Asli Boduroglu (1980)

After Paris, Lyon and Marseille the hip urban hotel Mama Shelter newly opened in the middle of Taksim. This cool hotel also has an amazing restaurant bar that we discovered last week. Should I start by describing the one of a kind, colorful, creative and playful interior design, the crowd, the music or the hypnotizing bar and delicious cocktails? As I am an enthusiast for interior design and wining&dining Mama Shelter is definitely a very powerful candidate to be one of my favorite spots in the city!

The black board ceiling is filled with inspiring and fun quotes, the led-light bar at the middle, Tom Dixon’s iconic lamps and the instrumentally decorated DJ desk creates an amazing atmosphere. The raspberry champagne was my favorite and I heard that the pizza’s are a must try. Chefs Alain Senderens and Jérôme Banctel have created a menu with simple yet delicious Franco-Turkish cuisine.The bar is open from 18:00 and the music goes on till 01:30. You can book a table online and also try Mama Shelter for brunch on Sundays.

Atolye 11 is a small design shop in Karakoy, the historical, and also one of the most trendy, district of Istanbul at the moment! The two story store is located below the bell tower of a Turkish Orthodox church.

You can find amazing colorful silk cushions with Anatolian motifs which would be a great addition for your home or as a gift for a friend to buy from Istanbul. Each motif has a story behind it and the very helpful staff will explain each of them to you with pleasure.

The glass necklaces, silver jewelery, decorative objects and small prints of Bedri Rahmi (famous Turkish painter) are also great finds! After a cultural day at Karakoy’s art galleries or a culinary experience at some of the coolest cafes and restaurants in Karakoy, Atolye 11 is a great spot to spoil yourself with some shopping.

Antiochia is a small  restaurant in Asmalimescit that I just spotted. You can discover the amazing tastes of Antakya (a county of Hatay, located in the southern part of Turkey) at this cosy restaurant and treat yourself with a culinary feast!

Antakya was known as Antioch in ancient times and the city has historical significance for Christianity. It was the place where the followers of Jesus Christ were called Christians for the first time! No wonder epic tastes were born in this county!

I tried a mixed mezze platter with Hummus, Abagannuç, Muammara, Aubergine with yoghurt and definitely the best olives you ever tasted. Among the most popular main dishes is the Antakya wrap with meat all the way from southern Turkey and a special sauce. They serve good quality wine and as dessert you must definitely eat the traditional Kunefe that might haunt you in your dreams!:) 

The restaurant is really small with only a few tables so I would strongly advise you to make a reservation or go for an early dinner before the place gets packed.

My favorite spot in Istanbul is definitely the Tunel Passageway in Asmalimescit. Years before Asmalimescit became one of the most popular night out locations and was invaded by countless restaurants, bars, cafes, offices and small shops, I discovered the Tunel Passageway on a snowy day.

This mystical passage way right opposite of Taksim Tunel, known as the world’s second oldest underground public transportation built in 1874, is lightened by hundreds of colorful light bulbs every night and it really looks magical. Asmalimescit is the the last stop of the nostalgic Taksim-Tunel tramway and when you get off the tramway you’ll definitely drown inside this passage where there are also great restaurants and a tavern (what we call meyhane in Turkey).

I would advise you to get a drink at KaVe and enjoy live music performances. Every Friday and Saturday live jazz concerts and every other day you can listen to live piano performances. Right opposite of KaVe there is a traditional Turkish Tavern named Akbabali where you can drink lots of raki, taste different Turkish appetizers (meze) and listen to live Turkish tavern music.

After a surreal evening at the passageway you can pass by the 19th century iron gates and enjoy the nightlife of Asmalimescit.

Gumusyan is a boutique hotel from the 19th century with 14 cool rooms in Asmalimescit. For central accomodation you should definitely check this hotel out.

The hotel also has a bar and restaurant at the entrence. When you enter Gumusyan you will definitely be struck by the decoration. The high ceilings, brick walls, huge french windows and modern-baroque chairs create an amazing atmosphere.

It used to be a tavern but it has now converted to a restaurant/bar. You can either grab a drink and sit at one of the tables by the street or grab a bite before your night out in Asmalimescit.

The salmon with spinach sauce is highly recommended!