Galata Tower, originally erected in the fourth century, was destroyed during the Fourth Crusade, but later rebuilt in 1348 in the Genoese colony of Istanbul known as Galata. Although it originally was constructed for military defense purposes, it was used after the fall of Constantinople as a watchtower for fires and today is open to the public as a museum. It provides a 360 degree view of Istanbul.
Restaurant chain Develi, with a dozen restaurants located throughout Turkey, mostly in affluent suburbs, has built the city’s most successful restaurant dynasty. Develi has made its mark by serving traditional Turkish cuisine in an upscale ambience, albeit one that’s a bit tacky and gaudy by western standards.
MyTerrace has the most “Turkish” personality of all the restaurants we recommend in Istanbul that offer traditional Turkish cuisine. It’s got a raw unpolished feel, but the food, service and view make this restaurant something special. For the best experience arrive early and insist on a table on the terrace.
Located within walking distance of several of the city’s top hotels, Nişantaşı Başköşe offers traditional Turkish cuisine in a contemporary setting with slate gray walls, black leather upholstered benches and chairs, and ceramic tile floor with a diamond inlay. The traditional menu is well-executed, and service is friendly and responsive.
Located in the same building as one of the city’s most prominent Turkish bath houses, Lokanta 1741 offers a slightly more sophisticated and gourmet take on traditional regional cuisine than any of the other restaurants on our Istanbul favorites list. The rooftop terrace is pleasant but doesn’t offer much of a view as it’s nestled in between surrounding buildings and the indoor dining is nice but inferior to the terrace experience. Service is particularly good.
Regarded by some as the world’s first shopping mall, the Kapalıçarşı (aka the Grand Bazaar) in Istanbul is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the city. Everything from gold and Turkish rugs to t-shirts and lamps are peddled in this historic old bazaar. One of the two original building dating back to the 15th century shortly after the Ottoman conquest of the city was recently remodeled and contains high-end luxury products and the region’s renowned steakhouse, Nusr-et.