Feb 27, 2025

FilBooks Istanbul

A sofa, a book and a cup of coffee?

""FilBooks": one of the cutest coffee & bookstores in Istanbul's Karakoy. Just sit on one of the chairs hanging from the ceiling & try the red velvet cakes!"

Filbooks is one the cutest coffee & bookstores in Karakoy. It's like a dream - everybody would like to have this kind of concept store in their life.

Fil means elephant in Turkish so you can see lots of designs in elephant shapes, like on the tables, plates.. etc.

The place looks so pretty from the outside with its colourful tables and chairs, and the interior design is just great.

When you walk through to the inside, smiling waitresses welcome you with good music on the background.

If you go upstairs, there is a big sofa which makes people feel at home, sitting by the window, reading a good book and having a coffee. This is what I like the most about this place and I can definitely call it cozy.

There are also 2 swings hanging from the ceiling - I wish I had something like that in my home too :)

I haven't bought a book there but since they are more into photography, they mostly sell books about art and photography. They also sometimes organise book launches, pop-up events or workshops so you'll be lucky if you catch one of their events.

Please do not forget to try their red velvet cakes. You might find it funny to see the cake on almost every table in this place; it's just so yummy! :)

020-coffee-cup-1
Coffee & tea
024-burger-1
Snacks

About this spot

Ali Paşa Değirmeni Sk. 1/1

Cake & coffee:

TL

30

2122431994

Find your way with 236 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters

Discover hidden gems and all our locals’ favourites! Get full access to our Istanbul guide.

Nice place right!? There’s so much more to discover:

Discover all other hidden gems in Istanbul

Yenikoy Kitapcisi

Book Coffee Affair in Istanbul

What sets Yenikoy Kitapcisi apart is that they proudly showcase lesser-known publishing houses, celebrating diversity & creativity of the literary world.

020-coffee-cup-1
Coffee & tea
017-plant-1
Relaxing
026-thrift-shop-1
Shopping

By

Zeynep

Ozortac

Mar 22, 2025

The Bench with a poet

A Poetic View of Istanbul

The bench itself, though simple in design, provides a comfortable and inviting place to rest. Sit in silence, read a book, or watch the world go by...

002-building
Art & culture
017-plant-1
Relaxing

By

Zeynep

Ozortac

Mar 22, 2025

Brasserie Di Dante

Church and mosque unite

When you enter Brasserie di Dante, you're greeted by an outdoor seating area surrounded by plants and trees. Even in cold weather, they have fire heaters.

028-beach-bar-1
Bars
021-spoon-and-fork-1
Restaurants

By

Zeynep

Ozortac

Mar 22, 2025

Çukurcuma Hamamı 1831

Spa day in Istanbul

Çukurcuma Hamam 1831 has a unisex policy, allowing you to enjoy the experience with your partner. As the hamam is not very big, make a reservation.

017-plant-1
Relaxing

By

Zeynep

Ozortac

Mar 22, 2025

Explore Çukurcuma

Art nouveau at Faik Paşa St.

As you walk from Galatasaray to Karaköy, prepare for a nostalgic journey with a contemporary vibe with cobblestone streets and art nouveau-style buildings.

002-building
Art & culture
021-spoon-and-fork-1
Restaurants
026-thrift-shop-1
Shopping

By

Zeynep

Ozortac

Mar 22, 2025

Nadas Istanbul

Ecology and Art in Istanbul

Nadas Istanbul is a creative space dedicated to urban diversity with the goal of creating a more leisurely, conscious, and empathetic living community.

002-building
Art & culture

By

Zeynep

Ozortac

Mar 22, 2025

Isola Cocktail Bar

A stylish escape in Istanbul

Whether for daytime dining or nighttime pleasure, Isola Bomonti promises a Mediterranean-inspired moment that's sure to please...

028-beach-bar-1
Bars
029-guitar-instrument-1
Music
021-spoon-and-fork-1
Restaurants

By

Zeynep

Ozortac

Mar 22, 2025

Smelt and Co.

Chef Restaurant in Istanbul

Their menu is as perfect as the atmosphere. The menu changes with the seasons, so you may see different recipes and presentations on every visit.

021-spoon-and-fork-1
Restaurants

By

Zeynep

Ozortac

Mar 22, 2025

Feriköy Antique Bazaar

Vintage day in Istanbul

Here you will find vinyls, old books and magazines, original film posters, collections of old coins, old photos, jewels, and much more...

026-thrift-shop-1
Shopping

By

Zeynep

Ozortac

Mar 22, 2025

Çukurcuma 49

Pizza meets rustic vibes

They offer a variety of traditional as well as innovative styles of pizzas, all made with the freshest ingredients and all nineteen of them are delicious!

028-beach-bar-1
Bars
021-spoon-and-fork-1
Restaurants

By

Zeynep

Ozortac

Mar 22, 2025

Zeyta Emirgan

Wine and olive house in Istanbul

Zeyta Emirgan, is a charming wine house located on the most beautiful street in Emirgan with a great selection of boutique wines from Turkey and Europe.

028-beach-bar-1
Bars
029-guitar-instrument-1
Music
024-burger-1
Snacks

By

Zeynep

Ozortac

Mar 22, 2025

Tütün Deposu

Exhibitions in a tobacco warehouse

Tütün Deposu is a non-commercial, flexible, and independent space that welcomes critical voices in Istanbul's cultural landscape.

002-building
Art & culture

By

Zeynep

Ozortac

Mar 22, 2025

Heading to Istanbul?

236 Insider Tips from our local Spotters

Authentic Stories by Real People

Escape the Crowd & Travel Slow 🐌

... for just €9.99

Heading to Istanbul?

0 Insider Tips from our local Spotters

236 Insider Tips

✓ Escape the Crowds

✓ Find Spots nearby

✓ Authentic Stories

... for just €9.99

Our team loves Istanbul

Get to know our other Spotters from Istanbul

As featured on:

New-York-Times
the-guardian
mashable
the-sunday-times
cached_response not present
7291
Filters