Locals' Hangout - Beyoglu Cafe & Restaurants / Istanbul

Recently, at the request of my guests, I created a restaurant list for them. I might have fallen in love with it. So, I thought, "Why not share it on our website?" Here's our list of local experiences in Istanbul. There wont be so many photos but many Google maps links to pin.

We have 2 featured local restaurant types in Turkiye:

- Meyhane

- Ocakbasi

Meyhanes are serving mostly vegetable and seafood based mezes and if you wish to eat main course we pick fish but we mostly prefer decorating table with numerous cold or warm starters instead. And we order rakı and alternatively beer or wine.

Ocakbasi means "by fire" and if we are looking for proper meat we directly head to these restaurants. We sit next to the fireplace in winter days.

So first of all i would love to recommend restaurants in these 2 categories.

In BEYOGLU neighbourhood:

Meyhane Restaurants:

- Demeti Meyhane (Greek Turkish style in Cihangir area, some lovely cocktail bars around) https://maps.app.goo.gl/ND5q2MeYVycSu2sH9

- Asmali Cavit (in a neighborhood where our intellectuals used to hang out in 50s) https://maps.app.goo.gl/NBYcKfGGC2yBeCXq7

- Mahkeme Lokantasi (in hidden backstreets. Renovated old hotel for people who come for courts in Eastern Roman Empire period) https://maps.app.goo.gl/Y5NWqXZbqQbRpjrbA

- Karakoy Dem Meyhane (not for the first night maybe but if you are looking for shabby meyhane where we go for down-to-earth escapes) https://maps.app.goo.gl/VMGLE3HoSymVkJMW7

- Aret'in Yeri (owned by an Armenian guy called Aret. Place has few floors - the first one has live music somedays) https://maps.app.goo.gl/iH8GyD2iPYJsNLfL7

Ocakbasi Restaurants:

- Zübeyir Ocakbasi (With my chef friends we used to go there, still so good) https://maps.app.goo.gl/zii8BtpcJsocDkJj8

- Kapi Ocakbasi (we mostly hang out here after tours, delicious meat varieties) https://maps.app.goo.gl/2gbgRzr8zWizbsDu6

- Ali Ocakbasi (wellknown ocakbasi nereye opened a new spot in Netherlands)

https://maps.app.goo.gl/YMz8aYh6BRgz6W1t5

- Kevok Ocakbasi (owners are from Diyarbakir city) https://maps.app.goo.gl/JkCf7g45WSERgWjN7

- Tersane Ocakbasi (a restaurant style mixed ocakbasi with a view) https://maps.app.goo.gl/QQB1n57b9ijvxk6WA

Besides these restaurants other options i love in same Beyoglu neighborhood :

- Karakoy Gümrük (for home cooked style food in bistro style inner decoration) https://maps.app.goo.gl/8PeJb7JSYNToyqPu5

- Salon Galata (Similar to Gümrük but less options on menu , still delicious) https://maps.app.goo.gl/CKJn9sGHZ8M13Hdx8

- Red Balloon (new spot of this restaurant, chef is awarded as youngest chef on Michelin. It has a cocktail bar part on the upper floors) https://maps.app.goo.gl/FLQzDth6cFRYq8oA6

- Helvetia (this is my fav! Home cooked food spot. I get take away food to home here too. Great for lunch and after lunch bites. You can choose max 5 dishes in same plate) https://maps.app.goo.gl/FLnCQ7yFpm8htxuS6

- Aheste (High end restaurant- small and many bites) https://maps.app.goo.gl/tY1QbL3cBSPkM3DZA

- Miss Pizza (if you need comfort food at some point) https://maps.app.goo.gl/WRsnjUEcEUUCZyvq7

- Mikla (Michelin star restaurant, bar is gorgeous- you dont have to make Reservation to the bar section, view is fantastoc at sunsets) https://maps.app.goo.gl/cLMfRsiwQHTvqqkR7

- Pera Palace Cafe (Hotel is built for Orient Express passengers. a tea time stop could be cute if you wish to feel Agatha Christie when she was writing murder on the orient express) https://maps.app.goo.gl/GCAQABcFfUbTe3qP7 (please watch few episodes of Midnight at Pera Palace on netflix before you arrive, to get an idea about the streets and outfits in 1910s and 20s)

- Hayvore (just Black sea cuisine) https://maps.app.goo.gl/rkm8r2c1LcRjeoWb6

- Zeytuna Cihangir https://maps.app.goo.gl/vp6XeFBsZ2TSbAhN7

- Murver (the place i sent you the piçtir. I love this restaurants meat and owen products) https://maps.app.goo.gl/KWyVsdoGoZ8pzwnV7

- Namli (Breakfast 7/24) https://maps.app.goo.gl/yhaUpDQPR7pc96Rb9

- Karakoy Gulluoglu (Best Baklava spot - no branches) https://maps.app.goo.gl/A9Vt6DQfZNjvAxUV6

- Kronotrop (fav corner cafe) https://maps.app.goo.gl/UYCcu5VqftruHkJA8 Do you have your favorites in the town? Share with us. See you around. Sanem Yucesoy foodandfashionmag@gmail.com