Ayşe T.

The dondurma trick is a must-see! The ice cream vendors near Taksim Square put on the best shows. Turkish ice cream (maras dondurma) is made with salep and mastic, which gives it that stretchy textur…

The Kadikoy food market is a foodie paradise. Try the fresh fish, olive varieties, cheese shops, and the famous Ciya Sofrasi restaurant. Prices are significantly lower than Sultanahmet or Taksim for…

Serpme kahvalti is the ultimate Turkish breakfast spread - dozens of small plates with cheeses, olives, honey, kaymak (clotted cream), eggs, sausage, fresh bread, jams, and more. It is meant to be sh…

For traditional Turkish coffee, try Mandabatmaz near Taksim - it has been serving since 1967 and is legendary. For specialty third-wave coffee, Kronotrop and Petra Roasting Co. are excellent. Istanbu…

A hamam visit is a must-do! Expect to be scrubbed vigorously with a kese mitt - it removes an impressive amount of dead skin. You will feel reborn afterwards. Bring flip-flops and your own toiletries…

Islak hamburger is THE late-night food in Istanbul! Kizilkayalar in Taksim Square is the most famous spot. These little garlic-tomato sauce soaked burgers are kept warm in a glass steamer. Best enjoy…

Tipping is appreciated but not as rigid as in the US. In restaurants, 5-10% is standard. Round up taxi fares. Give hamam attendants 50-100 TL. Hotel bellboys 20-50 TL per bag. Tour guides 100-200 TL…

My top 5 Istanbul street foods: 1) Balik ekmek at Eminonu, 2) Simit from any street cart, 3) Midye dolma (stuffed mussels), 4) Kumpir (loaded baked potato) in Ortakoy, 5) Kokoreç if you are adventuro…

Balik ekmek at Eminonu is an iconic Istanbul experience! The boats rocking on the water while they grill the fish, the fresh bread, onions, lettuce, and a squeeze of lemon - perfection. Costs about 1…