Istanbul is fast becoming one of the hottest cities for nightlife in Europe; it is one of the best places to experience local culture and international fun. Whether your idea of a perfect evening is sipping cappuccino on a secluded terrace, smoking a hookah and drinking tea with the locals or headbanging the night away, Instanbul is the best place to wind down or to party.
The most traditional form of nightlife is the birahanes, which are inhabited mainly by locals who sit, drink, and converse. The birahanes are usually male preserves, but a foreign female may be casually welcomed, particularly if she travels in a group. A traveler may feel more comfortable in one of the many meyhanes which are like birahanes but with a better selection of food and a more diverse mix of tourists, locals, men and women. Sip a glass of Turkish raki and enjoy a snack of kebabs and fresh fruit as locals sing traditional songs or engage in heated political discussions. The best mayhanes are located in Cicek Pasaj next to the fruit and fish stands in the marketplace.
For something different yet classically Turkish, go to one of the pavyans and see what are often called “Oriental Shows” featuring belly dancers, flashy cabaret singers or dancers from Russia. Avoid the more seedy ones which will serve you watered-down, overpriced drinks and more than you might have bargained for in the way of companionship. However, these are easy to spot and avoid with their provocative signs and scantily clad clientele.
Downtown Istanbul abounds with new, trendy bars that stay open until 2 or 4 am (or sometimes until dawn). You can find an elegant place for a quiet conversation over a martini, a pub-like atmosphere with cheap and good quality beer, or a heavy metal extravaganza with deafening tunes and ubiquitous body piercing. Bars such as Kemanci and Hayal Kahesi feature bands almost nightly, many play cover versions of Led Zepplin or Pink Floyd classics. The atmosphere of the Mojo blues bar is exactly as it sounds—an oasis of blues in the heart of Istanbul.
The best area for nightlife in Instanbul is in the Taksim, which means “sharing” in Turkish. This was the place where the water was brought in from the Belgrad forest and “shared” by different sections of the city. You’ll see (or, rather, hear) the Ex-Bronx and the Roxy Nights nightclubs with loud, pulsating tunes and cheap beer. The Cinaralti is a modern disco with a big screen TV and a salon for dancing under the sky, or rather, under the cinar tree, from which the disco derives its name. Taps, in the Pera District, is the only genuine brewery in Istanbul and in the entire Balkan region. You can get a pint of great quality beer for around $3 and enjoy the art gallery or relax and talk with locals or friends. For a bit of touris- kitsch fun, visit the Galata Tower for a belly dancing show. The wine is especially recommended and, when the waiter asks where you are from, he will mark your table with the flag of your country.
The Cicek Pasaji, or covered gallery, is a great place to have a meal , a drink, or simply to people watch. At Tophane, you can sit and play tavla (backgammon) smoke an apple flavored hooka, drink tea and enjoy a kebab. You can venture to the Babylon, a multi-purpose performance center, theatre and cinema hall. After the show, dance the night away at the Cubuklu with special “after” parties from 6 am to 4 pm. For something different yet traditional, go the the Cumhuriyet Meyhanesi, a 110 year old Turkish bar and eatery. On the third floor, you will hear live, classical Turkish music and in the comfortable dining area, you can enjoy a dazzling array of fresh seafood and refreshing beverages.
