live Russian music.
A hidden cobblestone courtyard with a single lamppost in the middle, reached from Istiklal by a narrow passageway selling toys. In the courtyard are half-a-dozen teahouses where you can sit on traditional Turkish stools and have a tea. There is also a bookstore and a great local jewelry store toward the entrance near the British consulate. If the gate is open, take the stairs in one corner of the courtyard up to the Greek Orthodox church.
32 Einheimische empfehlen
Passage Hazzopulo
116/1C Han Geçidi ÇıkmazıA hidden cobblestone courtyard with a single lamppost in the middle, reached from Istiklal by a narrow passageway selling toys. In the courtyard are half-a-dozen teahouses where you can sit on traditional Turkish stools and have a tea. There is also a bookstore and a great local jewelry store toward the entrance near the British consulate. If the gate is open, take the stairs in one corner of the courtyard up to the Greek Orthodox church.
Drinks & Nightlife
A whole street of bars with indoor and outdoor seating. Good for watching a soccer game or having drinks with friends.
234 Einheimische empfehlen
Nevizade Sokak
Nevizade SokakA whole street of bars with indoor and outdoor seating. Good for watching a soccer game or having drinks with friends.
A whole street of bars on a back street on the Tunel end of Istiklal. This street is a bit quieter than Nevizade Sokak.
15 Einheimische empfehlen
Sofyalı Sokak
Sofyalı SokakA whole street of bars on a back street on the Tunel end of Istiklal. This street is a bit quieter than Nevizade Sokak.
Shopping
Do you love maps? How about boats? Old bookstores? This is the place! One of the most beautiful old shops in Istanbul.
Denizler Kitabevi
3 Galip Dede Cd.Do you love maps? How about boats? Old bookstores? This is the place! One of the most beautiful old shops in Istanbul.
This old arcade that connects to the fish market has antique stores where you can buy everything from jewelry to old packs of cigarettes from the Ottoman Empire. There is a very good carpet and ceramic shop and a second shop selling handmade Turkish towels run by the same man.
11 Einheimische empfehlen
Avrupa Pasaji
No:8 Meşrutiyet Cd.This old arcade that connects to the fish market has antique stores where you can buy everything from jewelry to old packs of cigarettes from the Ottoman Empire. There is a very good carpet and ceramic shop and a second shop selling handmade Turkish towels run by the same man.
Parks & Nature
This is our neighborhood park, with giant palm trees, a waterfall, and a playground. It looks a little like Splash Mountain from Disneyland but is worth walking through if you are heading to the Kasimpasa ferry terminal.
7 Einheimische empfehlen
Sururi Park
90 Bahriye Cd.This is our neighborhood park, with giant palm trees, a waterfall, and a playground. It looks a little like Splash Mountain from Disneyland but is worth walking through if you are heading to the Kasimpasa ferry terminal.
Arts & Culture
Beyoglu's best art museum. They have great exhibits all the time, and the building itself is beautiful. They have a nice restaurant, too.
276 Einheimische empfehlen
Pera-Museum
65 Meşrutiyet Cd.Beyoglu's best art museum. They have great exhibits all the time, and the building itself is beautiful. They have a nice restaurant, too.
This is a new location for the Modern, right across from the old U.S. consulate. They have a good permanent collection of 20th century Turkish art plus rotating exhibits.
619 Einheimische empfehlen
Istanbul Museum of Modern Art
No:1/1 Meşrutiyet Cd.This is a new location for the Modern, right across from the old U.S. consulate. They have a good permanent collection of 20th century Turkish art plus rotating exhibits.
Entertainment & Activities
This is the last of the grand old movie theaters on Istiklal Caddesi. They are also the center of the two biggest film festivals in April and October.
27 Einheimische empfehlen
Atlas Cinemas
131 İstiklal Cd.This is the last of the grand old movie theaters on Istiklal Caddesi. They are also the center of the two biggest film festivals in April and October.
A smaller theater right across the street from Atlas in Halep Pasaji. One of the main theaters for the International Film Festival in April.
12 Einheimische empfehlen
Beyoğlu Cinema
62 İstiklal Cd.A smaller theater right across the street from Atlas in Halep Pasaji. One of the main theaters for the International Film Festival in April.
Getting Around
The Kasimpasa ferry terminal is the stop for two things. There are public ferries that will take you up the Golden Horn toward Eyup and Pierre Loti (don't forget your Istanbul card). There are also private boats for 2 or 3 lira that will take you over to the Spice Bazaar and the New Mosque. The private boats sometimes wait until they are full before they go, so don't be surprised if it sits for a while.
Kasımpaşa
The Kasimpasa ferry terminal is the stop for two things. There are public ferries that will take you up the Golden Horn toward Eyup and Pierre Loti (don't forget your Istanbul card). There are also private boats for 2 or 3 lira that will take you over to the Spice Bazaar and the New Mosque. The private boats sometimes wait until they are full before they go, so don't be surprised if it sits for a while.
The closest metro stop is Sishane. (Don't forget your Istanbul card.) The easiest entrances are the ones on Mesrutiyet Caddesi and Istiklal Caddesi.
86 Einheimische empfehlen
Sishane
32 Dr. Bedii Gorbon Sk.The closest metro stop is Sishane. (Don't forget your Istanbul card.) The easiest entrances are the ones on Mesrutiyet Caddesi and Istiklal Caddesi.
The funiculaire from Tunel Square to Karakoy is the second oldest underground system in the world. From Karakoy you can transfer to the tramway to Sultanahmet. (Don't forget your Istanbul card.)
Tünel Meydani
Tünel MeydaniThe funiculaire from Tunel Square to Karakoy is the second oldest underground system in the world. From Karakoy you can transfer to the tramway to Sultanahmet. (Don't forget your Istanbul card.)