Istanbul’s Best Cafés
Introduction
Stretching over the continents of Europe and Asia, Istanbul is a multi-cultural mecca, almost double the population of London. For centuries, the city has served as a crossroad between East and West with the fusion of European, Ottoman, and Middle Eastern influences. Cafes in Istanbul are genuinely where all of these cultures come to light.
As the city’s lifeblood, cafes are more common than bars throughout Istanbul. Each neighborhood takes pride in its distinct collection of restaurants and coffee shops, which make each area unique. When planning a trip to Istanbul, you’ll want to relax at some of these hip cafes scattered across the city.
Coffee culture in Istanbul
Istanbul is a city of sacred traditions, and coffee is undoubtedly one of them. Coffee shops and cafes in Istanbul unite all the city’s different faiths, backgrounds, and cultures. Istanbul is famous for its Turkish coffee, a blend that puts Espresso to shame. Turkish coffee is a method of preparing coffee that dates back to the 5th century. It is made by mixing acceptable coffee grounds with boiling water. This creates a thin foam layer at the top of the traditional copper coffee pots.
Coffee is mixed with a sugar cube and often a side of gelatin candy, a Turkish delight. Since the coffee is so much stronger, it usually comes in a cup about the size of an espresso. You can also ask for milk to add to your coffee. Read more about Turkish Coffee Culture.
Fortune-telling with coffee grounds
When you finish your coffee, you’ll notice a thick layer of coffee ground “sludge.” You’re not supposed to drink this. However, it can be used to tell your fortune. A Turkish tradition is using the coffee grounds at the bottom of your cup to read about your past, present, and future. Many coffee shops and cafes will employ women who can read your fortune for you.
Coffee or tea offering
A shopkeeper or café owner may offer you a coffee or tea sometime while you are in Istanbul. This is very on par with Turkish hospitality and more or less a welcoming gesture. If you have time and feel comfortable, sitting down for a friendly tea or coffee is pretty standard. This does not mean you are obligated to buy anything. It’s simply just for a short chat and to welcome you to Turkey.
Best Cafés of Istanbul
Ara Cafe
The interior of this Beyoğlu favorite is lined with awe-inspiring photographs taken by legendary Turkish-Armenian photographer Ara Güler, the café’s owner and namesake. The menu and drinks are dependable if a bit overpriced, while interior and exterior settings make for a great place to sit and enjoy the surrounding buzz. (Directions)
Salt Galata
A cultural center, cafe, and library all in one. Salt Galata is an Istanbul café and gallery in the former Ottoman Bank building. As one TripAdvisor wrote, “Salt Galata is a leading place for researchers, youngsters, and academics.” It’s a popular hangout spot for university students in cafes and libraries. If you need to get some work done in Istanbul, this would be the place to spend the afternoon. Otherwise, checking out near the Galata Tower is an underrated and free attraction.
Cuma
Cuma opened in the Çukurcuma neighborhood four months ago and is already a local favorite. Located just a hundred meters from author Orhan Pamuk’s Museum of Innocence and behind a line of antique shops, its breezy terrace is transporting, creating an almost tropical vibe. Up the narrow stairs in the century-old building, visitors will find a small house restaurant with an entrance area, kitchen, living room, dining hall with antique decor, and even toys on the shelves – all adding to a very homey, vintage feel. Owner Banu Tiryakioğulları graduated from the Culinary Arts Academy in Maslak and previously worked as a chef at the much-acclaimed restaurant Changa. She says that once she saw the space that is now Cuma, she knew it had to be a restaurant. (The name comes from old French maps of Çukurcuma, on which the area was called Djouma.) Tiryakioğulları gets her ingredients as locally as possible – most come from the Feriköy organic market and the Kastamonu market in Kasımpaşa. At the same time, dairy and olive products make their way across the Marmara Sea from Bandırma. We are greeted with toasted bread and a mouthwatering pepper paste as soon as we sit down. Cuma’s menu is heavily focused on Turkish cuisine – the egg-tomato-and-pepper dish menemen, eggs with sucuk (spicy beef sausage), a cheese-and-fresh-herb omelet, and a variety of toasted sandwiches – but also offers other selections such as gazpacho and eggplant-tomato linguini. A lunch menu that changes daily feature
Dandin Bakery
It’s been a few months since we started to hear the name Dandin just about everywhere and see it tagged regularly on social media. It seemed to have appeared overnight, but when we first visited, we came across a tiny note informing us that Dandin Bakery was undergoing renovation. We overthought attention might have exhausted the shop and started to await its reopening. Thankfully, Karaköy’s new sweet spot reopened with a slightly bigger space. Owners Esra Dandin and Egemen Senkardes wanted to ensure that the kitchen was spacious enough to embrace visitors as soon as they came in and offer them a show as the cakes, pastries, and drinks were being prepared. The previously vacant top floor now accommodates five or six tables. The breakfast menu offers teas, coffees, frappes, and hard-to-find dishes such as avocado on toast with goat cheese and scrambled eggs (26 TL) or scones with blackberry or sour cream jam and blueberry cream. The bakery isn’t a stickler for rules, either, so there’s room for alterations to the breakfast menu. Yet Dandin’s tour de force is undoubtedly the cake and pastry buffet, where you’ll find tantalizing treats made fresh each day. Their reasonable prices (8-15 TL) make them a perfect option for indecisive carb-lovers. The refreshed and updated Dandin has once again become Karako¨ y’s favorite. Give it a try. (Directions)
FiLBooks
A haven for Istanbul’s photography fanatics, FiLBooks boasts an extensive photo-book library and doubles as a cafe where workshops are organized. Standing out with its pastel colors and tranquil decorations, FiLBooks is one of Karaköy’s quaintest spots, offering everything from journals and children’s books to independent presses and gift items. This bookshop also hosts ateliers, talks, round-tables, and interviews about art and photography. The legendary photographer Martin Parr was one of its many famous visitors in recent memory. The excitement of the team behind FiL, led by Cemre Yeşil, who teaches contemporary photography at Bilgi University, is the main drive behind the bookshop’s popularity. They know that an experienced barista will not distinguish them from the many other cafes in Karaköy, although they can certainly tick that box. (Directions)
Şimdi
Hidden on a side street descending away from the hustle and bustle of İstiklal Caddesi lies Şimdi, a cozy café, bar, and restaurant that has weathered the storm and remained on its feet. At the same time, several of its neighbors closed down in the past few years. Its endurance is due in no small measure to its laid-back vibe, which makes it an excellent spot for an early morning coffee or after-work drinks.
180° Coffee Bakery
Their dessert menu and the counter will take your breath away when you walk in. Look at the library at the entrance; you can leave the finished book and return with a new one. The apple crumble and date cake are competing with each other for the best flavor. Don’t worry about which to pick; order them both and enjoy.
Incir Agaci Kahvesi
To escape the crowds of the Grand Bazaar, head North to the Bohemian neighborhood of Balat. The streets are filled with street art and unique shops and are home to one of the most colorful cafes in Istanbul. There is not a square inch of Incir Agaci Kahvesi that isn’t painted all colors of the rainbow. The stairs leading up to it and the nearby courtyard were all filled with colorful hanging umbrellas. This is a hip hangout for the younger population in Istanbul. You can get coffee, cakes, and different variations of Meze here.
Mums Cafe
Reflecting the peaceful atmosphere of the French Passage, Mums Cafes has delicious homemade jams you shouldn’t leave Karaköy without trying. Whispers of the homemade milk jam roam the streets of Istanbul like a legend. The jams were created with those who might want to take them home in mind; they are sold in cute jars. The smoked salmon and asparagus is perfect for those who love original flavors and a great option with tea. Mum’s menu is more straightforward compared to others. The owners’ 15 years of experience in Sweden played a significant role in creating the space; while adapting to the fast-paced lifestyle, the decor creates a more intimate atmosphere. The continuous presence of Yıldız Dural’s beloved mother in Mum’s makes this intimate touch permanent. Mums mean “my mother” and “flavor” in Swedish.
Dem Karaköy
In addition to white, green, oolong, black, smoked, and fermented teas, Dem has a varied menu, including red and herbal teas, catering to every palate. For those who find it hard to decide on the 60 teas available, partaking in the ‘tea smelling’ sessions can help. The tea varieties are brought to your table, and after smelling them and getting information about them, you can pick the one you like the most. The venue’s operator, Eylül Görmüş, created recipes specifically intended to complement the teas. For example, the red plum sauce pear dessert with pişmaniye (a Turkish sweet in fine strands) goes perfectly with one of the three Turkish teas. What is tea without breakfast? To accompany your tea, Dem also offers a classic breakfast plate, simit and white cheese, menemen (eggs with vegetables), börek varieties, and croque-madame and croque monsieur.
Ops Cafe
The small and open kitchen is like a living extension of the venue, producing flavors that reflect the venue’s spirit. The Albanian breakfast, eski kaşar (a type of old cheddar), feta cheese, and örgü peynir (a type of braided mozzarella) comes with the Albaian salad, dry meat with delicious yet discrete peppers unique to the Bosnian kitchen. Breakfast is served all day. All of the delicatessen products come from specific villages. Options flavored with dry meat are plenty, the dry meat cheese Balkan toast being one of them. In addition to breakfast and toast, the menu features salads, durums (wraps), pastas, and desserts. The homemade lemonade is the perfect consistency of sweet and sour.
