Mikla
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Tasting menu / A premium fine dining restaurant with a rooftop terrace offering the best views of the city. Modern Turkish food with local wine.
Aheste
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Turkish / One of my favourite restaurants anywhere with incredible cocktails.
Mahkeme Lokantası
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Turkish / Authentic cuisine and dining experience. Great tasting Turkish food.
Top Bars
Ernest's
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Cocktail bar / Classy cocktail bar attached to Cok Cok Pera restaurant. The bar manager, Fatih, gave us the best service. He personally called Aheste to make us a last-minute reservation and walked us to the restaurant!
Flekk
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Cocktail bar / Makes their cocktails with organic produce from local growers.
Just Bar
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Bar / Some of the best cocktails with live music in Istanbul.
Top Coffee Shops
Any cafe serving traditional Turkish coffee—it's unfiltered and highly caffeinated.
Activities & Attractions
Unusual Walking Tour
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An incredibly unique perspective through the eyes of a local guide, Selahattin. Favourites included the Grand Bazaar rooftop and 007 locations, secret rooftop cafés, the back shops of the Bazaar where they melt gold & tasting the homemade Boza drink.
Hagia Sophia
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The most important historical site in Istanbul, one of oldest monuments of the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hagia Sofia is an absolute must if you are visiting this city.
Ferry across the Bosphorous
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Take in the incredible views from the ferry while cruising down the Bosphorous. Also, cross the continental boundary between Asia and Europe. We recommend the ferry to Kadıköy where you can explore the markets, restaurants and area.
Markets
Grand Bazaar
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One of the largest and oldest markets in the world, with 61 covered streets and over 4,000 shops.
Spice Bazaar
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The colours on display at the Spice Bazaar made it one of the most beautiful markets we visited.
Kadıköy Produce Market
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Ferry from the European side of Istanbul to the Asian side to get to this market in Kadıköy.
10 Karakoy Hotel
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In the heart of one of Istanbul's hippest neighbourhoods, Karakoy. 10 Karakoy is a modern 5-star hotel and great value for the price.