Oktay’s Istanbul Guidebook - Going out of the Neighborhood
Neighborhoods
Balat is colorful and scenic. If you want to take a lot of photos and walk around, that's the place to go.
256 locals recommend
Balat
Balat is colorful and scenic. If you want to take a lot of photos and walk around, that's the place to go.
Food scene
Nice and quiet restaurant inside Salt Galata, a popular modern art museum.
13 locals recommend
Neolokal
No:11, 34420 Bankalar CaddesiNice and quiet restaurant inside Salt Galata, a popular modern art museum.
If you are a pizza aficionado, you MUST try "The Ordinary".
It's anything but ordinary :)
the ordinary
If you are a pizza aficionado, you MUST try "The Ordinary".
It's anything but ordinary :)
Home-style regional Turkish cuisine in a simple restaurant on 3 floors with a rooftop terrace.
Don't be fooled by its simplicity, it offers an incredible selection of high quality food.
It's so good, there's an episode about it on CHEF'S freaking TABLE!!!
187 locals recommend
Çiya Sofrası
Güneşli Bahçe SokağıHome-style regional Turkish cuisine in a simple restaurant on 3 floors with a rooftop terrace.
Don't be fooled by its simplicity, it offers an incredible selection of high quality food.
It's so good, there's an episode about it on CHEF'S freaking TABLE!!!
With its daily changing menu, cold turkish appetizers, hot home-style traditional dishes during lunch and turning into a classy Turkish Raki & Meze Meyhane concept (a Turkish special, look it up!) it's a must go to restaurant if you really wanna get to know Turkish cuisine.
160 locals recommend
Karaköy Lokantası
No:57 Kemankeş Cd.With its daily changing menu, cold turkish appetizers, hot home-style traditional dishes during lunch and turning into a classy Turkish Raki & Meze Meyhane concept (a Turkish special, look it up!) it's a must go to restaurant if you really wanna get to know Turkish cuisine.
Hayvore cooks excellent traditional food home to Black Sea region of Turkey.
Worth trying if you are nearby and feel the hunger rising.
64 locals recommend
Hayvore
Hayvore cooks excellent traditional food home to Black Sea region of Turkey.
Worth trying if you are nearby and feel the hunger rising.
Art Scene
A popular and trendy modern art museum near Galata district, home of Galata tower.
209 locals recommend
SALT Galata, Istanbul
No:11 Bankalar Cd.A popular and trendy modern art museum near Galata district, home of Galata tower.
Pera Museum is an art museum in the Tepebaşı quarter of the Beyoğlu district in Istanbul, Turkey, at Meşrutiyet Avenue No. 65 It has a particular focus on Orientalism in 19th-century art.
281 locals recommend
Pera Museum
65 Meşrutiyet Cd.Pera Museum is an art museum in the Tepebaşı quarter of the Beyoğlu district in Istanbul, Turkey, at Meşrutiyet Avenue No. 65 It has a particular focus on Orientalism in 19th-century art.
The "Haunted Mansion", or Perili Köşk, is the building that serves as the headquarters for Borusan Holding as well as its museum of contemporary art. It has a long and important history. Construction of the Yusuf Ziya Pasha mansion, which is among the leading examples of Istanbul's rich architectural heritage and one of the most significant historical buildings in the charming Rumelihisarı neighborhood along the Bosphorus, began in 1910s. Yusuf Ziya Pasha worked on the project with the khedive (Turkish viceroy to Egypt) Abbas Hilmi Pasha as a consultant. However, when World War I broke out in 1914 and the Ottoman Empire joined the conflict, all construction workers were forced to quit their jobs and enlist in the army. Consequently, construction on the building came to a standstill. Because the construction of Perili Köşk was largely unfinished, the second and third floors remained empty. Hence, the local community began referring to the property as the "Haunted Mansion.”
Yusuf Ziya Paşa (Perili) Köşkü
No:5 Balta Limanı Hisar CaddesiThe "Haunted Mansion", or Perili Köşk, is the building that serves as the headquarters for Borusan Holding as well as its museum of contemporary art. It has a long and important history. Construction of the Yusuf Ziya Pasha mansion, which is among the leading examples of Istanbul's rich architectural heritage and one of the most significant historical buildings in the charming Rumelihisarı neighborhood along the Bosphorus, began in 1910s. Yusuf Ziya Pasha worked on the project with the khedive (Turkish viceroy to Egypt) Abbas Hilmi Pasha as a consultant. However, when World War I broke out in 1914 and the Ottoman Empire joined the conflict, all construction workers were forced to quit their jobs and enlist in the army. Consequently, construction on the building came to a standstill. Because the construction of Perili Köşk was largely unfinished, the second and third floors remained empty. Hence, the local community began referring to the property as the "Haunted Mansion.”
Not much to explain here. It's the biggest archeological museum in Istanbul.
Lots of great stuff to see, what the British were kind enough to leave behind at least :(
179 locals recommend
Istanbul Archaeological Museum
Not much to explain here. It's the biggest archeological museum in Istanbul.
Lots of great stuff to see, what the British were kind enough to leave behind at least :(
All-in-one's
Bomontiada is a cultural ground, housing Babylon - a concert hall - , an open air stage hosting good music and cinema, Populist - a great brewery and pub and much more!
Great to socialize and have fun.
144 locals recommend
Kiva Bomonti
Birahane SokakBomontiada is a cultural ground, housing Babylon - a concert hall - , an open air stage hosting good music and cinema, Populist - a great brewery and pub and much more!
Great to socialize and have fun.
Galataport is not my type of place, not much soul...
Just letting you know it exists.
I don't plan on visiting there myself :(
I find it posh and superficial
164 locals recommend
Galataport Liman Isletmeleri
Galataport is not my type of place, not much soul...
Just letting you know it exists.
I don't plan on visiting there myself :(
I find it posh and superficial
High-End Dining
Mürver is my favourite high-end restaurant in the WORLD!!!
Ottoman-Turkish cousine mix.
JUST GO THERE!
PS: Check if they're open and make a reservation, their opening times are bit frantic.
16 locals recommend
Mürver Restaurant
No:57-59 CaddesiMürver is my favourite high-end restaurant in the WORLD!!!
Ottoman-Turkish cousine mix.
JUST GO THERE!
PS: Check if they're open and make a reservation, their opening times are bit frantic.
Mikla
15 Meşrutiyet Cd.Mikla has been on NYTimes' The World's 50 Best Restaurant list since 2015.
Desserts & Patisserie
This is the only place you should eat Profiterol from.
I cannot emphasize it enough!!!
It's been open for almost a century! A CENTURY!!!
20 locals recommend
İnci Pastanesi
18/A Mis Sk.This is the only place you should eat Profiterol from.
I cannot emphasize it enough!!!
It's been open for almost a century! A CENTURY!!!
Open since 1923, the oldest Patisserie in Istanbul serves amazing desserts. It has a historical ambiance and provides seating as well.
32 locals recommend
Baylan
No: 9/A Muvakkıthane Cd.Open since 1923, the oldest Patisserie in Istanbul serves amazing desserts. It has a historical ambiance and provides seating as well.