Attention to detail, laid-back atmosphere, and great food are the common features of Backyard, Lokanta Maya, Tag Cafe & Bistro, and Journey. The best part about them: if you go once, you’ll feel so at home that you’ll become a frequenter right away. Just grab a few friends, spend a leisurely afternoon eating good food, and let the hours fleet away.

Backyard:Located in the Bebeköy neighborhood of Etiler, Backyard is housed on the same grounds as the MAC sports club, which gives the restaurant a somewhat country-club atmosphere. As the name implies, Backyard does indeed have a large backyard with plenty of cushions and seats for lounging in the sun during the summer months. The restaurant’s main building has vaulted ceilings with skylights, giving the space a very light and airy feel. There are plenty of warm wood and broad floor boards painted white, with both modern and retro furniture. This is the type of place that you would sooner expect to find in trendy Asmalımescit, although the crowd is very Bebek. Backyard is definitely cool, but not too cool, and still manages to be warm and inviting. The menu focuses on natural and organic produce and many of the ingredients are sourced from co-owner Zeynep Moroğlu’s family farm in Çatalca. The menu ranges from Turkish classics to more international fare. The mains include lamb chops, steak, grilled salmon, several pastas, and other fairly standard dishes, as well as the more innovative “mini tastes”. One of the menu highlights is the excellent wheat risotto with porcini mushrooms. Another noteworthy dish was the oven-baked mücver. While the mains are certainly very satisfying, be sure to leave room for dessert. Bebeköy Sokak No. 1, Etiler; P: (0212) 287 15 00

Lokanta Maya:Open since May 2010 in Karaköy right next to Karaköy Lokantası, Lokanta Maya is set on one ideal: offering flavorful dishes made from local, fresh, and seasonal ingredients. Lokanta Maya’s dynamic menu reflects this ideal, changing between lunch and dinner, from one day to the next, from one season to the other. Although the majority of dishes on the menu are inspired from Aegean and Mediterranean cuisines, the menu is varied enough to include specialties from other regions of Turkey, such as hamsi (anchovy) from the Black Sea Region. The décor is quite minimal with rustic tables giving the venue quite a homey feel. The little details make all the difference in this simple but tasteful interior, like the fresh flowers on each table and the cool hanging lamps. The menu does change seasonally, but we suggest you try their Mücver, salatalıklı yoğurt sos (fried vegetable patties with yogurt-mint-cucumber sauce) and çıtır hamsi (fried anchovy) if it’s on the menu when you go there. Kemankeş Caddesi 35-A, Karaköy; P: (0212) 252 68 84

Tag Cafe & Bistro: Located on a side street off of İstiklal Caddesi right next to Galeri Arter, Tag Cafe & Bistro is a small and cozy restaurant. The menu, which changes weekly, is prepared by Chef Ekin Doğrusöz, a foodie who learned the craft of cooking in France, having fallen in love with food in his mother’s kitchen. Prepared with the freshest and seasonal ingredients, Tag’s menu offers international fare. You might find yourself eating chili con carne (an exquisite meat dish served with rice) one day, and tagliatelle the next. İstiklal Caddesi Postacılar Sokak No.1/A, Beyoğlu; P: (0212) 243 68 42

Journey:  Located on one of Cihangir’s liveliest streets is Journey, a cozy restaurant that reflects the character of the neighborhood that it’s located in: international, modern, and laid-back. With comfy sofas, coffee tables, bookshelves filled with interesting books and magazines, Journey is truly a home away from home. The venue is often filled with familiar faces from Turkish TV shows and the big screen, as well as expats and locals who have apparently made Journey their second home. There is something for everyone on the menu, from classic Turkish home-cooked meals with a twist, like ev usülü yaprak sarma (home-made stuffed vine leaves), to homemade pastas and pizzas, salads, and meat dishes. The çimlendirilmiş mercimekli ılık patates salatası (warm potato salad with sprouted lentils) comes highly recomended, so do the fıstıklı sebze ve bulgur pilavı (vegetables and bulgur rice with pine nuts) and keçi peyniri, fesleğen pesto, domates, roka(goat cheese, basil pesto, tomato, and rocket) pizza. Although Journey is strictly a restaurant, meaning it doesn’t turn into a bar after hours like many of Istanbul’s restaurants, their cocktails are delicious. Journey could very well be your new stop before you head down to Kiki or another Cihangir bar. Akarsu Caddesi No.21/A, Cihangir; P: (0212) 244 89 89