Located on Meşrutiyet Caddesi (a few steps away from Bird), the building that Baylo is situated in was built in the 1870s by the Kamondo family (you may have heard of them from the famous Kamondo staircase in Karaköy). Before Baylo opened its doors in October 2011, the building went under a serious three-year restoration. Now, Baylo’s interior is the ideal mix of the old and the new: the ceiling and walls carry the worn-out glory of the old days, the antique mirror by the bar gives a sense of beautiful imperfection, while the modern seating and tableware remind us that we’re in fact dining in the 21^st century.

Both inside and outside, the tables are small (for 2-4 people), except for one large table that can seat 8-10 people. The outdoor dining area is well-heated, so all the tables are filled, even on cold days. The bar, which features black-and-brown bar stools by Aziz Sarıyer of Derin Design, is designed to allow for comfortable seating while eating.

The something-for-everyone menu offers soup of the day (which is always something out of the ordinary like chestnut, pea, carrot, or beetroot soup), salads (caprese salad, goat cheese salad, and salmon salad), charcuterie plate, mains (Super Hamburger, Chicken Schnitzel, Pork Sausage) and more, all prepared by the young and talented Berk Baysan.

Much like the menu, the crowd is a pleasant mix as well - mostly 30+ during the week but slightly younger on weekends. The venue starts to fill up at around 7:30pm and there’s a nice circulation from then on. Everybody is smartly dressed without being particularly over-dressed, casual but not in an I-just-rolled-out-of-bed look. The venue has a steady stream of its frequenters, neighborhood professionals, and tourists - in for a cocktail with a colleague by the bar, dinner and longed-for chats, or the glorious charcuterie plate and a glass of wine.

A rotating group of five female DJs are in charge of the turntable on Fridays and Saturdays (and sometimes during the week), playing whatever suits the mood on a particular day, from 80s to lounge, from indie rock to nu jazz. A London-based DJ company is in charge of the music when the girls are not around, playing a range of unfamiliar songs that instantly feel familiar. Although the venue never turns into a full-blown club, the music picks up after 10:30pm, and people start to dance around, especially on weekends.

Recommended Dishes

Tagliata

Charcuterie plate

Beetroot Soup

Recommended Cocktails

Green Apple Martini

Baylo Rose

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Spread over five floors of a corner building in one of the side streets of İstiklal, Nayah is the one and only bar in Istanbul dedicated to Reggae music. Originally established to attract the African community in the city, it now gathers large crowds of students, young expats, funky locals, and anyone down for a night of chilled dub, rocksteady, ska, and hip hop. Its large terrace overlooking the city serves as a performance space where bands and DJs play regularly until dawn. With its hip and friendly atmosphere, Nayah is great for those that want to feel closer to the tropics. Bring comfortable shoes to dance all night long to Nayah favorites like "Legalize Ganja" by Wayne Marshall, "Meme Si" by Dub Inc., and "Miracle Worker" by Superheavy.

A great party atmosphere and good music come together under Skandal!’s roof, a spacious nightclub in Taksim to enter Istanbul’s nightlife scene in the last days of 2011. This is quite a large venue, with a bar area, a dance floor right by the DJ booth, and a seriously long corridor that leads to the terrace (the meeting point for the smokers in the venue).

At Skandal!, the aim is to let everyone boogie - you’ll hear a range of music that will move your body, from indie dance and electronica to nu house and nu disco. Keep in mind that the venue doesn’t get crowded before 01:00am – 02:00am. If you’re a large group, it’d be a good idea to head there when you start out your night, and dance the night away at Skandal!.

Taps is Turkey’s first brewpub, and is still one of the only pubs in Istanbul to make craft beer. This makes the venue especially attractive for tourists and expats who are big fans of microbrewery. The pub’s location is also a huge plus – it’s located on Cevdetpaşa Caddesi in Bebek and looks right at the Bosphorus.

You don’t have to be a beer connoisseur to enjoy the craft beer at Taps. Just look through the Taps Craft Beer Guide on the back of the menu, read through the various kinds of craft beer on offer, and take your pick. There are approximately 20 kinds, with a range of Lager, Ale, Wheat beer, Stout, Dark, and more. In addition to Taps’s own craft beers, you’ll find a variety of bottled beer, such as Amstel, Amstel Light, Budweiser, Heineken, Corona, and Apoftel Brau. The menu offers classic fried food that serve as the perfect accompaniment to beer. Music gets going after 10pm, with playlists of popular songs.

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Located on the corner of the popular hangout Tomtom Sokak, We is a great bar to chill after a concert in Taksim or let the hours while away with friends on a lazy weekend. You can enjoy your drinks sitting on the barstools inside or by the outdoor tables on the first floor, dance on the second floor right by the DJ cabin, or chill out on the airy terrace on the top floor (which is open during winter season as well). Fridays and Saturdays are always reserved for DJs playing mostly electronic house and pop, while it’s possible to close down the venue for a private party on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Located right next to the Pera Museum in Beyoğlu, Nupera is a restaurant/club complex that houses four different venues. During winter, Nupera is a combination of three distinctively-conceptualized restaurants (Auf, LilBitz, and 67) that transform into nightclubs after midnight. During summer, the entertainment moves up to the rooftop restaurant/club calledNuteras, which is famous for its exceptional views of the old city as well as its hip and young crowd.

During winter, you can bar-hop without putting your jacket on, as the three separate venues are open for all who are within the complex. You will hear funky house, electro, 80s and 90s, and contemporary dance songs from all three places and you can sway your hips to whichever venue you prefer and keep hopping as the night goes on. The drinks are a bit pricey and the dress code is strictly chic. So fill up your wallet, dress to impress, and be prepared to charm the guy at the door to be able to enter on a Saturday night.

It has to be said, although the concept of Tektekçi is to warm up for a long night out, the music is so good that many end up spending the majority of their night at Tektekçi. If you like to dance to a mix of upbeat songs – anything from Adele and Lily Allen to the golden oldies pieces like “Let’s Twist Again” - you may have to cancel your post-Tektekçi plans.

Now - the logistics. There is no coat check but there are several overhead shelves and hooks under the bar where you can put your coats.The venue is very crowded and you may have to wait a while to get to your long-awaited shots, but the wait is definitely worth it. The sweet bartenders are more than helpful in helping you choose what to drink. The menu is quite comprehensive, which may make the decision process painful. But the menu is arranged for even the most wasted in the room: there are separate sections for sweet, sour, sweet-and-sour, spicy, and straight. The easiest option may be to order the tray where you get 10 or 20 shots at once to avoid waiting and to try as many delicious shots as possible. Beware that this technique requires much more caution - it is pretty much a one way street to hangover hell.

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Located in the heart of Asmalımescit, Off Pera is pinned as an extremely popular spot for the lively Asmalı crowd, attracting a mix of dedicated locals the rare visitor as well. Be warned- if you’re looking for the mind-numbing effects of techno, dubstep, and house music, Off Pera tends to stick to local and international pop/dance pieces. This is the ideal place to pop in, have a beer, dance for a while, and move on to more rowdy venues.

Tips:

- The venue is quite small, and gets full pretty early on in the night, so if you want to avoid waiting in line, head there before midnight.

In the Van is a party organization venue thatoffers two locations: In the Van Small and In the Van Odakule. In the Van Small is—you guessed it—a smaller venue than In the Van Odakule. It’s more like a mini club that can take up to 50 people, whereas In the Van Odakule is decorated more like a house, and can take up to 100 people.

The team behind In the Van takes care of everything for you: the drinks, the music (DJ), lights and sound system, decoration, invites. And the best part is you don’t have to worry about the morning-after clean-up session! The music is arranged by the in-house DJs according to your taste. If you want to nibble on some finger food, they can arrange that as well. Parties are held any day of the week, starting at 09:00pm and lasting until 02:00am. The venue rental is 250 TL for In the Van Small and 500 TL for In the Van Odakule. The pricing for alcohol is per person: 50 TL for 3 local or 2 international drinks, 75 TL for unlimited local drinks, 125 TL for unlimited international drinks. Call In the Van for more info on pricing.Please note that the minimum number of guests for both locations is 30.

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The Ice Bar is a project of the famous Ice Hotel in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden. Like the Ice Hotel, the interior of the Ice Bar is made from blocks of ice harvested from the Torne River. The Ice Bar serves 21 different alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks in goblets of ice, including eight varieties of cocktail made with Absolut vodka with inventive names like Northern Light, Midnight Sun, and Aurora Borealis.

There is high customer demand (and a maximum capacity of 50 people) so reservations are highly recommended, which you can do on the Ice Bar’s website. The duration of each visit is 45 minutes, and payment must be made in advance.

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Bird is the brain child of a couple of seasoned restaurant owners who were tired of "same-y" places and wanted something new. It is a modest sized restaurant with a laid back, cafe feel and a great bar for the before and after dinner crowd as well.

The dining space has two tables for smokers. The food is very good and includes a selection of dishes from International & Turkish cuisine along with Asian Fusion treats, meat and fish grills. The meat is particularly good, and there are light protein based salads as well as snacks for vegetarians or grazers.

Around midnight on Friday and Saturday the restaurant transforms into a crowded and dimly lit bar with the clientele sipping on cocktails and swaying to the beats produced by the live DJ.

Reservations can be made between 12-7pm from the following number: (0532) 556 4356

Recommended Cocktails:

Bird Mojito

Recommended Dishes:

Avocado, Goat Cheese and Tomato

Guacamole with Shrimps

Tom Yam Kung (Spicy shrimp soup)

Thai Style Spicy Tenderloin

Oven Baked Lamb Shank

Thai Seabass

Note: Closed for the summer.

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Who needs enticement to spend a night in Asmalımescit, one of the most lively and vibrant parts of Beyoğlu? Just in case you haven’t been amazed by the nightlife in this fantastic part of the city, Up Lounge should be the tip of the iceberg for anyone on the edge.

Up Lounge focuses on Spanish cuisine and boasts a gorgeous view of the Golden Horn that only Istanbulites can sample. Take a seat by the deck and try some of their signature Paella dishes on the updated menu. Even if you want to make this spot a stop on your nighttime trek instead of a destination, give a try to the tapas or grilled dishes. The lounge is also proud of their creative cocktail selection, and we challenge you to find the perfect drink-tapas combination. Keep in mind that Friday nights take on a special atmosphere with live music courtesy of ethnic performer Brenda Berrin.

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Combining International cuisinewith Turkish undertones, the menu is relatively well-mixed between the cultures, making your options much more expansive. It’s frequent to see live music at the wide rooftop terrace and indoor bar. No Istanbul spot is complete without a signature cocktail list and 5. Kat boasts everything from Bailey’s coffee for an after dinner drink to the well-known Manhattan for those wishing to lengthen the evening.

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The quality of the food is excellent, and in combination with the inspired vision of Gürs, the resulting masterpieces are enticing creations that lure clients to return for more. The prices are not modest, but the food is worth it.

To demonstrate Gürs’ creative fusion of Turkish and Scandanavian elements, the Gravlax with cacık(yogurt with chopped cucumber)and dill is a perfect example of complimenting ingredients; both with distinctive national taste. Nothing could be more Scandanavian than Gravlax, and the creaminess of Turkish cacıkmixed with dill is the perfect accompaniment.

Alongside this, other delicacies which can be found on the menu are molasses-glazed lamb with apricot and mustard-seeded mashed potato, and a very impressive array of cheeses presented with walnuts, quince jam, fig and other excellent condiments.

The wines list is also very solid. The restaurant itself is on the top floor of hotel with breathtaking views, making it a perfect date venue (especially during summer), with the food sure to not disappoint.

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Tips:

- Friday and Saturday nights get quite crowded.

A restaurant by day and a full-blown club come 11pm, Lokal Tünel is a favorite among locals who like to shake their booty. From Tuesday to Saturday between 11pm and 4am, you can barhop within Lokal Tünel just by going up and down the stairs. The entrance floor is where house music rules and the third floor is dedicated to pop. Weeknight or weekend, if you want to dance, you know where the party is.

Located on the roof of a historical building in Pera, Nu Teras reopens for the summer season on May 10. Affording a lovely view of the Haliç Bay, the cuisine consists of specialties from Inernational cuisine. There is also a bar where you can enjoy a variety of perfectly prepared cocktails pre or post dinner.

After dinnertime Nuteras transforms into a popular and crowded bar with a glass dancefloor in the middle that beckons participants to look down all the way to the ground floor, while they dance the night away.

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Rook’s menu is designed by award-winning chef Eyüp Gül and includes small bites, pizzas, pastas, and salads. Although the food is decent, we don’t recommend eating there on a Friday or Saturday night – the venue turns into a lively bar after 10pm, so if you’re still eating by then, you’ll have a hard time enjoying your food let alone have a conversation. That said, the bar turns out tasty and original cocktails – Patrooke (made with eggplant and vodka) comes highly recommended. All in all, a modern and sleek interior designed by Emir Uras and performances from renowned DJ Alain Silifkeli make Rook a very cool addition to Şişhane’s ever-evolving nightlife scene.

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Cihangir’s hotspot MiniMüzikhol is the underground legend of Istanbul’s nightlife. The loyal fans of MiniMüzikhol (aka Istanbul’s most hardcore hipsters) waddle their way there in the wee hours of the night (it doesn’t really get going before 2am). Local and international DJs get behind the deck from Wednesday to Saturday, often performing some of the most interactive DJ performances you have ever seen. Deep house, minimal techno, acid house, funk, and disco are some of the genres you can expect to hear in the club. Take note that the venue gets quite crowded after 3am, especially on Fridays and Saturdays, and the dress code is strictly hipster – moustache, glasses, and plaid shirts for men, torn t-shirts, funky haircuts, and glasses for women.

In case you get a sudden and strong urge to indulge in Asian food, that’s easy too. Chilai has a sushi bar to silence your craving. This multi-floor locale also contains a Godiva chocolate store for chocolate addicts and an art gallery for those who think that art is the food for the soul. This is the all-in-one venue where you can pursuit different pleasures facing the beautiful view of the Bosphorus.

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Tips:

- It’s best to show up early on Fridays and Saturdays as it gets crowded very fast. The party usually starts after 11pm and goes until 5am.

- Sundays are an excellent day to hang out at the terrace and have an afternoon beer. There is usually no cover charge to get in (though some of the concerts on the second floor require a ticket).

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Located in W Hotel in Akaretler, Minyon is a hip and young venue that boasts an elegantly decorated interior and a rich menu, which includes soups, starters, sandwiches, pasta, pizza, fish, and meat dishes. Minyon’s music selection is wide and varied, and includes classics, covers, lounge, and chillout music.

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The center of the cool and the hip, Kiki is a small and often crowded bar (which is a restaurant during the day) where local DJs often play electronica, funk, house, and techno. Kiki is located right on Sıraselviler Caddesi, across from Cihangir’s landmark German Hospital, and is on most hipsters’ trail on a night out. It’s better to head to Kiki earlier than later as to avoid waiting at the door.

Recommended Drinks

Sakızlı Vodka (mastic vodka made with mastic and Absolut vanilla)

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Arkaoda is one of the highlights of nightlife on the Asian Side. Located in Kadıköy’s lively street Kadife Sokak, Arkaoda is a cozy bar frequented by expats, tourists, and Kadıköy locals.

If you’re after a dynamic crowd, head to Arkaoda after 10:00pm – 11:00pm. The venue is quite calm before then, so if you are in the mood for a casual bar where you can sit on comfy velvet couches in a softly-lit, cozy atmosphere, you can enjoy some good music and a beer at Arkaoda. Apart from the cozy interior, Apart from the cozy interior, there is also a backyard, which turns into a winter garden when the weather starts to cool. Actually, it’s the backyard that’s draws the biggest crowds during summer as well as winter.

The venue is home to many local and international DJs, and occasionally hosts live performances by indie international and local musicians.

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Open since December 2009, this innovative restaurant offers an extraordinary culinary experience in a small yet vivacious space. Asymmetric shelves and tables as well as original ceiling décor set off the quirky atmosphere. Unsurprisingly, LilBitz offers tapas-style food. Each packed with intense flavors, these portions are 1/3 of a regular portion. The concept is to sample small portions of fine food without compromising your budget in a hip and sophisticated environment. The menu changes every month to reel back existing customers and keep the feel of the place fresh. After dinner, LilBitz turns into a lively club featuring different DJs. The music is not confined to one genre; you will dance to pop, hip hop, house, the 80s, and some Turkish music (usually played towards the end of the night).

Note: Closed for the summer.

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A restaurant has to be pretty good to cut it with the locals in Bebek and Lucca certainly does. The venue features high ceilings and a minimalist décor and its cuisine is Turkish-American fusion with a fair sprinkling of world cuisine, including pad Thai, an extensive range of tapas, eclectic seafood dishes, and sushi and sashimi varieties, all under the ministrations of a Spanish head chef. The menu changes every few months to offer the best of the season. Brunch is offered every Sunday between 10am-3pm fromSeptember to June, while the summermonthsfeature an extensivebreakfastmenu.Lucca is famously hip, winner of several awards for best brasserie-café, best bar and “Istanbul’s Hip Restaurant” (Conde Nast Traveler Magazine) since its opening.

Chief Bartender Cevat Yıldırım, winner of many national and international awards, is most famous for his Satsuma Vodkas and Mojitos. Lucca’s wine list features about 60 wines with 18 wines by the glass. An ideal place for an all-excellent night out with great food, atmosphere, and drinks to carry you onto a fun night out.

Recommended Dishes:

Lemon Sebass

Duck Papparde

Grilled Salmon with Orange Sauce and Sauteed Fennel

Recommended Tapas:

Duck Roll

Prawn Roll

Crab&Avocado Bruschetta

Recommended Cocktails:

Satsuma Vodka

Brazilian Cooler

Pear&Ginger Vodka

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Tamirane features weekly performances by local artists as part of the Morning Indie Sessions and Morning Jazz Sessions. The genres range from Jazz, Nujazz, and Electrojazz to Electronica, Funk, and Lounge.

Tamirane’s menu focuses on Mediterranean cuisine and offers a variety of dishes from salads and burgers to pizzas and meat dishes. However, keep in mind that Tamirane is better suited for some drinks and music rather than eating out.

The venue can also be rented out for corporate of private events.

Another member of the excellent Istanbul Doors group, Wan-na is an elegant and upscale restaurant. The menu here is pan-Asian, with a fusion of Chinese, Thai, Japanese, and Vietnamese dishes on offer, along with a drinks list of various exotic cocktails with a Far Eastern twist.

Formerly located in the Pera district, Wan-na moved to the upscale Kanyon shopping mall in Levent in 2010. The space was formerly home to the Istanbul branch of the London restaurant Hakkasan, and Wan-na made only very minimal changes to the interior design. The look at Wan-na is sleek and elegant, having won praise from Wallpaper magazine for its décor, with lots of black lacquer and origami inspired shapes. There is also a large outdoor seating area, although this gets rather breezy, especially during winter.

The pan-Asian menu features a number of hits, such as the Chinese spicy prawns, which are delicious, tender, and flavorful, and the tasty vegetable fried rice. However, other dishes miss their mark, such as the beef pad-thai, which is a bit bland, under-seasoned, and rather disappointing given its price.

The patrons keep returning to Wan-na not only for its food but also for its party atmosphere, as this restaurant morphs into a trendy club after 11:30pm. This is a favorite venue among the Istanbul elite who, after a meal of sushi or dim sum, like to dance the night away, cocktail in hand.

Recommended Drinks

Sakızlı (Mastic) Shot

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These offer dim lighting at night to complement the twinkling lights littering the Bosphorus view, easily one of the best in Istanbul. As mentioned, the food is traditionally Turkish, although there is excellent International cuisine also available, including sushi, lobster and pizza. Another noteworthy mention is the award-winning and impressively varied wine list prepared according to import availability, including wines from Turkey, Italy, France, Australia, Argentina, Chile and much more.

Of the Turkish food, the lahmacun is a particular favorite. In stark contrast to the usual heavy topping of lamb, Ulus 29's version is far lighter, using lean beef, making the traditional lahmacun more like an elegant pizza. Another winner is the delicious crispy borek, filled with duck rather than the usual minced meat or cheese. The accompanying pomegranate sauce is reminiscent of Chinese sweet and sour sauce, perfectly complementing the duck.

The desserts are also well worth trying, with the sütlaç (milky rice pudding) flavoured with mastic getting a special mention. All in all, the restaurant is deservedly very popular, with many Istanbul residents taking their foreign guests here for the view and choice of excellent Turkish or International cuisine, depending on how adventurous they are feeling!

Recommended Dishes

Truffle Scented Jerusalem Artichoke Soup

Bone Marrow Crusted Beef Tenderloin and Foie Gras

Lahmacun (Turkish style pizza)

Köfte (Turkish meatball)

Sütlaç (milky rice pudding)

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Note: No cover charge.

Note: No cover charge.

Note: No cover charge.

Note: No cover charge.

Note: No cover charge.

Monday-Sunday 5:00pm – 2:00am Live classic lounge music

Located in The Marmara Taksim Hotel, Tepe Lounge is a glass-incased rooftop terrace offering wonderful views of Istanbul—perfect for a romantic night out. Of the wide range of local and international drinks, the Jamaican Blue and champagne cocktails are very popular among the frequenters. You will also find small bites to eat including vegetarian spring rolls and spicy-tomato-sauced meatballs.

Rival of Angelique in terms of celebrity-attracting chic, Reina is situated in a particularly desirable location for the summer months as it’s just next to the water, offering a marvelous view of the Bosphorus and an open-air club.

The venue gets going around midnight and the party continues until around 05:00am. Resident DJ Ufuk Akyıldız plays popular Turkish and international songs for the crowd that can be as many as 3000 people. The entrance fee is 50TL on Friday and Saturday nights, and it includes one drink.

During the autumn, winter and spring, Reina moves indoors and has a lively indoors club. Decor is chosen and changed season by season. The venue features numerous restaurants for which reservations are highly recommended.

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Babylon Lounge came back to Istanbul’s nightlife scene in the fall of 2011 to serve as a pre-drinks and post-partying venue. Located just a few steps away from Babylon, Babylon Lounge’s long tables, comfy sofas, and warm atmosphere makes it the ideal place to warm up for a Babylon concert—especially because drinks are 50\\\\\\% off until 09:30pm. DJ Tobumusikizm will play a mix of Afrobeat, jazz, and funk once the sun goes down, and the venue will also host spontaneous after-parties following Babylon concerts hosted by guest DJs.

Note: Open winter season only (November to May)

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The menu is refined, offering haute cuisine, and it is clear that a lot of thought has been put into each plate. When it comes to the dishes, they are all beautifully plated, almost like works of art, and are all very well executed. Appetizers include Grouper Carpaccio with Vanilla, Goat Cheese with Tomato Confit, Sauteed Sea Scallops and Ravioli with lobster.

The main course options are equally sophisticated, including Organic Duck Breast served with Damson plum purree, Jumbo Shrimp with pumpkin cream, Lobster Back, Medallion of Beef and Lamb Rib Eye served with vegetable couscous. There are a number of ambitious dishes on the dessert menu which includes Date Ice Cream, and Mascarpone Cheese & Raspberry Ice Cream, Olive Oil Chocolate Mousse and the recommended Melon and Rakı sorbet.

For those who prefer lighter fare, a snack menu is also available to enjoy with drinks, and live on stage entertainment.

With its tasteful modern design, Biber Bar provides an elegant and relaxing space to unwind with food and drinks accompanied by chillout and downtempo music coordinated by DJ Suat Ateşdağlı. Biber Bar offers a comprehensive tapas menu and a sushi bar and is ideal for drinks after work.

Note: Closed for summer but you can check out their summer venue in Alaçatı.

Tuesday: 9:00pm-11:00pm Live Music

Friday: 9:00pm-11:00pm Live Music

A favorite in the Bebek area for at least 25 years. Most of the staff has been around that long too. This bar is located right on the Bosphorus and has magnificent views. An extensive selection of alcoholic & non-alcoholic drinks available along with snacks.

Anjelique is one of Ortaköy’s waterfront clubs that is as famous for its impressive location as for its high-society atmosphere. If your ambition is to spot the Turkish glitterati on a night out, this is certainly the place to do it with prices to match. In fact, you are likely to witness celebrities approaching with their yachts to enter the venue through the attached pier.

DJs are often flown in from around the world and there is always plenty of space for dancing within the 2-storey venue, even when it’s packed with Istanbul’s bright young things. Resident DJs Doğuş Cihan, Burak, and Kerem play house on one floor and popular Turkish and international songs on the other floor. While there is no entrance fee, a bottle of beer costs around 15 TL. The club is open all year but there is no food service in the winter months.

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