This place was listed in “The best cocktails in Istanbul” article which makes me suspicious about the place as most of the time the places in such local articles are overrated. However, Zürafa no203 Kitchen & Cocktail Bar surprised me with the quality and variety of their house cocktails. Not only their cocktails but also the food was delicious overall. So, do make sure you go hungry. Especially crispy chicken with parmesan cream and bravas is worth trying.

One of the highlights of our visit was the pistachio cocktails as it was our first time trying a cocktail made with pistachio and it was delicious. If you want to stay on the safe side and prefer a fruity taste, you can try Berry Bees. The menu is extensive, so there’s plenty to try. It’s a bit pricey but the quality and ambiance make it worth it. Also, pickled greengages which they give as a treat are really tasty.

As it is located towards the end of fancy Bağdat Street, it is not as crowded as the cocktail bars in Caddebostan and Suadiye. Yet, I still haven’t visited Zürafa on a weekend night, so not sure about the crowd on those nights.