Bodgy Posted January 26, 2023 #1 Share Posted January 26, 2023 Hello! We will be in Istanbul 10-10 on my birthday this summer. I would like to have a great dinner/experience that evening. Anyone have any restaurants they would recommend? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cruisemom42 Posted January 26, 2023 #2 Share Posted January 26, 2023 Are you interested in a restaurant in the old part of Sultanahmet with traditional food and views of some of the monuments (e.g., Blue Mosque) from sidewalk dining? Or a meal in a restaurant in one of the city's old cisterns? Or a traditional fish dinner (very popular with locals but can be a bit loud with music and entertainment provided by local gypsy performers....) These are some experiences I've had. If you want any details, let me know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad_O Posted January 27, 2023 #3 Share Posted January 27, 2023 Slightly off topic but I would love some recommendations for a lunch spot (ideally fish) near the Blue Mosque/Hippodrome area. Any insights are much appreciated. Regards, Chad 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cruisemom42 Posted January 27, 2023 #4 Share Posted January 27, 2023 12 hours ago, Chad_O said: Slightly off topic but I would love some recommendations for a lunch spot (ideally fish) near the Blue Mosque/Hippodrome area. Any insights are much appreciated. Regards, Chad I don't know of a fish restaurant near there, but if you want fresh fish and a quick lunch, it doesn't get better (or more of an experience) than buying a fish sandwich off the fish boats/restaurants at Galata bridge (the bridge you have to cross to get from Sultanahmet -- where the Blue Mosque/Hippodrome/Haghia Sofia are -- to where the cruise port is. The total fish caught at the Galata bridge in Istanbul is 64 tonnes/year - Infinitewalks Turkey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bodgy Posted January 28, 2023 Author #5 Share Posted January 28, 2023 On 1/26/2023 at 11:29 AM, cruisemom42 said: Are you interested in a restaurant in the old part of Sultanahmet with traditional food and views of some of the monuments (e.g., Blue Mosque) from sidewalk dining? Or a meal in a restaurant in one of the city's old cisterns? Or a traditional fish dinner (very popular with locals but can be a bit loud with music and entertainment provided by local gypsy performers....) These are some experiences I've had. If you want any details, let me know. I’m not sure? I was looking for something memorable since it’s a milestone birthday. I didn’t want to end up in a tourist trap. If you know what I mean. 😉 The cisterns and the fish dinner sound interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cruisemom42 Posted January 28, 2023 #6 Share Posted January 28, 2023 13 minutes ago, Bodgy said: I’m not sure? I was looking for something memorable since it’s a milestone birthday. I didn’t want to end up in a tourist trap. If you know what I mean. 😉 The cisterns and the fish dinner sound interesting. Fining Dining in an ancient Cistern -- Sarnic restaurant: https://www.timeout.com/istanbul/restaurants/sarnic-fine-dining-restaurant Kumkapi is the area where the traditional "fish houses" are. It's very atmospheric. Just south of the Grand Bazaar and a bit east of the Blue Mosque. It was traditionally an area where Armenian fishermen lived and worked. The Kumkapı district is centered on a small plaza where six streets meet. The plaza is surrounded by seafood restaurants, and restaurants line many of the streets radiating from it. It always seems to have a festive air with banners above the streets, fairy lights in the trees, etc. Fair warning it is more popular with locals than tourists and there are a few reports of tourists getting cheated on their bill, so you have to be open to it being a bit of an experience. The snipped map below shows a few of the choices. I went there with a local guide from a previous visit who I'd kept in touch with. I believe the restaurant we went to was the Kumkapi Historical Restaurant. (Unfortunately my old laptop died a week ago and I haven't reloaded my photos onto new one yet....). But it might be a good idea to just do some online research to see which appeals to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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