A true world city with world-class nightlife (Bars Istanbul in general)

Member Name: liquidio

Product:	Bars Istanbul in general
Date:	18/05/09 (85 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Friendly but exotic

Disadvantages: Traffic!

It's a cliche, but in Istanbul East really does meet West over the Bosphorus straits and for nightlife at least that means the best of both - a touch of western class combined with some Eastern exoticism (as well as a reasonably relaxed attitude to alcohol for a Muslim population).

It's a huge city, so no review is going to be able to point out all the different nightspots. Instead, I hope to give you an idea of the main areas of town that you might wish to visit as a tourist and give you a sense of the sorts of bars you might find there.

Most of the action is on the European shore. The Asian side is also a significant population centre but does not have the same profile. Starting in the south is the old town, Sultanahmet. This area is full of historical byzantine buidings and has a warren of streets that contain a good number of bars. Unfortunately these are often slightly touristy or simply not displaying much of an effort. The better bars in this area are often in the hotels (Try the Four Seasons courtyard for the luxury end) or down the hill near the Spice Bazaar where a few local joints are a nice place to sit outside for lunch.

Over the Golden Horn inlet is Beyoglu, the area including Taksim Square and Istiklal Cadessi, the main street of what used to be the modern centre of town. A few bars at street level are here, but it's worth looking in side streets for the better ones - those on the main strip tend not to be too authentic ('English Pub' anyone?). There are also some high end places on the rooftops in the Pera area that are great to go to for sunset, if you cna find them.

Further north still is Nisantasi, an area similar to Chelsea in London. Posh shopping boutiques are the norm here, and posh bars to go with them. This is the area to go to for early evening drinks with the beautiful people, but it does not have a Bosphorus view.

To the North-East, and on the Bosphorus shore, is Ortakoy. This is your best bet for modern Turkish nightlife. Reina is an Istanbul institution, a fun if slightly poseur restaurant, bar and club on the shore itself. To ensure entry, book dinner or arrive by boat! Also worth checking out is Angelique, a bar in Ortakoy's warren of streets that is alway lively and smart.

Istanbul is a wonderful city and if you cover these four areas you will see much of what it has to offer. Enjoy!

Summary: East meets West with the best of both for nightlife