Hello everyone,
My name is Serra. There are so many things that I love sharing on Google Maps such as to report new places that are just opened or adding new photos to places that do not have much. However, when I think of the things, I love sharing most on Google Maps, there is only one thing.
Cafes!
I believe everyone has a unique taste for cafes because the purpose is different for everyone. Additionally, people have various appetites. Therefore, there is a type of cafe which fits every person.
Thus, I divided cafes into categories for various purposes and here are the types of cafes I have categorized for you:
1- Work Work Work
There are ups and downs in everyone’s life. Sometimes we work hard, sometimes we play hard. However, it is hard to focus on the things that are needed to be finished when the sun is shining outside. In those situations, cafes provide us an opportunity to finish tasks while enjoying the sun.
In those situations, I have two scenarios in my head.
I either go to my favorite coffee shop close to my home if I do not want to spend time in a traffic jam, which is a safe option. Or, if I have a place in my mind that has great reviews, I give it a try in case I am not in a rush. My favorite coffee shop, MOC, has the best “Cold Brew” in my town in my opinion. No matter whether it is a snowy day or a sunny, I get that Cold Brew to wake myself up. I am lucky that this place does serve Cold Brew in winter too. I get close to the heater and enjoy my coffee while accomplishing the tasks that are in my mind for a while. Nothing is better than completing the tasks that you have in your hand and enjoying a coffee that tastes good.
Luckily, I am living in a city that is surrounded by the sea and there is always an option to enjoy watching the sea and get inspiration. In those cases, it is critical to find something suitable for working. My preference is Starbucks in Bebek, it is a safe option in case you are planning to work long and need little breaks right next to the sea.
2- Oldies but Goldies
There are a couple of traditional things to do in Istanbul when it is cold, and you want to warm the cockles of the heart. As Turkish people, we either drink “Sahlep” or “Boza”. It is a bit different than hot chocolate, but it is still something sweet. I am typically a Sahlep person because I like sweet things. However, some people enjoy sour flavors and I call those people as a Boza person. I am living quite close to the famous place which is known for their ice-cream. However, during winter they serve boza and sahlep because no-one wants to eat ice-cream in the winter. Divergently, my love for ice-cream does not depend on season, I add ice-cream into sahlep and make my sahlep sweeter. As I told you before, I love sweet things. If you ever want to try the famous ice-cream or want to drink sahlep or boza, come and visitRoma Dondurmacısı.
3- “On a Diet” Places
Sometimes we just want to be healthy. It can be to lose weight, try a new lifestyle or just you want to. No matter for what reason, it might become critical to find something that serves healthy options. I am as well trying to be healthy. I am doing a challenge which I avoid pastry and sugar for 30 days. It becomes difficult if you see so many distractions. You either need to find healthy friends or places. It is much easier to change places than friends.
I look for cafes which have healthy options because I chose a healthy lifestyle. I found “Matcha Latte” as a safe option since it is served with milk and nothing more. The first time I drank matcha latte in the USA. I learned it as a traditional drink from Asia. Even though many people don’t like it, I loved it. There is a place called Gabfoods in Istanbul which has a sea view in case you want to enjoy your matcha latte while watching the people who are running right next to the Bosphorus.
Honestly, I can’t tell it is the most amazing drink I have ever gotten but I feel super healthy when I drink that.
Matcha Latte, Star Coffee Mannheim/Germany
On the other hand, Star Coffee in Mannheim, Germany found the way to make matcha latte a bit sweeter and I got the secret behind that matcha latte from the Barista but let’s keep it as a secret. I am sure, if you ask the baristas over there, they are more welcome to share this little secret with you and you might change your potential “negative” thoughts about matcha latte.
Healthy drinks are not limited to matcha latte. There are few more such as filter coffee and turmeric latte. I found a place in Tesvikiye, Istanbul which has many healthy options for both drinks and foods. The place called “Healin”. I tried both the special edition filter coffee and turmeric latte. The special filter coffee is better than any other filter coffee I have ever tried because they are mixing it with ghee (special oil which is claimed to be healthy oil). In addition to that, I believe many people prefer turmeric latter der matcha latte. So, there are healthy options in many places, but we just need to look for it and prefer it. Otherwise, they will disappear.
4- View Points
Sometimes we just want to stay alone and chill, think or do whatever we want but alone. In those situations, it is best to watch beautiful views. For me, the view is basically the Bosphorus. I am living in Istanbul and it is usual for us to be close to the sea. I have realized how important for me to be close to the sea when I am away from home and the sea. I feel overwhelmed after some time. Therefore, I have a couple of spots to see a beautiful view. No matter which part of Istanbul I am in, I have some beautiful spots.
My first spot is from my high school days. Aga Kapisi is a place in Eminonu which is known by a few since you need to climb the hill to get there. I love this place not just for the view but the drinks as well. I have tried “Banana Tea” for the first time at this place and so many other flavors such as kiwi and berry. I became more of a tea drinker after I have tasted the banana tea. Additionally, there is plenty of option for coffee as well. Moreover, you could get some traditional drinks as well such as serbet, such sweet stuff.
Second, there is another viewpoint to have a view and delicious food at the same time. This place is called Hünkar Köskü, and it is hidden in the wood**.** This place serves most of the traditional foods we have known for and desserts as well. The beautiful view of the second bridge is gorgeous while eating delicious food. That would be enough for me to go there.
Another viewpoint is Ulus Cafe which is quite a touristic place which is known for the view as well. The menu is rich and has plenty of places to see the beautiful view. Can I ask for more?
5- Chocolate Addict
I am not a chocolate person, but it is wonderful to indulge yourself. For special occasions, I have a couple of chocolate places I go with my friends. The first and the best is Cikolata Dukkani! This was a small place, but the demand was so much. Thus, they have opened the second place. This place is known for its chocolates and how they name the desserts. They prefer old Turkish names to name the desserts and it makes it catchy**.** I prefer dessert with some chocolate, strawberry and the cream one because I love strawberries and there are some chocolate options such as bitter, milk chocolate and white chocolate. I prefer bitter to avoid so much sugar(!). This dessert is called “Asuman” and there are other types of desserts with lots of chocolate.
I guess the Turkish people love chocolate. Who would not? We have another great spot, Valonia Chocolate and Coffee, to get some delicious chocolate. This cafe is known for Volcano which is a dessert that chocolate spread all over the place when you try to divide it. However, it is almost impossible to finish the dessert alone because that is too much chocolate. There is another chocolatier close to this place but I believe they set the bar high by having various unique chocolates and drinks. This place is called Mendel’s Chocolatier, but it is really hard to talk about one particular popular chocolate since there are many! I guess I have talked a lot about chocolate. Let’s move on!
6- Let’s Party!
When you live in a big city, it could be difficult to find places which is available for big groups. It is important to be aware of potential crowded times. Moreover, it is important to be accessible to everyone as well. Many prefer Taksim for big groups which can be a great option if all participants live on the European side. However, if there are some people from the Asian side as well, it is much better to meet up in Besiktas and I have a favorite place for groups.
First one is Joker No.19. This has great options to eat and drink. There is a place both inside and outside and big tables for groups.
Second place is Dorock XL. This is my favorite spot because I had such a great time over there with the groups I have been. So, when you are in a group, you need to decide strategically.
7- “It is art!”
Some cafes have something special which separate them from other cafes. I have a special radar for those places. I am looking forward to those places and I believe I found some.
The first time I have heard about blue spirulina when I was in Germany for Erasmus. I have tried to cook something blue with that. Unfortunately, it did not work out as I expected. When I was back in Istanbul, I heard there is a place which makes colorful lattes. It made me so excited and even though there is a line in front of the cafe most of the time, I took the risk and went there. I was such a good atmosphere and the pink, blue, purple lattes were real. I was quite happy to see something blue, my favorite color, with my own eyes (It is not easy to find something in blue, is it?).
Even though Emelia Cafe was unique for its colorful lattes, I can’t really forget the best coffee that I have drunk.
Everyone has the best place for the things that they love and here is mine:
“Home Cafe” in San Francisco. As the name suggests, I feel like home when I go there. Why do I love this place?
Honestly, I love everything that is colorful and sweet. I miss the taste of “Birthday Cake”. It is even harder to talk about it when you are in “No Sugar Challenge” almost 30 days! Birthday cake is a coffee that has a colorful figure on the top. This figure is so beautiful that no one would like to touch it, but you could not resist the taste. So, you pay close attention to drink carefully. It is sweeter than the coffee, but you can still taste coffee and enjoy the moment.
If you visit Istanbul, respond to this post in case you have questions to ask about my city. I could create you a little tour as a local person!