Istanbul Restaurant Tips by mabozer

You should definetely have the 'Beyoglu, Istiklal Caddesi' food experience! You could first have a lunch at 'HACI ABDULLAH' (do not confuse this place with Haci Baba which is pretty close to Haci Abdullah, location and food-wise but very touristy). Haci Abdullah is a traditional and inexpensive Ottoman cuisine restauran. The only flaw is that they do not serve alcohol there. After lunch there you could wonder around in Istiklal Street, window shop or shop (there very classy local shops there such as 'Beymen' or 'Vakko'), and go enjoy a cup of coffee at the nice-ambiance book stores. You could also visit the St. Antoine Church and the Divan Literature Museum and Convent of Whirling Dervishes. You could go to an authentic 'hamam' (Turkish bath). 'Galatasaray Hamami' is good. At night have the 'CICEK PASAJI' experience... This is a from-1800s building surrounded by alleys full of 'local' fast food places (tripe-soup shops, sheep's-intestine-sandwish shops, and taverns) also with flower shops. Cicek Pasaji has a large and lively courtyard with many good restaurants with menu selections that could accommodate any discriminating taste. You should try the 'meze's such as the 'midye dolma' (stuffed mussels), the 'midye tava' (fried mussels), the 'kokorec' (sheep's intestines -very delicious despite the scary description). Kebabs and fish are the main dishes there. A good conclusion to the day would be at the 'Gramafon' bar (see the Night Life above). All this can be accomplished between 1 pm and midnight, and as I mentioned is a good experience.
Other good restaurants in Istanbul are 'AHIRKAPI' Restaurant located in the Armada Hotel in the historic part of Istanbul serving traditional Turkish foods. 'BEYTI' is a good meat-speciality restaurant but it's located in the outskirts of the city, may be a $15 to $20 cab ride from downtown. The restaurant of Hotel 'LA MAISON' located in Ortakoy offers good French cuisine with unbeatable view if you have make sure that you ask for a table with view when making the reservation. 'SARNIC' Restaurant -located in the historical part of Istanbul is a very elegant place (expensive), with it's unbeatable ambiance being converted from a Byzantine cistern into a restaurant . 'PANDELI' owned by a Greek-Turk is located in the 'Misir Carsisi' (Egyptian or Spice Bazaar) offers lunch only but is a unique experience with it's ambiance and good food.


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FOOD
You should definetely have the 'Beyoglu, Istiklal Caddesi' food experience! You could first have a lunch at 'HACI ABDULLAH' (do not confuse this place with Haci Baba which is pretty close to Haci Abdullah, location and food-wise but very touristy). Haci Abdullah is a traditional and inexpensive Ottoman cuisine restaurant. The only flaw is that they do not serve alcohol there. After lunch there you could wonder around in Istiklal Street, window shop or shop (there very classy local shops there such as 'Beymen' or 'Vakko'), and go enjoy a cup of coffee at the nice-ambiance book stores. You could also visit the St. Antoine Church and the Divan Literature Museum and Convent of Whirling Dervishes. You could go to an authentic 'hamam' (Turkish bath). 'Galatasaray Hamami' is good. At night have the 'CICEK PASAJI' experience... This is a from-1800s building surrounded by alleys full of 'local' fast food places (tripe-soup shops, sheep's-intestine-sandwish shops, and taverns) also with flower shops. Cicek Pasaji has a large and lively courtyard with many good restaurants with menu selections that could accommodate any discriminating taste. You should try the 'meze's such as the 'midye dolma' (stuffed mussels), the 'midye tava' (fried mussels), the 'kokorec' (sheep's intestines -very delicious despite the scary description). Kebabs and fish are the main dishes there. A good conclusion to the day would be at the 'Gramafon' bar (see the Night Life above). All this can be accomplished between 1 pm and midnight, and as I mentioned is a good experience.
Other good restaurants in Istanbul are 'AHIRKAPI' Restaurant located in the Armada Hotel in the historic part of Istanbul serving traditional Turkish foods. 'BEYTI' is a good meat-speciality restaurant but it's located in the outskirts of the city, may be a $15 to $20 cab ride from downtown. The restaurant of Hotel 'LA MAISON' located in Ortakoy offers good French cuisine with unbeatable view if you have make sure that you ask for a table with view when making the reservation. 'SARNIC' Restaurant -located in the historical part of Istanbul is a very elegant place (expensive), with it's unbeatable ambiance being converted from a Byzantine cistern into a restaurant . 'PANDELI' owned by a Greek-Turk is located in the 'Misir Carsisi' (Egyptian or Spice Bazaar) offers lunch only but is a unique experience with it's ambiance and good food...


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