Istanbul Nightlife Tips by Alikatt

Nightlife Spot: Anjelique

It's a tres cool bar on the Bospohrus and that alone is a major draw for me. Second reason, the music that is almost pure house...and the the fact that it draws the coolest crowd some of whom are the ones chased by the paparazzi as they arrive from Reina or elsewhere. It has been my favorite place since 2003. Food's quite good. I have a dinner or two here every summer since they do an excellent job in the the kitchen, actually. The portions are quite small though. If dining there isn't your cup of tea or you don't want to spend a fortune on food, just sit back and order a few drinks. They will probably add up to a single dinner tab anyway after you down the third drink...so bring your platinum cards. Anjelique gets banging at 'round half past midnight to 3:30 am. The cool Turkish set and the hip international crowd descend (or should I say, ascend since you either have to walk up a set of stairs to get to the main deck or come by boat) at around 1 a.m. ready to imbibe some more and be teased to dance by the superby talented DJ's house beats. This summer's excellent DJ is Dogus. For me, with my hair blowing in the wind (depending on the temp and breeze) by the Bosphorus and the house music I love dancing to, nothing beats Anjelique on a any summer night. There was a strict door policy last summer and it may still be in place but as a regular, I have been fine going in with any of my friends. But for those who are firs timers, make sure you are well dressed and there should be more women than men in your party. If you happen to be in the know and well-connected, you can call up a power boat to take you there via the Bos entrance.

Overall, I love the view, the music and the crowd...and the bar tenders can now make decent cok dry vodka martinis...30 TYL each.

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Theme: Nightclub
Dress Code: The trendier the better. Show-off-the-summer-tan/ bod attire. Jeans are fine as long as they are either short or the latest models from Rock & Republic, Antik, Blue Blood or some premium denim brand from Vakko, Beymen, Milan or Paris or LA... and paired with sexy tops and slinky summer shoes in colors that go well with your bronzed skin.
Phone: (212) 327 28 44
Address: Muallim Naci Caddesi, Solhane Sokak No: 10 Ortakoy
Directions: in between Mori/Meditranea/Banyan and the Radisson hotel in Ortakoy

Nightlife Spot: The House Cafe Ortakoy

Since it opened in the summer of 2005 in Ortakoy where Dada used to be, this has been the most popular dining spot out of all of the House Cafes in Istanbul. You now need a reservation to dine here so better call ahead or you won't even get through the door this summer, 2007. This is their new policy.

The House Cafe's right on the corner on the square and the open terrace overlooks Mori/Mojito which sits right by the Bosphorus. This House Cafe location (there are other locations in Nisantasi, Tunel, Hillside Etiler and in the Asian side, I think) has a wonderful al fresco dining area, perfect for summer meals accompanied by wine and cocktails. It's a hip spot to for admiring the fatastic Bosphorus views with an equally hip crowd. Another location like is the one off Abdi Ipekce Cad. in Nisantasi but I prefer this one for dinner. The summer fare is good but the service can be slow.

It is also good for breakfasts or brunches and late dinners.

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Theme: Eating and Drinking
Dress Code: Smokin' or smart casual, summer linen and hottest accessories - your Tom Ford retro shades belong in this corner of Otakoy for sure.
Address: off Ortakoy square next to Mori/Meditranea/Banyan
Directions: enter Ortakoy via the path next to Yargici.

Nightlife Spot: Blanco

Blanco is where house music rules (or various interpretations thereof) and is a welcome addition to the hipsters' scene in Istanbul this summer. Not that being hip is a must here but definitely embracing house music is a 'hip' characteristic if you ask me. It is pointless to resist the house music invasion and influence and you haven't embraced it by now, you are on the short end of the stick...That aside, Blanco (white in Spanish) is the predominant theme obviously. It is up on a top floor of a building or 'teras' as they refer to it in Turkish. There is a smaller upper terrace where you can lounge on big white (well, they must have been really white at some point) oversized pillows. Both terraces have full bars but the DJ space and dance area is on the main terrace lavel. Some awesome DJs, like Chuck Love played in July for Om Records' gig that month. I also like the tracks DJ Ilkay plays but pretty much, all house DJs there are good as well as the music they put out. I saw people who go to Reina and Anjelique get theirr feet wet at Blanco this past summer too. It was the hottest rooftop in that area for sure and there was no pretense whatsoever in that cool space.

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Theme: Nightclub
Dress Code: Dress up or dress down, this place does not have strict rules and inhospitable doormen. Everybody who loves house music is welcome. That's what's so cool about the place.
Phone: 212 244 85 18/19
Address: Balo Sokak No: 22 Kat:4 Beyoglu
Directions: next street parallel to Nevizade
Website: www.blancoteras.com

Nightlife Spot: Crystal

Crystal is the place to be after all the clubs shut down. This summer, due to the new 'noise level regulations' in effect on the European shores of Istanbul, many clubs have had to turn down their music at 2 am. So Crystal got busier earlier than usual. Cyrstal was good again this summer. I was only there three times this time around but the second time was the best. There was a DJ from Chicago that rocked the club inside. The DJ booth now moved to the opposite wall but the sound is still top quality as before. The club is open from Thursdays to Saturdays (going into Sunday morning actually). It's in Ortakoy almost right underneath the enormous span of the bridge to Asia. The location with its large 'outdoor' bar and seating all around it, large covered lounge area and house music create a super cool atmosphere to hang out in and dance to house music if you feel like it. Last fall/winter, the lounge area was spiffed up so that it's now sleeker and more disco-ey with disco balls, black and white scheme that lends the lounge a rsuper retro feel. Crystal books top DJs from Europe and the US regulary + hosts the best DJs in Turkey as well. Inside is the cavernous club with its dope sound system. Mostly deep, tribal and progressive house music is played in the indoor club but it's running a wider gamut these days from funky to break beats to electo tunes. Famous DJs from all over the world have gotten on Crystal's decks and some really good ones from Istanbul like UFUK and my friends, Evren + Evren played there a while back. I like it when house music is played in the lounge area by DJ Kiwi. One thing I don't like is it gets really hot in the summer months in the lounge area since it it not air-conditioned. The inside club is but there's so much smoke in there that I cannot stand being there for more than 10 minutes!

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Theme: Dancing
Dress Code: The dress code's pretty relaxed. Jeans is the predominant Crystal culture wear but for the tops, the trendier the better. Fashionistas have been known to hang out there but in the summer, it's really very casual. Men are usually in T's and crisp linens. Girls, feel free to wear your hot frocks with Christian Loboutins or Manolos, Jimmy Choos or Miu Mius, Gunmetals or G Shocks; your Diors, Dolces, Guccis or grunge, Stellas or Spassos; Polo Garage or Tweens and True Religion jeans and indie designer threads. Soho, boho or the real Bono...cool cats, gals and their pals are welcome as long as you have the matching attitude. It wouldn't hurt if you know people either...that should get you on the VIP line straight through the door. See you there when I go back!
Phone: 0212 261 1988
Address: Muallim Naci Caddesi No.65 Ortakoy
Directions: under the bridge in Ortakoy, a stone's throw across from Reina
Website: www.clubcrystal.org

Nightlife Spot: Leyla

2004: It's really a neighborhood bar that is frequented by those living in Cihangir, a very cool, bohemian crowd in their 20s and 30s. Of course as any bar in Istanbul, the air is filled with smoke (not to my liking or my lungs') but the ambiance is tres cool with fantastic soulful or electro-jazz tunes in the background. Meet your friends for a beer and converstaion. My friends living over there are so lucky they have this awesome watering hole.

2006: Alas my friends residing in cool Cihagir no longer go here. They say it has been 'taken over' by people who hang there that are not even residents so for that reason, its popularity among the locals went down. They now go to Otto or a restaurant in Beyoglu owned by a photographer. I went there for lunch for I forgot the name of it. Arrrrgh Just check it out ...it's next to the bookstore in the corner. It has outside seating and serves good salads although mine was too oily.

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Theme: People Watching
Dress Code: 2004: Attire is casual hip to trendy to apres office wear. It's a neighborhood quasi pub without the snob factor.

2006: I peeked in there and didn't really see much change.
Phone: 0212 244 53 50
Address: Akarsu Caddesi 46, Beyoglu, Istanbul
Directions: Cihangir, Beyoglu
Website: leyla2004.com
Other Contact: leyla@leyla2004.com

Nightlife Spot: Mori

This is the other half of the former glory of Dada. Established in 2005, Mori this summer of 2006 has slid down the list of places I highly recommend. The Japanese food imenu is ok and the food isn't bad but I've had better Japanese food than this for less money - in the west coast US though. Secondly, they used to have cool house music but this summer, it's a mish-mash during dinner when it is Mori, a Japanese restaurant with a few trendy Istanbulites, business types and occasional older couples dining there. At midnight, it becomes Mojito, a club with themed music nights. I happened to be dining there on a Thursday night. Before midnight, they took our dining table, replaced it with a taller 'drinks' table and took away the chairs! Then hip hop/rap music came on. It was fine but personally, I could only take that music for about half an hour so I left and moved next door to Anjelique. One thing I like about it is the Bosphorus right in front . Unfortunately, the Japanese food they serve do not pass my San Francisco/Tokyo standards and as usual, they are overpriced there and the rest of Istanbul for that matter. In 2005, I only managed to gulp my barely passable miso soup since I was famished. The unagi hand roll was disappointing at best. The chicken yakitori was dry. I wish my martini was the one that was dry!

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Theme: Eating and Drinking
Dress Code: Since its summer, the dress is casual but there are many people who came after work still clad in their suits but sans ties.
Address: off Ortakoy Sq. between House Cafe & Anjelique
Directions: next to House Cafe, downstairs from Meditranea/Banyan Ortakoy

Nightlife Spot: Sapphire

When I went there in summer 2004, it had a different name. Last summer of 2005, it resurrected as a chic and sparkly Sappire. I didn't make it there this summer since I didn't hear any buzz around/about it. It think is now more of a tourist destination. The walk up can be tedious especially if you've had a few drinks at Sortie (opposite) . As I said, I missed going there this summer (2006) so I don't know if it's worth hiking to in my 3-inch Manolos. In the summer of 2005, the bar evoked a feel of Las Vegas with it's multi-faceted crystal light fixtures but somehow when a place like this overlooks the magnificent Bosphorus, it is elevated to chic heights. Two super popular Turkish singers were spotted the night I was there last year with my Turkish friends. One was very snobby. The music the DJ spun then was formulaic - the same summer Euo hits and Turkish pop that makes you sway your hips and rock your shoulders. Nobody seems to be dancing at these places. Perusing, drinking and being merry with friends is the name of the game. Oh BTW, in summer of 2004, a girl who spoke Russian tried to pick me up there. My then boyfriend snatched me away as I was coming out of the ladies' room.

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Theme: Nightclub
Dress Code: Girls, get that innner fashionista and flaunt what you've got. Guys,the usual jeans , cool button down shirt and an arm candy. You can walk from Sortie, y' know...
Phone: 212 258 57 55
Address: Muallim Naci Cad. No.77 Kurucesme
Directions: in front of Sortie
Other Contact: sapphirejurucesme@yahoo.com

Nightlife Spot: Geneviz Kahvesi

This is actually deceivingly named a 'coffee' place. It means Genoese (as in Genoa, Italy) Coffee (kahve) but it is more of a pub with loud music ranging from staple Turkish pop and Euro hits plus the occasional progressive/tribal house DJ/bar manager puts on. The staff are very welcoming and friendly and one guy speaks decent English. It is on the way to the waterfront in front of BOX so be sure to stop in for a pint of beer. There are outside seating which is great for people watching. Make sure you specify your choice of vodka when ordering a vodka cocktail. Otherwise, they would use the local vodka. The bar area with the old wall dates back to the old city, so it is believed. Duck when you have to go to the washroom. The ceiling is super low up there on the second level bathrooms.

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Theme: Dancing
Dress Code: Casual. Tees. Sandals and bermuda shorts are OK. This is a very low key place and are more frequented by Turkish twentysomethings and those who work around the area.
Phone: 212 327 30 75
Address: Osmanzade Sokak No.13-15 Ortakoy
Directions: Ortakoy