{"id":92038,"date":"2015-05-18T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2015-05-18T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/travelstartblg.wpenginepowered.com\/thought-knew-istanbul-10-things-didnt\/"},"modified":"2025-11-04T13:52:40","modified_gmt":"2025-11-04T13:52:40","slug":"thought-knew-istanbul-10-things-didnt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/thought-knew-istanbul-10-things-didnt\/","title":{"rendered":"And You Thought You Knew Istanbul: 10 Insider Tips You Didn&#8217;t"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>There&#8217;s the Istanbul of our collective imaginations: Turkish delight, the Hagia Sophia and Persian carpets piled high. And then there&#8217;s the Istanbul of <a title=\"Yener Torun's colourful Istanbul\" href=\"https:\/\/instagram.com\/cimkedi\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Yener Torun<\/a>:\u00a0a young-old energetic city changing by the day. The city of Suleiman the Magnificent is alive with modern Raki\u00a0bars, hip co-working spaces and everything you didn&#8217;t expect.<\/p>\n<p>And the best news is you don&#8217;t need to go into an embassy to apply for a Turkish Visa- <a title=\"How to apply for a Turkish e-Visa\" href=\"https:\/\/travelstartstg.wpenginepowered.com\/apply-turkish-visa-south-african\/\">3 clicks<\/a> and you&#8217;ll have an e-Visa that&#8217;s valid for a 30-day visit.<\/p>\n<h2>1. A Bar Above: Mikla Rooftop Terrace<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-37897\" title=\"Best rooftop bar in Istanbul\" src=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/item10.rendition.slideshow.rooftop-restaurants-bars-11-mikla-istanbul-lisa-limer.jpg\" alt=\"mikla rooftop terrace by lisa limer: http:\/\/www.architecturaldigest.com\/ad\/travel\/2013\/rooftop-bars-restaurants-best-views-new-york-miami-paris-slideshow_slideshow_item10_11 \" width=\"780\" height=\"520\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"> Mikla Rooftop Terrace by Lisa Limer at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.architecturaldigest.com\/ad\/travel\/2013\/rooftop-bars-restaurants-best-views-new-york-miami-paris-slideshow_slideshow_item10_11\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Architectural Digest<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">This is <a title=\"Location of the Mikla\" href=\"http:\/\/pera.themarmarahotels.com\/location-map\/default.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the best rooftop bar<\/a> in the city to grab drinks and gaze at the Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia with the hip set as the sun sets over the Bosphorus. Perched at the top of the Marmara Pera, the minimalist chrome furniture contrasts spectacularly with the unfurling cityscape.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Be inspired by the energy of New Istanbul:<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=0Ov3MzI5rVY<\/p>\n<h2>2. Make it a Double: Karabatak Coffee House, Karak\u00f6y<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-37898\" title=\"Karabatak Coffee House- the Locals' Choice\" src=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Karabatak.jpg\" alt=\"Karabatak Cafe by Sevinc Rende http:\/\/www.tripstanbul.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Karabatak.jpg \" width=\"780\" height=\"780\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"> Karabatak Caf\u00e9 by Sevinc Rende on <a href=\" http:\/\/www.tripstanbul.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Karabatak.jpg \" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tripstanbul<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p>This is the neighbourhood favourite in the cool Karak\u00f6y district. The caf\u00e9 is named after the Cormorant birds which dive for fish in the nearby Bosphorus. The baristas speak English and you can have a look at the menu <a title=\"Karabatak Menu\" href=\"http:\/\/www.karabatak.com\/Menu\/4\/0\/MENU\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Find them <a title=\"Karabatak Cafe, Istanbul\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.co.za\/maps\/place\/Karabatak\/@41.025245,28.979236,15z\/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0xc56382c5857593aa\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a>. Open from Monday to Sunday, from 8:30am to 10:00pm.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Also read:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a title=\"5 Things You Need In Order To Visit Turkey\" href=\"https:\/\/travelstartstg.wpenginepowered.com\/5-things-need-order-visit-turkey-faq-fridays\/\">5 Things You Need In Order To Visit Turkey\u00a0<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>3. Souq Karak\u00f6y<\/h2>\n<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Insider-guide.jpeg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-38015\" title=\"The hippest place to shop every Sunday\" src=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Insider-guide.jpeg\" alt=\"Insider guide\" width=\"779\" height=\"500\" \/><\/a><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"> Souq Karakoy by Elif Savari Kizil at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theguideistanbul.com\/news\/view\/1702\/souq-karakoy-a-fashionable-bazaar\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Guide Istanbul<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Of course you should take a wander through the Grand Bazaar, but if you want to ditch the tourists and shop with the locals then head over to Souq Karak\u00f6y, a designer market that pops-up every Sunday. Find it <a title=\"Location of Souq Karakoy\" href=\"https:\/\/www.here.com\/directions\/drive\/mylocation\/e-eyJuYW1lIjoiU291cSBLYXJha1x1MDBmNnkiLCJsYXRpdHVkZSI6NDEuMDI1NDMzNDcxNzY2LCJsb25naXR1ZGUiOjI4Ljk4MDI2NDA0NTMzNCwicHJvdmlkZXJOYW1lIjoiZmFjZWJvb2siLCJwcm92aWRlcklkIjoxNDIzMjEyNTM0NjAzMzQ4fQ==?map=41.025433471766,28.980264045334,17,normal&amp;ref=facebook\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>4. Hangout at the Hans<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-38014\" title=\"A view of Galata Tower from Buyuk Valide Han\" src=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Galata-Tower-from-Buyuk-Valide-Han-e1410549757426.jpg\" alt=\"Galata-Tower-from-Buyuk-Valide-Han-e1410549757426\" width=\"780\" height=\"437\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"> Buyuk Valide Han at Backpackin Istanbul<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">There are many abandoned hans (old inns) around central Istanbul. You could spend an entire day exploring them (some have been re-purposed as workshops).\u00a0Buyuk Valide Han in Tahtakale (between the\u00a0Spice Bazaar and Grand Bazaar) has a spectacular view of Galata Tower (another insider tip: buy a beer from a supermarket and join the locals at dusk around the Galata Tower). You might have to pay the guard a few liras for him to let you up to the roof but it is welll-worth it- just look at that view! Tread carefully as the building is very old. Find it <a title=\"Buyuk Valide Han\" href=\"https:\/\/plus.google.com\/105533987923602909461\/about?gl=za&amp;hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>5. Arcadia at Arka Oda<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/arkoda-paradiso.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-38020\" title=\"DJ Collective Paradiso plays at Arkaoda\" src=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/arkoda-paradiso.jpg\" alt=\"arkoda-paradiso\" width=\"778\" height=\"778\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"> DJ Paradiso at <a href=\" http:\/\/www.arkaoda.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Arkaoda <\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Travelstart&#8217;s G\u00f6zde Tekay recommends the Kad\u0131k\u00f6y district on the Asian side which has many cool pubs and caf\u00e9s such as Arka Oda. Arka Oda supports interesting independent music acts such as the DJ collective Paradiso. Have a look at their upcoming music <a title=\"Music Program at Ark Oda\" href=\"http:\/\/www.arkaoda.com\/?\/default\/program\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">program<\/a>, and find them\u00a0<a title=\"Location of Arka Oda\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.co.za\/maps\/place\/Arka+Oda\/@40.9790471,29.0307417,14z\/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x14cab866c2290027:0x88da0a80a49f3ded?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Discover more:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a title=\"A Whirlwind Tour of Istanbul\" href=\"https:\/\/travelstartstg.wpenginepowered.com\/a-whirlwind-tour-of-istanbul\/\">A Whirlwind Tour of Istanbul<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>6. Something Old, Something New: Yeni Lokanta<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Yeni-Lokanta-by-Monique-Jaques.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-38055\" title=\"Chef Civan Er of Yeni Lokanta making New Turkish Cuisine inspired by old Turkish traditions\" src=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Yeni-Lokanta-by-Monique-Jaques.jpg\" alt=\"Yeni Lokanta by Monique Jaques\" width=\"780\" height=\"585\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"> Yeni Lokanta by Monique Jaques at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.culinarybackstreets.com\/istanbul\/2013\/yeni-lokanta\/ \" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Culinary Backstreets<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Yeni Lokanta, which means &#8220;new canteen&#8221;, is a restaurant which puts a new spin on traditional Turkish cooking methods. Chef Civan Er is a part of the New Turkish Cuisine movement. He uses the same fresh ingredients popular in traditional Anatolian cooking but in novel ways. Dinner comes in a series of small courses, highlights are the Antep <em>Sucuk<\/em> (wood-fired, dry spicy sausage) on a bed of pur\u00e9ed beans served with simple Turkish bread in copper bowls. They&#8217;re closed on Sunday. Find them <a title=\"Yeni Lokanta Location\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.co.za\/maps\/place\/Yeni+Lokanta+-+Bar\/@41.029422,28.975569,15z\/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x4ea7cd502d773958\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>7. Belle Heybeliada<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-38026\" title=\"The view from restful Princes Island Heybeliada\" src=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Istanbul-14-somedayspoon.jpg\" alt=\"Istanbul-14 somedayspoon\" width=\"780\" height=\"496\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"> View from Heybeliada at <a href=\"http:\/\/somedayspoon.com\/2012\/10\/istanbul-and-the-princes-islands-travel\/#.VUtWevmqqko\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">SomedaySpoon<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Catch one of the many daily ferries in summer and escape to Heybeliada, the second largest of the Prince Islands in the Sea of Marmara, It is a mere 20 km from central Istanbul and like the other 8 Prince Islands no private cars are permitted making it a pleasure to walk around. This is where the wealthy Ottoman families built their summer homes. Take a stroll and enjoy the architecture of the monastery and the Byzantine Church, the last church to be built before the conquest of Constantinople.<\/p>\n<h2>8. Beyond The Pines: Suma Beach<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-38022\" title=\"Summer is coming: the best beach in range of Istanbul\" src=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/suma-beach.jpg\" alt=\"suma beach- http:\/\/82.222.152.134\/fotogaleri\/haber_icerik\/images\/2013\/TEMMUZ\/26%20Temmuz\/beach2.jpg\" width=\"780\" height=\"439\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"> Suma Beach by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.aksam.com.tr\/cumartesi\/komun-hayat-oh-ne-rahat\/haber-229538\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Aksam<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Suma beach is found along the black sea coast tucked between green hills and the sea, only an hour&#8217;s drive from central Istanbul. It turns into a reveler&#8217;s paradise at night with parties that go on well into the next day. If that&#8217;s not your scene then join them for day-time yoga. Catch one of their <a title=\"Suma Beach\" href=\"http:\/\/www.suma-beach.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">shuttles<\/a> from\u00a0Dar\u00fc\u015f\u015fafaka, Istanbul. It&#8217;s also possible to camp if you book in advance. Check out their summer line-up <a title=\"Suma Beach Facebook Page\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SumaBeach\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Also read:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a title=\"A Walking Tour of Istanbul\" href=\"https:\/\/travelstartstg.wpenginepowered.com\/a-walking-tour-of-istanbul\/\">A Walking Tour of Istanbul<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>9. Tra La &#8220;Lala Plak&#8221; Record Store<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Lale-Plak-Istanbul.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-37988\" title=\"Lale Plak Record Store\" src=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Lale-Plak-Istanbul.jpg\" alt=\"Lale Plak by on https:\/\/orientexpresswriters.files.wordpress.com\/2013\/02\/lale-plak.jpg \" width=\"780\" height=\"585\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"> Lale Plak Records by <a href=\"https:\/\/orientexpresswriters.files.wordpress.com\/2013\/02\/lale-plak.jpg?w=500&amp;h=375\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">OrientExpressWriters<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">An Istanbul institution, Lala Plak Records run by Hakan Atala, has been around for more than 50 years. He has an extensive range of vinyls including jazz, contemporary, classic and world music as well as 70&#8217;s Turkish singers like\u00a0Bar\u0131\u015f Man\u00e7o or Ajda Pekkan. See the location <a title=\"Lale Plak Records Google Map Location\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.co.za\/maps\/place\/Lale+Plak\/@41.028489,28.974445,15z\/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x639f127ce935aaa4?sa=X&amp;ei=oY1MVdjLLeGa7gb4qYCACA&amp;ved=0CIkBEPwSMA8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>10. One Raki, Two Raki, Three Raki: M\u00fcnferit<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/bunkhostels-munferit.jpeg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-38036\" title=\"Drink traditional Raki in a modern setting the Istanbulian way\" src=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/bunkhostels-munferit.jpeg\" alt=\"bunkhostels munferit\" width=\"779\" height=\"520\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"> Munferit at <a href=\"https:\/\/bunkhostels.wordpress.com\/2014\/01\/13\/gaspar-uber-stylish-new-restaurant-bar-in-karakoy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">BunkHostelsWordpress<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p>You can&#8217;t leave Istanbul without spending an evening at a <a title=\"Definition of Meyhane\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meyhane\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Meyhane<\/a>\u00a0drinking Raki, the fiery chalk-coloured anise drink. There are contemporary Meyhanes such as M\u00fcnferit (featured above) which wouldn&#8217;t be out of place in SoHo as well as more traditional taverns such as\u00a0<a title=\"Cukur Meyhanesi \" href=\"http:\/\/www.theguideistanbul.com\/spots\/view\/2849\/cukur-meyhane\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u00c7ukur Meyhanesi<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a title=\"Sehir Meyhanesi\" href=\"http:\/\/www.theguideistanbul.com\/spots\/view\/2435\/sehir-meyhanesi\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u015eehir Meyhanesi<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Do you have insider tips to add? Let us know below.<\/p>\n<p>Thanks to Jess Bosworth Smith and Travelstart&#8217;s G\u00f6zde Tekay for their savvy insider-knowledge.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Header Image at top of the page: Istanbul by Moyan Brenn on Flickr<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There&#8217;s the Istanbul of our collective imaginations: Turkish delight, the Hagia Sophia and Persian carpets piled high. And then there&#8217;s the Istanbul of Yener Torun:\u00a0a young-old energetic city changing by the day. The city of Suleiman the Magnificent is alive with modern Raki\u00a0bars, hip co-working spaces and everything you didn&#8217;t expect. And the best news is you don&#8217;t need to go into an embassy to &#8230; <a title=\"And You Thought You Knew Istanbul: 10 Insider Tips You Didn&#8217;t\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/thought-knew-istanbul-10-things-didnt\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about And You Thought You Knew Istanbul: 10 Insider Tips You Didn&#8217;t\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":92049,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16,445],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-92038","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel","category-destinations-travel","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-33"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>And You Thought You Knew Istanbul: 10 Insider Tips You Didn&#039;t | Travelstart Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"There&#039;s the Istanbul of our collective imaginations: Turkish delight, the Hagia Sophia and Persian carpets piled high. 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