Bomontiada was transformed into an art, music & food space when an old beer factory was renovated. Whether you are a party animal or an aesthete, a beer gourmet or a foodie, this is a place for you. In Bomontiada, there are modern cafes, pubs and restaurants, art galleries, live performance centers. Besides, many festivals, free open-air concerts are being held in the courtyard. The ambiance of old factory makes it a great place to take photos for IG influencers, too.
The only problem with Bomontiada is that it gets quite crowded, especially on days of special events and festivals. So, if you are looking for a quiet corner, it might be the only thing you can't find here.
My personal favorites among the places in Bomontiada are Babylon and Populist. I usually first visit the recent exhibition at the gallery, have beer or cocktails with snacks at Populist, then dance to the DJ performances at Babylon (you can check the recent DJ performances at Babylon and Populist on their IG pages). If the dance stage of Babylon could talk, would it complain about us, I wonder? ;)
All the pubs/restaurants are a bit pricey even though there is no entrance fee to Bomontiada itself. Of course, you can enjoy free performances at the courtyard in this great atmosphere or just visit exhibitons, but beware that it is not allowed to bring drinks/food from outside.
Find your way with 237 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
The "Pera Museum" is for you if you're into art from the life of Istanbul and the Ottoman world between the 17th and early 20th century...
by
"The Shoe-shine boys" is a very typical Istanbul sight. Having your shoes painted and polished is a nice experience, just be careful who does it for you!
by
The "Fenerbahçe Steamboat" has carried passengers across Istanbul's Bosphorus over 55 years. Now you can see this historical ship in Rahmi Koc Museum.
by
"Holy Fragrance" sellers sit just outside mosques and provide refreshing perfumes. I would recommend the ones in Istanbul's Beyazit and Yeni mosques.
by
"Kurucu Ali Baba Restaurant" is one of the restaurants that serve haricot beans just outside Suleymaniye in Istanbul. Great service, worth the money...
by
The "Tortoise Trainer" is one of my favorite paintings to be found in Istanbul. You can see it in the contemporary/orientalist Istanbul Pera museum.
by
"Grand Bazaar" is my place to buy the best Istanbul souvenir: round, fat evil eyes! Just don't forget to bargain...
by
"Udonya" is one of my favorite Japanese restaurants in Istanbul. I can recommend it when you feel you've had enough of Turkish cuisine!
by
"Kontraplak" is a 'clean' Istanbul record shop, especially for its selection of second-hand vinyl. The owner, Okan, is very open-minded and will help you...
by
The Istanbul "Naval Museum" is one of the best museums in Turkey - no, I think it's one of the world's most exceptional, and we're lucky to have it.
by
The Istanbul "Archaeology Museum" is just huge. As someone who always visits these museums, these ones (there's actually three!) are a must.
by
237 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
Authentic Stories by Real People
Escape the Crowd & Travel Slow 🐌
✓ 0 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
✓ 237 Insider Tips