Bon Appetit
Hamdi
Just west of the Egyptian Bazaar, this is a hugely popular, no-frills grilled meat restaurant spread over four floors – keep going right up to the top for the very best views.
Eminönü Square, +90 212 528 0390
Refik
Of the city’s myriad meyhane (mezze restaurants), this place, founded in 1954, remains one of the best. Seafood from the Black Sea is a speciality. Sofyali Sokak 10-12, Tünel, Beyoglu, +90 212 243 2834
360
As the name suggests, the views are the thing at this hippest of rooftop restaurants. Dishes are international, reservations are a must. After midnight, the place turns into a buzzing club.
Misir Apartments 32/309, Istiklal Caddesi, Beyoglu, +90 212 251 1042, www.360istanbul.com
Suitcase Fillers
Abdulla
At the heart of the labrynthine Grand Bazaar, a smart modern shop offering a contemporary take on traditional crafts. Halicilar Caddesi 53, Grand Bazaar, +90 212 522 9078, www.abdulla.com
Sisko Osman
“Fat Man” Osman is one of the leading authorities on carpets in the bazaar. His marvellous shop fills most of an ancient khan in the bazaar.
Zincirli Han 15, Grand Bazaar, +90 212 528 3548, www.siskoosman.com |
