Istanbul, as a cultural crossroad, is also the place where different culinary cultures emerge, providing today’s visitors with a variety of tasty options. Everyone could find its favorite culinary spot regardless of preference and budget. Meat lovers would enjoy different options of Kofte and locally made hamburgers, or seafood available in many restaurants near the Bosphorus. Vegetarians will embrace huge selections of salats with fresh domestic vegetables. I enjoyed most the culture of breakfast, especially during the weekend. It is easily 2-3 hours of a social and family gathering in cozy bars and restaurants. For some famous places, reservation is mandatory, or you will wait in a line. But it worth it. It is usually several waves of food, starting with cheese, local salary, fresh vegetables, and fruits, a variety of eggs finishing with Turkish coffee or tee.
Here are a few places to have breakfast, coffee or a beer:
BigChefs Tarabya – On Bosphorus to enjoy a variety of food while watching ships and sometimes even school of dolphins. Tarabya is a nice place for a bike ride or a walk.
Emirgan Sütiş – Popular place among locals with affordable prices and prepare yourself for breakfast to keep you energized for a whole day.
For those of you who want to try bar options with cocktails and nightlife, Arnavutköy Any Cafe & Bar is an excellent and cozy option.
For a nigh life, I would also recommend the Babylon venue for events with massive beer pub, and several options for cocktails and dinner.
For those with more time, I would recommend to take a ferry and visit the Asian side. Kadikoy is quite a dynamic area with numerous options for breakfast, coffee, or lunch in several local fish restaurants.
Besiktas is also an active area with narrow streets and lots of bars and pubs mostly full of students from nearby universities. Café Latifa serves excellent coffee where you can enjoy the local vibe and music.
This great city lives 24 hours gives lots of opportunities for foodies and for those that love to be served by baristas with high-quality coffee.