Snacks

It is a ‘great’ ‘little’ neighborhood spot, on the first floor of an old Nişantaşı Building you would probably not be able to even detect, without careful ‘spotter’ eyes.

You can tell how adoringly the owner chef Şemsa Denizsel creates and re-creates the dishes, both from their taste and the way she talks about them to the clients when she walks around the tables.

In a ‘no-frills, only good food’ environment, there is a daily ‘what’s cooked’ list on the big chalkboard on the wall. You can order daily soup by half a portion too. Their famous ‘Citirlar’ (‘Crisps’) are simple pieces of very thin and crisp dough topped with season’s vegetables and other assortments. Starting from October, you can try superb fishes of Istanbul cooked very differently than served in typical Istanbul fish restaurants.

You shouldn’t miss ‘Köfte-ekmek’(Meat ball & bread) and ‘sausage from the butcher’, the two most traditional Turkish street foods served in a magical form, and of course in an absolute hygienic way, if you are a bit picky when it comes to street food. If available do not miss calf’s liver, thinly sliced liver sautéed with caramelized onions and dill.

It is very popular among the locals during the lunch rush between 12:30 and 14:30; the safest bet would be being there a little earlier, as ‘a little later’ would risk some of the daily menu items. They also have a patisserie-take away shop downstairs.

Closed 2 weeks between July- August. A peaceful patio at the back for sunny days.

Ara Café takes its name from one of the most celebrated photographers of Turkey, Ara Güler. This cosy little café with a well appointed patio is located right under Ara Güler’s studio/atelier. The name ‘Ara’ in Turkish also means ‘side’, which perfectly suits the narrow side street location of this place, just few steps off the infamous Istiklal Street. Istiklal Street’s craziness makes anyone feel like taking a relaxing break, and this cosy place with cool and chill vibes is the right answer.

The photographs on the walls and the placemats are made by Ara Güler himself of course. You might see the photographer (he does not want to be called as the ‘artist’) sitting at one of the small tables during the day. He is the aged wise guy with an out of trim beard.

The menu offers a wide selection from Mediterranean – Turkish cuisine, and changes seasonally. One of their most famous dishes is Balkan Kofte (Balkan Meatballs). My personal favorite here is ‘Sigara Boregi’ (an exact translation would be: Cigarette Borek), a famous Turkish cylindrical pastry with cheese and potato filling. You might opt to have just a snack with a nice hot Turkish tea, or a mint lemonade with their infamous wet chocolate cake.

Ara Cafe is also good for snacks, providing nice people observing opportunities both from upstairs and the patio. Of course, the tourists would not know how many actors and actresses, playwrights and other renown people there are in the place at any certain moment.

Karakoy is one of the most inspiring districts of Istanbul. Very representative of the whole, this important piece of the puzzle has it all: History, modernism, art, shops, stalls, sea, boats, business, different kinds of restaurants, ongoing construction, and chaos. 

In this lively, chaotic district tucked in a historic passage way called French Passage Way there is Bej Cafe seeming very afar from all the chaos 10 meters away. 

The open plan space with a big long bar, colorful flowers, nice lamps, and an open terrace with long tables to share, feels like an oasis. Seasonal soups, delicious salads, wraps, and pasta are some of the menu highlights. The toasted German bread served with lemon butter, goat cheese salad and pasta along with a glass of wine are my favorites. They also have set lunch menus, and nice -maybe not very fulfilling, as some complain about the sizes of portions – breakfast options.

Though recently started to resemble a classic restaurant rather than a cafe-bar, you still can drop by for a coffee or a drink, and read your guide books or make plans for the rest of the day, after a meal in the more traditional restaurants in the neighborhood.

Saturdays they have happy hours between 17:00 – 21:00, again Saturdays after dinner there is DJ music till 02:00 in the morning, making it quite a party place. 

Right behind the main island of the restaurant there is Kagıthane, a stationary and gift store sharing the premises.

In many supermarkets, in most countries you can find Turkish nuts and dried fruits. Yes, Turkey is indeed famous for its hazelnuts, roasted pistachios, pistachio kernels, dried sultana raisins, apricots, figs and all.

Guven Kuruyemis is the place if you want to sample best of these and many other organic dried fruits, and nuts. They have all the variety you probably cannot imagine of: dried plums, apples, pears, dates, mulberries, blueberries, different dried fruit pulps (‘pestil’, in Turkish) with or without walnuts, cashews, roasted chickpeas, etc…

Get some and eat them while you wander around Nişantaşı and most probably you will find yourself wanting to have another go for a bigger purchase. Their resealable packages are handy when it comes to carrying them in your bag for an emergency.

They have both of their two branches in Nişantaşı. They have e widespread loyal regular customer base, stocking up on every visit to Nisantasi. Yes, vacuum packages too are available. The other branch is their first, just around the corner, at Valikonagi Cad. No:50, Nisantasi.

They source and select everything they sell very carefully and re-process them in their own facilities: hygienic, organic, high quality. They are a tad pricier than anywhere else, but the quality and hygiene is well worth. Guven is the first dried nuts and fruits shop in Turkey with an official quality standard.

They have recently opened a big flagship store in Kemerburgaz, a chic suburban residential area. Not very touristic of a place, but just in case you pass by.

Ortaköy offers something for every taste. Bomonti Brasserie (for me it is a beer house) is a good choice for an afternoon beer and snacks just in the middle of Ortaköy Square.It has 4 floors and the roof terrace is strongly recommended especially in good weather. You can enjoy both the panoramic view including the old town and the Bosphorus while watching the crowds in the Ortaköy square.

Bomonti is a local beer brand that started production in 1890 and having a rebirth in the recent years. And Bomonti Brasserie in Ortaköy serves mainly Bomonti Beers with decent accompanying snacks and food. My favorite beer is Bomonti Unfiltered and the snacks basket goes well with it.

For lunch or dinner, they have a huge menu which makes you think that “when you try to do everything, you can not do it perfectly”. This is more or less correct. They are not specialized but I have never been disappointed with any food there. They have decent pizzas and more than decent grilled beefs. Especially “Bomonti Lokum” worths a try.

I think you will also enjoy the atmosphere and decoration, especially the library & objects exhibited on the second floor. There is live music at the weekends.