For me, early in the morning is the best time to visit Ortaköy. Go to the seaside, enjoy the view before it gets crowded. And for breakfast, you have two choices: Anywhere on the Ortaköy Square by the sea, where you will have a good view and OK food; or go out on the streets for what the locals do and I would recommend this. Pedestrian-only Eskibahçe street used to have nothing special. However, during the last couple of years, decent restaurants have opened for the Ortaköy residents.

My favorite place is the Ortaköy Kahvaltı Evi (Breakfast house). A family owned and run place, famous for different kinds of scrambled eggs and omelettes. The scrambled eggs come in a hot pan, with cooked tomatoes, melted cheese and green peppers. If you are a meat lover, you should also add pastrami and sausages. A Turkish breakfast is never complete without white cheese, fresh tomatoes. And on top of that, add honey and “kaymak” (clotted cream) and Turkish tea of course.

The place is becoming popular.

But here comes the “WOW factor”. Across from the breakfast house, there is the best bakehouse in Ortaköy. They do not have fancy cakes, however they excel at the basics. They make the best “simit”s, the local bagels. If you are early, and they are just out of the oven, then it makes your day. Ask the waiter to buy you some simits instead of the bread they serve at Ortaköy Kahvaltı Evi.